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Thank you all so much for the replies! This is my first time raising chicks outside, and I also haven't raised chicks in a few years. I read several threads---here and in other places--about raising them outside and was very inspired, but it has introduced some new elements/worries for me.

I have some chicks who are about 3 weeks old (they will be exactly 3 weeks on Tuesday). My plan was, for the first time ever, to raise them outside from the get go. Thanks to both me and another pet having some serious medical issues, that did not happen and I had to start them in a little chick...

I just wanted to give an update in case anyone else experiences something like this. First, the chicken is doing very well. While she seemed to be improving after the Elector treatment, I always second guess myself. I was able to get an appointment at a vet, and my parents generously took her...

A little update: Her balance is definitely better. She is still a bit wobbly when she has to twist (like to groom) but she is standing up straighter and in the little quarantine coop there is an outside roost and she was up on it this afternoon. The Elector hadn't arrived this afternoon...

Thank you all so much for the advice and encouragement! She was still in bed when I left this morning (it's been hard because I leave before the sun is up and come home at sunset, so I don't get to observe her through the day). She was up in the nesting box when I got home, but when I called...

They eat Kalmbach crumbles (this one, I think: https://shop.kalmbachfeeds.com/products/16-all-natural-layer-crumble). A few times a week I bring them a treat like apple pieces, cabbage leaves, etc. I try to get them out for free range time a few days a week (LOTS of predators where I live...

Hi all, could really use some advice. So back during the pandemic I made a choice I might not have normally made: a farm I trust was clearing inventory and was selling Delaware pullets with crooked toes at a big discount. I got 4. Honestly, they've done really well for the last two years. In...

I used to use a heated dog bowl, but it would get so dirty SO FAST. It was really gross. And because of the large exposed surface area, it would still freeze when it got really cold. Now I use this waterer (https://rentacoop.com/products/5-gallon4-horizontal-nipples-chicken-waterer) in...

I wanted to update this thread. After her skin not looking any better after two weeks had passed and her other feathers had grown back, I took her to the vet. I wish I'd taken her earlier, but her behavior (eating, drinking, roosting, energy, etc) has been very normal. The vet was sort of...

Yikes, thank you for the warning on the olive oil. Thankfully I only gave her one dose so far, about 0.3mL this morning. I'm going shopping tonight, so I'll pick her up some yogurt (I am non-dairy, so I never have it in the house!). I'm encouraged by her appetite, but I always freak out a bit...

Thank you for the reply. I've seen real redness from a freshly plucked chest (unfortunately my Delawares seem to go broody about twice a year, and since I work all day I sometimes don't get to them until the evening). I've also seen redness from a hen laying on eggs for several hours. But at...

Bumping this to see if anyone has any insight on my situation. A few days ago I noticed that one of my Delawares had gone broody. By the time I got her off of the nest (it had only been one day), she had pulled out a ton of her chest feathers. Yesterday I was in their run doing egg collection...

I live in Maryland, and there are several options. I go to a vet in Frederick called Bennett Creek. They have two vets who are good with chickens. There is a great vet named Anika McKillop who used to do home visits, but she's now mostly working with large farms. There are also vets in Severna...

Clearly written--thank you! Also, I was like "Yeah! I can do this!" . . . and then immediately did one of the things you said not to do and put too much feed in the container, LOL!!! So here's a question: I know that doing the grains is better than using pellets or crumble. I'm using crumble...

Without exaggeration, keeping their water liquid in the winter has been my biggest ongoing challenge and the one that resulted in the longest series of trying things that failed and then trying something else. Many of the "hacks" online (like the floating water bottle) just didn't work consistently.

I'm just going to echo two really important points: 1) Water is so critical for any animal and dehydration can be very dangerous especially in extreme weather (hot or cold). This is not to make you feel bad, but letting them go a full day without water is not something you can "get away with"...

I appreciate you having your eye out for that error! Coccidiosis is often lumped in with conversations about worms, and I took me WAY too long to learn that it is a protozoa not an actual worm (though I suppose it is a parasite which is why it gets lumped in with them). My next project is...

Sorry, my mistake. The intent is to address coccidiosis. I had used Valbazen several months back, but there were still some persistent issues with poopy butts/eggs and so the vet recommended trying Corid (especially because my yard is very wet). But after I put out their medicated water, I...

I am so grateful for this thread. I put out water with a dose of Corid today and then noticed two of my hens are mid-molt! Glad to hear it is safe to be treating them. I know there is another dewormer that is not to be used on molting chickens, so I was nervous about it.

I agree with many others here that if it is happening every night, staying up one night (possibly after installing some motion sensor lights) might be a really good idea. After a man came onto my property at night (WITH A GUN!) and scared the crap out of me, my sister got me some solar-powered...