Recent content by urbanfred

  1. urbanfred

    What did my chicken lay?

    Well, my remaining pet RIR, the Lovely Rhonda, is 7 years old, healthy and vigorous. She resumed laying in May, laid for 3-4 weeks, then caught a virus and stopped laying. After she got well (3 days), she did not resume laying, and hadn't for at least 6 weeks.. However, she laid and ate one egg...
  2. urbanfred

    sad dad needs diagnosis for beloved Rhoda

    Rhoda, my 6 yr. old RIR, is in trouble. -She is listless, not moving, not eating or drinking more than a taste. -She has white to yellowish, stringy, mucous-like, liquid stool. -Her normally large, bright red comb and wattles are shrunken and purplish in color. -She sits/lays with her head...
  3. urbanfred

    Help me! Marilyn dead, her sisters in shock and terrified.

    Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I 'm sure it's a coon, and it is not in the coop. The coop is small, 3'x3'x6', and I will thoroughly clean everything. The reds are so scared it's unreal, and I dread having them injure themselves trying to get out of their run and coop. They have the run of the...
  4. urbanfred

    Which breed has the best temperament?

    I think bantam cochins are wonderfully friendly. Mine talks to me and responds to certain phrases. "Come on girl" always makes her come at a dead run. She even became a house chicken for two months when she injured a toe, and enjoyed sitting on my shoulder while I read the paper (she hade a...
  5. urbanfred

    Help me! Marilyn dead, her sisters in shock and terrified.

    Valentine's day morning, our 2 R.I reds were on the patio in the dark (5 am). The door to the run had been left open (wife forgot to close). My dear little Marilyn (bantam cochin) was not to be seen. I went to the coop immediately, and she was there, dead, head chewed off. The reds were agitated...
  6. urbanfred

    need advice- banty doesn't like her chicken diaper

    Excellent suggestion, Woodland Woman. Using a diversion while acclimating the chicken to the diaper is clever, and the little rolling food ball is just a great idea. Seems as though you have some experience in training. Have you done clicker training?
  7. urbanfred

    need advice- banty doesn't like her chicken diaper

    My friendly white bantam cochin (Marilyn) loves being indoors with us, but is not happy when she gets fitted with her chicken diaper. She picks at the straps and pulls out feathers while trying. She just won't leave it alone. Any suggestions about helping her adjust?
  8. urbanfred

    Rhoda's looking rocky, and pooing goo too...

    SPECKLEDHEN, she is not molting or laying, and I don't give them lights to keep them laying. JUSTASNAK' the oil-filled heater referred to is electric and the oil is in a radiator to give off heat but no fumes. Thanks to both of you for the interest. Any more thoughts? The situation persists...
  9. urbanfred

    Rhoda's looking rocky, and pooing goo too...

    Say what, beakkeeper?
  10. urbanfred

    Rhoda's looking rocky, and pooing goo too...

    I wrote that rhyming stuff hoping to get enough attention for my sick R.I. Red (Rhoda) that she will BE HEALED! The scenario: It turned cold three days ago and snowed. My three ladies (Rhoda, Rhonda, and Marilyn) refused to come out of their coop. They won't even come down the ramp into the pen...
  11. urbanfred

    My hen has a broken toe...What do I do?

    Regarding your desire for chicken diapers, try www.chickendiapers.com. The nice lady who has the business does a good job. All sizes, with choices of fabrics, colors and patterns. I got one for my bantam, who also lost a toenail (just the little meat piece remained) and spent 2 months recovering...
  12. urbanfred

    Can chickens get diseases from rodents or other mammals?

    In my suburban backyard, we have many squirrels, 45 varieties of wild birds, and the occasional opossum and raccoon. My chickens (3 ladies) have the run of the yard, and are cooped at night. I just noticed a squirrel that appears to have distemper or something like that. It weaves from side to...
  13. urbanfred

    wondering about worming the chickens

    Thanks for the intelleigent advice, folks. The message I'm getting is not to prevent worms with this medication, but to wait until they get infested, which can only be determined by veterinary examination. Do you all have samples tested regularly, as a standard process? Seems expensive...
  14. urbanfred

    wondering about worming the chickens

    My feed and farm store gave me piperazine to worm my free-run chickens, saying that eating earthworms, slugs, etc. can give them intestinal parasites (worms). This medication is used for dogs and cats as well. My problem is with method of giving them the piperazine and the dosage. Directions...
  15. urbanfred

    Broody Hen

    Well, I have a featherlegged bantam cochin who goes broody twice a year, sits in an empty nest, gets skinny, and scares me that she won't pull out of it. She is doing this right now, just lke your girl. I take her out of the nest and she eats/drinks, but runs right back. Locking the coop just...
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