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  1. Debutante

    If feed stores closed and you can’t free range...

    This is an EXCELLENT topic! The first thing I would do is start a colony of mealworms. They are easy to raise (BUT be aware that certain people may have a potentially-dangerous asthma-like sensitivity to handling them). They provide a pretty good source of protein if fed in large volume, and...
  2. Debutante

    FREE HERITAGE BREED HENS: Schomberg, ONTARIO

    Terrific, thank you! My email is [email protected] Send me an email and we can arrange a date, place and time, and coordinate the chicken transfer. I am so glad that you'll end up with some chickens and my girls will end up in a nice home! :D
  3. Debutante

    FREE HERITAGE BREED HENS: Schomberg, ONTARIO

    It does sound like a perfect fit. I wish you were closer as Kingston is about 4 hours from here. We'd be happy to meet you half-way though if you're still interested. Also, I've decided to rehome an 'extra' Welsummer too. She is perfect but I'm just trying to get my flock of 18 down to a smaller...
  4. Debutante

    FREE HERITAGE BREED HENS: Schomberg, ONTARIO

    Hi sarahandchrisk, No, these birds are still with me. Are you interested? :-)
  5. Debutante

    FREE HERITAGE BREED HENS: Schomberg, ONTARIO

    ...back ends) and they’re calm and friendly. I have NO idea if these feathers will regrow once they moult in late-summer/early fall. I am located in *Schomberg, Ontario, Canada*, which is about 45 min. northwest of Toronto; (west of Newmarket; east of Orangeville) and will be happy to deliver...
  6. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Haha! NO need to apologize! I love your "rambling". LOL! The more you say, the more I learn. I had never thought about chickens driving out or killing the weaker birds to "make more room" but it makes TOTAL sense when you really think about it! Thanks again. Your knowledge is awesome and I...
  7. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    That's good to know that some birds have a preference for pellets! We've just found they generally eat more (volume- wise) if it's crumble but now I will put out both so each bird can have a choice. Yes, as soon as they're "presentable" I'll be looking to rehome quite a few. We enjoy getting...
  8. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    ...Amazon yesterday. I’m glad you were able to identify the bullies in your flock and solve the problem. It sure is aggravating to see beautiful new feather shafts appearing, only to be *gone* the next time you look! Your hen looks GREAT now. So glad you got the problem under control…it gives me...
  9. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi Alaskan. Yes, I think Pinless Peepers would be a good thing to try next. I ordered some from Amazon yesterday. I opted for the ones that come with the pliers, instead of the spiky 'doo-dad' insertion apparatus. Not sure if that was right but they just seemed better made. Here are the ones I...
  10. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi ChickenCanoe. Thank you very much for your response and all your great suggestions, as well as your words of encouragement. You’re right, we have them on Masterfeeds Layer Crumble (18%). When all this started, we switched them from layer pellets to crumble because they seemed to eat it more...
  11. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi Fishkeeper. Thank you for your response. Yes, we're in the process of rearranging the flock to isolate several birds in an old barn coop. After that, once we figure out the 'trouble-makers' are, some birds will certainly be finding new homes! Yes, we definitely have LOTS of photos of when...
  12. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    ...Thanks again for all your help. Really appreciate it! Interesting points about the space requirements and that chickens don't necessarily *like* being close to one another. So true. Part of our 'theory' of pushing the limits on space was that they'd benefit from being 'extra close' in our...
  13. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi Lazy Gardener, Thanks for your response and suggestions. I do believe that the problem originated with too little space in the coop, which may not have been an issue IF they had all decided to go out into the run during the winter, as planned. Unfortunately, the ‘enclosed and covered’ run...
  14. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Thanks DunnMom! It's a battle, as you know, but thanks to great advice from the wise Backyard Chickeners, I may prevail... eventually. :(
  15. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi Sourland, Thanks for your response. I got a real kick out of your name and description! I am living in Sour Land at the moment and could sure use a bit of Magic! :( I agree with what you and others have said about isolating all the birds who are still in perfect or near-perfect feather. It...
  16. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi Mary, Thank you very much for your reply and suggestions! No reds here, the breeds I have in my flock are: Buff Orpingtons; Black Australorps; Welsummer; Dominique; and Easter Eggers. Interestingly, the breeds seem to keep to themselves but unfortunately, the pecking damage affects certain...
  17. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi Alaskan. Thank you very much for your reply and suggestions! It is EXTREMELY encouraging to hear that you were able to tackle and solve the problem without resorting to culling. I started out with 25 birds but realized my set-up was FAR too small so I rehomed 6. Now I realize that I should...
  18. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Hi OldHenLikesDogs. Thank you very much for your reply and suggestions! The coop itself is unfortunately on the minimum side of what is recommended... the structure is 11 ft long by 6.5 ft wide. According to the rule of 4 sq. ft. per bird, that would mean that "17.8 birds" could be housed...
  19. Debutante

    Feather-Picking! 3-Month Epidemic.

    Okay, I’ll admit it. I am COMPLETELY at my wits’ end with an outbreak of feather picking. The whole disaster started in early January when my 18 hens (who are now 11 months old) chose to stay in the coop during extremely cold, snowy weather. They had a large run available, but didn’t like the...
  20. Debutante

    PLANTS POISONOUS TO CHICKENS

    Not sure if your question has been answered by now but the "spp" just means "species". ALL types of lonicera fall under that category, so your lonicera involucrata is one of about 200 types of lonicera that have been identified so far. Now we've sorted that out, do your chickens eat your...
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