Recent content by briggate

We have 4 breeds- and are only seeing this in our Australorps and RIR's. We only have 2 birds of other breeds, so this is most of our flock of 10. We are noticing the large crop in the mornings, but by late afternoon all of them (except the 2 odd birds) have much more distended crops. They are...

After reading some of the posts here about impacted crops, I'm sure that's what is afflicting nearly all of my birds. So I want to do massage, and offer them lots of water and try to get some olive oil into them. Any suggestions on how to do the massage? Do you just try to push around the...

We had similar symptoms in a bird yesterday - one of a flock of 8, and she's the only one so far showing signs. Hid under the waterer, laying on one side, feathers all fluffed up, and we'd had a hot day so we thought she was suffering from the heat, so brought her inside and she wouldn't stand...

Interesting about the tape! I may not need to try that since they are now away from the roos, and quarantined for about a month before I move them in with the rest of my birds. but it sounds like I need do nothing but wait for the feathers to grow back. Thanks!

just bought some 13wk old pullets. They'd been in with some young turkeys and about 100 other pullets, and one of them has lost all its feathers along the center of its back. The skin is flaking but does not look infected, i.e. there are no open wounds and nothing is oozing. But I haven't ever...

Think I'm a crossover! We do produce agricultural products for sale commercially on a portion of our 40 acres, but we live on just 2 acres with our chickens. So in my heart, I'm a backyarder!

My cure for broodiness, which has not met with total success, has been the wire cage method. We seclude Ms. Broody into a portable chicken tractor, which has a small dog crate it in converted for use as a nest box, in the back. We leave her in the shade (it's darn hot here!) with food and water...

Day two and no change for her. I took a closer look and under her right wing seems to be scuffed and she may have suffered a puncture wound - there is a bit of dried pink - I assume blood. Good news about the dog - he was a foster, and I adopted him out that day. He made the attack while the...

I appreciate the info - I have never dealt with an injury and my other dogs respect the chickens so I never worried about them. While I was tending to chicken #1, my lab was busy tracking and killing chicken #2 so I am happy that at least bird #1 is alive - but not having any idea if she will...

My lab/ shepard mix got out while the chickens had been free-ranging - there were only 2 that hadn't made it back in the coop. He got the first one but I was there in a second, so I thought he only ruffled a few feathers- never saw any blood, just a lot of feathers. She seemed in shock so I...

just noticed you are a fellow spay/neuter advocate. Good for you! I just started a dog rescue in my county due to the overwhelming dump dog stats we have here. East Texas is one of the worst in the nation for strays and unaltered animals, according to my vet. I love my foster dog, but I love my...

Good to know. Our two dogs that have been around since before the chickens have learned to leave them be, and they and the chickens can freerange together without incident. But new foster dog is really showing signs of becoming more agressive with them. Think I'll have to resort to keeping him...

We have a stray that we are 'fostering' until we can find him a good home. Our chickens normally freerange, but we are unable to let them out while this dog is out of his kennel. And now, he has taken to running toward the fenced pen, scaring the chickens, and trying to tunnel under the fence. I...

I went to the local feed store and bought some plastic rings - then I patiently waited for a hen to come out of the nest box and caught her on the way out to the coop to put the ring around her leg. Be careful that you don't buy really small rings that might actually cut into their legs. BTW I...

Good to know - we are wanting to sell some of our eggs at the local Farmer's market but didn't know how long we could hang on to them - thanks for the info Linda!