This is an interesting situation. Here is my experience. 3 years ago, I had some sort of respiratory illness in my flock. None acted sick. All continued to eat and act energetically. However, much coughing in several of my birds. Took one to the vet who gave me very little hope. However, I went...
When I was growing up, we only kept a batch of chickens for two years. So, we had 2 year old hens, 1 year old hens and then the new babies. Each year, once the newest girls started laying the 2 year old girls would go to the freezer. I did not want to do that. But I am finding that as my girls...
OK, it has been a tough year at Witt's End. First it was horribly hot. Thought I might have had a sub-clinical cocci in the flock. Everyone got over it, but I had ruffled feathers, runny poop and lethargic chickens. Now, the weather has been much better. However, I noticed one dom with little...
My sunflowers are done, so I have cut off the heads. These sunflowers made the white nuts with black stripes. I know they can have black sunflower seeds, but didn't know about these white and black ones. Can I give them to my chickens....just throw the heads in and let them pick out the nuts? Or...
Sam was a New Hampshire Red. She was given to us. She took over. Watched over everyone, sang the hawk song and in general, manned the chicken house. She was the best chicken ever. She even killed a oppossum once. We swore we would never put her down, she had earned retirement. Tonight, I threw...
Sorry for the poopie topic.....However, it is so HOT, that for treats, which the girls expect, I grew tomatoes. They are getting tomatoes, giant cucumbers and squash for treats. No one is acting ill, but several have "nasty" bottoms. Can chickens get the "runs" from too many vegies?? I have a...
Currently it is around 90 degrees during the day and getting down to 70 at night. Occassionally 65 degrees. This batch of baby chicks are the most enegetic I have ever had. They are in a big plastic tube in my bathroom with a light (there is 12 of them). They have a perch, but keep jumping on...
Help!!! My year old buff orp has been broody for 3 weeks!! I have to pull her out of the nest box to get her to eat! My husband lifted her today and she is just skinny. I'm afraid she may starve herself to death. Can I break the broody cycle? Suggestions needed.
Had two roosters before. Wasn't a good experience. However, we want to be selfsustaining so we are considering getting one rooster. We have 16 girls and will be adding 4 more pullets with the one rooster. We want an even tempered rooster who will be good to the girls. I have a mixed flock of...
My old Sam chicken is having runny white looking poo! She isn't as perky as normal and is puffed up. Had all her shots. Can't imagine what she has. Should I worm her and if so,what is the best wormer? I have never wormed my girls. All of my hens are over a year old and some are two. Sam is the...
I just had to post this.......I had no idea a hen would do this!
We do not have a rooster. When we first got chickens, a nice lady down the street gave us 2 of her old laying hens. She said these hens were smart, and would show our new chickens the "ropes". We lost Sue to a hawk attack last...
I have 4 buff orp hens that are 10 months old. They have always been timid, docile and easily handled. In the last two weeks, the biggest of the 4 has started pecking my husband and myself. At first, it was just our pant legs, I thought she was wanted picked up. Now, she is aggresively attacking...
My year old SLW hen is making a honking sound once in a while and is sneezing. She isn't lethargic and she is eating, but the sneezing is worrisome. We have had a big temperature change in the weather.-could she have a cold or sinusitis? None of the chickens are doing this. I quarantined her...
I let my 1 year old Dominiques free range for 30-40 minutes a day, while I watch them. I noticed today, one of my hens had a half closed eye. Her eyes are surrounded by red skin, and it is swollen. She was eating and drinking and didn't act like she was in pain, she just acted like she couldn't...
Just thought I would post my experience. It has been a real scorcher here in Missouri with no end in sight. We always try to make improvements as cheaply as possible so we have gone through 3 fans. An 18 inch fan, a 24 inch box fan and now we have capitulated and put in a thermostacically...
Okay, my Dominique has not walked even one step since Tues. I am very worried. She is eating and drinking. She is still laying eggs. When I pick her up, she does not seem to ever put any pressure on her left leg. She does not act like she is in pain. There is no obvious injury to either of her...
This afternoon around 6:00, I let the chicken out to free range while my husband and I watched. It has been unnormally hot, so I thought some time in the cool grass under the trees would be nice. After an hour, it had cooled down to 84 (their run is shaded but no grass) so I called them in. All...
Okay, I love the treat chart, but I have a question about peas. I am shelling peas right now, and I have a pile of great looking pods. I have always thought this was somewhat wasteful and was glad I would be able to give them to the chickens this year. However, I don't see anything about pods...
My favorite chicken (of course), lost her back feathers to a rooster. We got rid of the rooster, but I have been worried about that pink skin showing. Sure enough, I came home day before yesterday, and the hen was sitting alone by the fence. I went to her, and saw where her bald skin was...