Recent content by gretchen

  1. gretchen

    really poopy butt/ protruding and straining

    Her vent seems filled with poop too, do you think I should try to get it out?
  2. gretchen

    really poopy butt/ protruding and straining

    She is now really straining and breathing heavily, it looks like she's having a baby with her vent pushed so far out, I wonder if I made it worse or better. I would really rather not have to cull a chicken today...
  3. gretchen

    really poopy butt/ protruding and straining

    So I noticed a hen was in the nesting box today that hadn't been laying since last fall and she seemed to be unable to settle in. i watched her turn around and around and realized she had a large poop dangling from her tail feathers (she has had a dirty butt all winter but no blockage) My...
  4. gretchen

    ++++Anyone have a chicken with a really poopy butt???

    I have a Barred Rock who has the same problem. I had to cut all the poop off (with some feathers) this winter because it was so cold and the amount of poop stuck to her was dragging down her feathers. She now has a pretty featherless rump because I think she pulls them out herself... but the...
  5. gretchen

    red featherless butts

    I know I am a good chicken mommy, my hens get plenty of everything, including kitchen scraps, organic feed and all my neighbors grass clippings but.... when I went on vacation this Feb. the housesitter forgot to fill their feeder, they did get fresh water everyday but they probably went without...
  6. gretchen

    Does anyone know much about egg colors ?

    I believe the "true" Auracanas lay the darker while the more common hatchery EE's or Americaunas lay the lighter shades. I have two EE"s, one lays light blue eggs and one lays pink.
  7. gretchen

    Cleaning Poopy Rear Fluff

    I just had this problem with my Barred Rock, but hers was a big giant poo, so I had to cut it out (I did try to do the soaking/wiping/wet washcloth thing first but it was too hard/frozen to even start to come off). I let the girls out today and there was another one on her rear. Like the yard...
  8. gretchen

    Chickie chickie rub rubs...um...

    I pet mine everyday, they love it, it gives me time to check in with them, make sure they are well, looking healthy.... and it makes them very easy to catch when you need to. Keep it up!
  9. gretchen

    HENS pooping in nest box . . .

    I had the same problem before my hens were laying and it was because they were sleeping in the boxes, so I stapled a kitchen towel at the top of the boxes and then tacked it down at night. It took them about a week to stay on the roost and not go into the boxes, I also kept a fake egg in each...
  10. gretchen

    oyster shell... or tums... or...?

    So I recently just ran into a fellow backyard chicken lady and her boss who is a Vet.... as in Animal Doctor, not Veteran. We got on the subject of calcium supplementation and they very strongly advised me not to give oyster shell because it was ground from some washed up shells and full of...
  11. gretchen

    egg washing

    I would think that people buying "farm fresh" eggs would be happy to buy non-washed eggs... it makes them more authentic and the whole back to the farm thing is really popular, at least in Vermont. I don't wash mine, granted I don't get 70 a day, but when I do have extras and sell them, people...
  12. gretchen

    poopy butt

    I have noticed that a couple of my gals get poop stuck in their soft fluffy butt feathers... it seems to get cleaned off in a couple of days, I always assumed that they cleaned their butts of with their beaks while roosting. I have one hen who doesn't just have a little dribble but two full...
  13. gretchen

    poopy butt

    I have noticed that a couple of my gals get poop stuck in their soft fluffy butt feathers... it seems to get cleaned off in a couple of days, I always assumed that they cleaned their butts of with their beaks while roosting. I have one hen who doesn't just have a little dribble but two full...
  14. gretchen

    electrcity free ways to keep hens cozy in the northern climates

    I think that as long as there are no drafts blowing through your coop they should be fine. I also live in Vermont, I also feel bad when I go out and their water is frozen and they are all huddled up, but the coop is always warmer than outside and they seem perfectly happy, although they would...
  15. gretchen

    looking to get some Aracaunas... this coming Spring

    I would like to get some (as true as possible) Aracuanas this Spring. I do love the blue feathered ones but will take whatever, either chicks or grown birds. I probably won't want more than 2 so hatcheries are out but I'm willing to drive a bit. Any ideas? I live in Burlington, Vermont and often...
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