Well it's ABS plastic and the coop used to house 4 chickens. 2 of them died, one during a heat wave and another one starving herself after what appeared to be a toe infection. With the other chickens there was a bit of food wastage but it wasn't a real problem. I sold the remaining 2 and they...
On the flip side, this Rhode Island breed is extremely aggressive toward unknown flock members. I tried to mix her with the 2 other chickens I sold and that was just a no go. She was already pinching their necks and causing bleeding in no time. Could the peepers have worked then? I dunno.
So...
It would be pointless at this point, this is my only remaining hen. I know it's not a great situation to have her alone, but I want to move away from raising backyard chickens - which I why I just sold the other 2 chickens (they found a lovely new owner and home by the way).
Oh, she has been alone in her coop for a while since fall 2022 after her 2 flock mates died from heat waves. She is tough. Went through several 42C heatwaves unscathed.
That new behavior only started mid to late June, while the 2 other chickens in the coop right next door (they can see each...
This is my last remaining chicken, I have sold the 2 others. 4 years old, not laying anymore.
She started some very annoying behavior... flinging most of the food out of the dispensers (she didn't do that before) and wasting a lot of it on the floor (wasted pellets on the ground... she mostly...
Ugh, I am also having lots of broken eggs lately 😒. This started getting bad after my Salmon Faverolle passed away (she used to be broody and sit on the eggs, protecting them).
The nesting area is a bit cramped but last year they managed alright with the rare occasional broken egg.
I am...
She is drinking if I put some water on her beak, but still refuses to eat. Should I mash some pellets with water into a paste and insert into her beak?
Well, luckily I still have a box for raising chicks so I used that and put her in the garage for now, the temps are expected to be mild in the next few days (and there are coyotes roaming outside). Cross fingers she starts eating again.
If she recovers, moving her outside the flock is not...
Ugh, in the winter the situation had improved but Tuesday looks like the others injured her feet by plucking some feathers and she has been sitting all day long Wednesday inside the nesting area.
Yesterday evening she refused to eat or drink, she is weak and can stand a bit but eventually goes...
The other coop right next to it has 3/4" plywood floor (with wood chips on top) treated with Preserva Wood and has done well so far (it has a roof). I would definitely treat thinner plywood too.
For now looks like oilcloth is the simplest solution, with wood chips on top.