Recent content by Lyris

  1. Lyris

    Major behavior issues within flock (lots of fighting)

    I've been home the last two days working with them again. My little rooster is trying to coo at the bullies now. Is there a way to maybe build his confidence so he will commit to keeping them in check? He's grown up with hens who just run away with him so he doesn't have any follow through...
  2. Lyris

    Major behavior issues within flock (lots of fighting)

    The reason they're in the shed is a bit complex, but the gist of it is I never planned on having chickens. They're all unintentional rescues, even the ones from the chicken show. (Although I didn't know it at the time) I had a coop, but raccoons got into it and they preferred to hangout in the...
  3. Lyris

    Major behavior issues within flock (lots of fighting)

    They share a shed with a few garden tools. After a raccoon attack I had to improvise quickly. I've since moved out the garden supplies and am going to add sand or something to help keep down any smells. They all prefer to sleep on the bookshelves with the wonky perches. I've tried a dozen other...
  4. Lyris

    Major behavior issues within flock (lots of fighting)

    I genuinely wonder sometimes. My chickens are a mess. We have the RR who was Top Chicken for the longest time. When my rooster was being naughty she would drift towards him and move him. Anytime he bullied a hen they would go run to the RR and the rooster would freeze and go "???" My RR would...
  5. Lyris

    Major behavior issues within flock (lots of fighting)

    These chickens legit have a cult following for their antics. It's always something with them. One of them has taught herself to use the cat door and lets herself inside to eat my cockatiel food. She also only lays eggs in my dryer or in a frying pan. They free-range in my huge yard. I live in a...
  6. Lyris

    Major behavior issues within flock (lots of fighting)

    I have essentially three flocks of chickens. Usually it's just fighting among the flocks, but since molting they've all been crazy and I'm not sure who to start with to correct the behaviors. Usually I can target a bully hen who needs correction, but this time I'm stumped and could use advice...
  7. Lyris

    Hard molt, mites, respiratory illness, or something else?

    I was able to handle her a bit last night. She's congested again from the respiratory illness. She responds well to VetRX on her comb so I gave her a bit to see if that helped, which it seems to. She did a large poop on me after I brought her inside and confirmed that her poops are normal, so...
  8. Lyris

    Hard molt, mites, respiratory illness, or something else?

    My work gives me the leftover sausages, bacon, and eggs every day for my chickens. Today I sat with her and coaxed her into eating a bit more than usual. I haven't checked her crop, but I'll check in the morning. She feels like she's lost a bit of weight. Her recent poop was tiny, but looked...
  9. Lyris

    Hard molt, mites, respiratory illness, or something else?

    I noticed today that Dolly isn't her usual bratty self. She's usually very bratty and bossy to my other hens. Today she's hiding behind the other hens and not very hungry/active. Thinking back, she's also been on a lower perch at night by herself where she can hide. I suspect she's been feeling...
  10. Lyris

    Treating what seems to be a recurring respiratory illness - possibly environmental?

    I'm glad my shed isn't the worst place for them. Everyone has such pretty coops. I just have a shed my chickens share with my garden tools. I do deep clean it as often as I can though. During the summer I lightly spray it with activated Oxine and put in some fans to dry it roughly every month...
  11. Lyris

    Treating what seems to be a recurring respiratory illness - possibly environmental?

    I'm kinda embarrassed to share pics since I know it's not the best for chickens, but it's what I have. I used to have a proper coop until a family of raccoons discovered them. Out of necessity I let them share a shed with my garden tools and I just never got around to making them an official...
  12. Lyris

    Chickens have "the squirts" with white, runny poo

    Before they were on an all flock feed since my rooster is particularly sensitive to high protein (he has heart issues). With them molting I just switched to a 20% protein pellet that they've had before. I don't have the previous bag, but the current one they're on is from Kalmbach. They were...
  13. Lyris

    Chickens have "the squirts" with white, runny poo

    I realized today that the favorite chicken hangout areas in my yard are covered in white, runny poops. Lately I've been leaving for work before the chickens get out and don't get home until they go home so I don't know how long it's been going on. Since it's my day off I was able to monitor and...
  14. Lyris

    Treating what seems to be a recurring respiratory illness - possibly environmental?

    I've long since accepted that I have what appears to be an eventually fatal respiratory illness within my flock. Sneezing, coughing, congested breathing... It's responsible for the deaths of four of my chickens and seems to be antibiotic resistant. A couple of my chickens ended up with another...
  15. Lyris

    One of these sex-links is not like the other

    Late reply (had a sick bird that took up my time) if they're all iridescent how come my black sex link is very matte? She's older than these two. Currently she's bald from a bad mite infestation, a over enthusiastic rooster, and molting, but she's always just been a matte black.
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