Recent content by cgray111

Phoenix the Australorp

Thanks everyone for your responses. Very helpful and makes a lot of sense. For those of you who add soil to the brooder, how much and when do you typically start. Also when is the first time you let them roam outside in the soil? 8 weeks or sooner?

So we have 5 one year old chickens and are getting 3 new chicks this week. Last time around we did non-medicated chick starter. After the fact I had read in the book I had that medicated feed was the recommendation to allow the chicks to build up immunity and exposure to coccidiosis in the soil...

I did put her back out yesterday and was really nervous because all the dried blood still on her comb and feathers. I put them out a little earlier than usual this morning to hopefully stop any morning fighting in the coop. She looks the same, doesn't look like anyone pecked at her because it...

Ok- I was having a hard time finding the source because there was so much dried blood all over her head. Guessing they are a lot like humans and superficial head injuries bleed a lot. Do you think the other chickens will be attracted to the dried blood? Just debating how much to try to scrub...

I think it may have started in a nest box because I found some blood on the wall. We have 3 but they only lay in one. Do you wait until it has healed to put her back? Should I make an effort to clean all the dried blood off? Just trying to prevent a repeat injury.

I let my chickens out this morning and found one with blood and dried blood all over its head that appears to be coming from a tear/cut at the base of the comb. I am guessing this happened in the overnight but it was dark when I locked them up and I did a quick count but didn't notice anything...

So I came home yesterday and the chickens were locked in the run that is secure and there was a huge hawk sitting in our fenced in area watching my chickens who were hiding under the coop sqwaking like crazy. So Howard E you were right. It flew to my neighbors roof when it saw me. So my hens are...

Thanks for taking the time to give me your feedback. Going to work on trying to predator proof the open area we were using and do a better job of checking it for openings. Chickens are staying in the coop, though it was rather cold out today. Hoping they get back to normal.

Thank you for your kind words. Yes we are going to re-think how we reinforce the fenced in area we let them play in during the day. When they are locked in the run or coop that is reinforced with hardware cloth all around and underneath. We may have to redo our fencing.

We live in central NY and came home today to find our 5 hens hiding in the coop, and one dead outside the run in the open fenced off area we allow them to roam in. It happened during 10-5pm and the bird had been mauled with the chest torn open and intestines out, feathers spread everywhere and...

Is this light colored bird a rooster? They are 18 week red Sex links and my other hens are brown. 4/6 have started laying, this one is not and does not demonstrate crouching behavior. It's the first to run to the fence at my dog. Feet look the same size though this one isn't as plump. No crowing...

My dog's most recent fecal test shows she has coccidia. We have caught her eating chicken poop. Does this mean my chickens are infected and should be treated? None are showing any signs. They are 13 weeks old and purchased from tractor supply. We were told that they were vaccinated and we didn't...