Recent content by TokoBird

  1. TokoBird

    Large Wound care and at-home surgery: anecdotes.

    That’s my hope - that maybe a bird with death on the table will get a shot at living.
  2. TokoBird

    Large Wound care and at-home surgery: anecdotes.

    I am not a veterinarian. Real veterinarian advice should always take precedence over this. I do not advise doing at-home surgery on your bird, as the suffering is great and the risks of infection and stress-death is high. Always go to a vet if you can. In my situation, local emergency vets...
  3. TokoBird

    Wound from dog attack

    ANY food is better than no food, if she has a poor appetite. If all she wants to eat is peanuts and yolks, you give her peanuts and yolks. nutritional balance doesn’t matter compared to getting calories to heal. My hens love peanuts, millet, and cucumber seed goo. They don’t care for...
  4. TokoBird

    Wound from dog attack

    My hen was recently attacked by a raccoon, and received an injury just like that, but bigger. Flayed from armpit to cloaca, loose skin sagged down to her keel, muscle and fat exposed with a half-inch diameter gouge taken out of the rib muscle itself After it stopped bleeding we cleaned the...
  5. TokoBird

    Black Sumatra sexing, so confused ... Can an expert help?

    That looks very much like a pullet to me - the neck and saddle feathers are very clearly rounded. Also still has a white-feathered face, and slender-looking legs at 12 weeks. But, I could be wrong! Sumatra are a slow-to-mature breed on average, but some individuals will mature faster or slower...
  6. TokoBird

    Other tips to keep chickens cool in 85°+ heat

    The most immediate short-term solution is as others said already: a pop-up shade tent like this to keep the sun off them during the heat of the day. You could also just stick a big piece of plywood over the top, and another one leaned up against the west-facing side to block the direct...
  7. TokoBird

    Chicken clicking beak?

    If it looks like she’s moving her beak like she’s chewing something small, kinda grinding it a little to make a soft chatter, that is a “I’m feeling safe/content” gesture. Sometimes a chicken does the grind-chatter as a self-soothing thing to TRY to feel safer when nervous - but if you’re...
  8. TokoBird

    Eating feathers??

    As others said - low protein makes them want to eat feathers, and when molting they need more protein than normal. Additionally, young immature birds need more protein than a laying-age hen. As long as you’re feeding high-protein starter feed, with high-protein snacks (like mealworms, peanuts...
  9. TokoBird

    Sand Vs. what else for run?

    I just toss my grass clippings and raked leaves in my run. Every week when I mow, or in the fall when I take some leaves, I add it as another layer. Their poop just decomposes under the layers, the girls scratch for seeds and bugs in it, it doesn’t smell, it’s kinda springy so is safe to land on...
  10. TokoBird

    Keeping chickens cool

    Texas here. Double shade. Deep shade. TREE shade, if you can get it. Shade cast by trees is measurably cooler than shade cast by artificial structures. PRIORITIZE maximum shade at 1pm-5pm. Figure out the angles of the sun and where you’ll need to put up barriers to cast good shade. A fan to...
  11. TokoBird

    Sand bedding

    What on earth?? Are you buying pool filter sand, or specialty aquarium sand or something? A 50lb bag of fill sand (like to mix with concrete) is only $6 at my local lowes. A 50lb bag of sand is only $20+ if it’s REALLY fancy
  12. TokoBird

    MysteryChicken's, Flock.

    That’s too bad. Did you keep contact w the folks you sold them to? You might be able to get a rooster and some hatching eggs or hens back from them, since it’s only been a year or two
  13. TokoBird

    Possible breeding program

    At the start of this, you were focusing on behavior and hardiness, not appearance (unless I missed a follow-up post) If the barnyard mix is proven docile as an adult, AND he has recessive traits you like, then he’s a good choice. Just because you invested time and effort into the younger...
  14. TokoBird

    Training Chickens For Extensive Handling - Resources?

    I’ve already been putting your advice to use, and it’s having a good effect! Even the most standoffish chicken has been less flighty when I reach for her. The friendlier ones let me already their wings without protest. Waiting until they relax before moving to another thing, or before releasing...
  15. TokoBird

    Training Chickens For Extensive Handling - Resources?

    The second one. So far y’all have given some good advice - I’m already planning on putting it to use
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