Recent content by kfsilver

  1. kfsilver

    Fox Attack Questions

    Just wanted to update and say all three surviving hens are doing fantastic! They are still extremely flighty, and not really liking how much they are kept to their run (no matter that it's large), but they're used to having almost a full acre to roam, so I figure that will take some adjusting...
  2. kfsilver

    Fox Attack Questions

    99.9 Thank you! My husband and I talked about the Buckeye's behavior regarding the base of her neck, and she has always not liked to be touched around her shoulders (where her wings connect, on the topside), so there is a high likelihood it's just that, and we're more worried about it because...
  3. kfsilver

    Fox Attack Questions

    Thank you. ❤️ Your explanation about the fox answers so many questions. It was not only so odd to not only see it during the day, but also *not* outright kill the chickens. So understanding that it was likely trying to get one (or more?) prey for its young makes a lot of sense. For wounds, my...
  4. kfsilver

    Fox Attack Questions

    Thank you for the response! I'm also certain she saved the Red's life, and kept the fox away from the others. I'm very, very thankful for her, and proud of her. Their run is predator proof, and is large enough they'll be fine contained there in the future. I'm looking at other options for how...
  5. kfsilver

    Fox Attack Questions

    A few days ago I was free ranging my ladies when a fox attacked. I happened to see the attack after two hens had been grabbed, but none dragged away. Based on the footage, it appears the fox grabbed and shook one hen, a New Hampshire Red, but then my Buckeye hen went and attacked the fox. The...
  6. kfsilver

    Injured Leg Inhibiting Dust Bathing

    I have permethrin I will be using this weekend for the whole coop, once I can get new chopped straw. But if it will help to use DE as part of a manual dust bath in the interim, I am willing to do so as well.
  7. kfsilver

    Injured Leg Inhibiting Dust Bathing

    Just in case, this is Rocky currently (after eating some egg yolks).
  8. kfsilver

    Injured Leg Inhibiting Dust Bathing

    I agree about DE being an irritant, so I don't want to use it as the actual pest control. What I am thinking is to mix it with their regular dust bathing dirt and then use that to rub onto her?
  9. kfsilver

    Injured Leg Inhibiting Dust Bathing

    What do you mean by put her in the dust bath and do it for her? I am unclear how to do it for her. I am treating for mites--including a full coop spray with permethrin and bedding change planned this weekend. I am also going to be spraying the other hens and completely spraying the nooks and...
  10. kfsilver

    Injured Leg Inhibiting Dust Bathing

    I wasn't certain whether to post this here or in the pests forum, but since I am dealing with an injury that is causing this issue, I hope those here will have better answers. I have a Jersey Giant hen who is now (as of this month) eight years old. She has an injured leg that I have done my...
  11. kfsilver

    Anyone else second guess and feel decisive about euthanasia?

    This isn't helpful. Plenty of us do "waste" as you say, time and money on chickens because we become attached to them. Just because you don't doesn't mean no one else does. OP has lost an animal they were attached to. I think a little more empathetic of a response is the least we can all do.
  12. kfsilver

    Anyone else second guess and feel decisive about euthanasia?

    Euthanasia is such a hard decision. I'm really sorry you are going through this. It sounds like, though, her "better" days are still awful. It's tempting to compare their lowest points and their not-so-low points, and *want* to believe that means they will keep improving. But we have to take a...
  13. kfsilver

    Help unknown sickness/injury

    I can't speak for the neck or ear issues, but that is definitely bumblefoot on her feet. Bumblefoot is a staph infection, so the sooner you can treat that the better her own immune system can target the other issues. As has been mentioned, a warm (not hot!) soak will help soften the black scab...
  14. kfsilver

    Possible Mareks?

    I have a New Hampshire Red who does that back-up thing. Has since she was 2. She's turning 5 this year! It seems to happen when she thinks she is going to get pecked, and tries getting away by backing up quickly. Then she'll stop, kind of look around as if confused, then continue on as normal...
  15. kfsilver

    Hens suddenly stopped laying

    Hens lay when they are happy and healthy. Your hens are probably stressed from all the changes, including the worming and additional members, plus new food. Did you slowly integrate the new hens to the old? If you didn't, that is also very likely to stress them out. Give all of them time to...
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