My 10 month old polish hen seems to have something wrong with her eye, slightly swollen/bumpy lid. In addition, her comb and waddles seem to be irregularly red, splotchy. I took her to the vet who thought maybe she is just getting picked on by the other hens. I'm not sure. Any thoughts?
We have a large aviary coop, pentagon shape open on three sides with 15 chickens. We want to get 2 pygmy goats in the spring. Was wondering what you think about the goats using the coop to sleep at night. During the day the whole gang will be free ranging but at night they will be enclosed...
I have an overmated chicken, getting her a saddle. Just wondering if there is a way to deter the rooster from mating her so much. Thought of putting something on her back that might offend him. Any suggestions?
Went to check on my girls this morning, one of my hens (1 year old) was walking kind of lopsided, staying in the coop and looked like she might fall over. I brought her in the house and set her up in the kitchen so I could monitor her. I didn't find any injuries, she does not seem lethargic, and...
I am concerned about the health of my chickens because a flock of quail come around daily (up to 20) and hang out with our chickens. They even take dirt baths with the girls, eat their food and go in the coop! The chickens don't seem to mind. Was just wondering if I should not be encouraging...
My 1-2 year old hens are enjoying the babies' (11 weeks) Start N Grow crumples I put out for them. Since this is medicated, I am wondering if this is ok for the grown hens to eat. They are all fully integrated, have been for weeks (6 babies, 8 hens, 1 roo) and I don't want to separate them...
Was just putting my chicks in for the night. Found my 12 week old seabright hiding (outside the coop). Seems to be in shock and is dragging her wing. Seems to have no control over it. I don't see any blood or external injuries. What's the best way to care for her? Thank you.
We have 16 hens (9 mature) and 1 roo. He seems to have his preferred girls and they are losing the feathers on their backs because of his affections... Anything I can do to stop him from mating them? He is 15 months old. Many Thanks for your help.
One of my older girls (2+ years) seems to be going into a mild summer molt. She had her first molt in the fall of last year and now seems to be losing feathers again. Otherwise she seems healthy in every other way. Possible or could something else be going on?
We have an aviary type coop, the chickens go in and out throughout the day. A few quail started coming into the coop and helping themselves to food, etc. Recently the quail have brought their new babies around and they all hang out together like one big happy family, even taking dirt baths...
My hen just hatched out three chicks two days ago. Tomorrow we get 4 more from someone else the same age. I was wondering if there is anything I should be aware of when introducing them. She is still sitting on two eggs that I don't think are going to hatch. I have plan B in place (brooding...
I just went down to the coop to check on my broody hen (babies due to hatch tomorrow!) and I noticed the new box I have her in with clean pine shavings, etc seems to be infested with tiny (size of a pin head) bugs, lice or? What should I use to rid her of the parasites that won't harm the...
I know how to take care of new chicks I have incubated, but is there anything I need to know when a hen hatches her own? They are in their own clean large, safe space. I am assuming she will keep them warm (no heat lamp) and I will have starter mash and water for them. She will probably eat...
I have noticed lately that the yolks of my hens eggs seem very fragile, they break easily once the egg is cracked. I am assuming they may be deficient in something but can't imagine what. They are on high protein layer pellets, bl oil sunflower seeds, (occasional scratch just as a treat) and eat...
We had an invader in the coop last night and my broody hen left her eggs, not sure for how long. How long is it safe for them to leave their incubatees? I candled one this morning and I saw movement. They are at day 11. Thanks for your help. Yes, I will handle the intruder issue a (mouse or rat...
My hen started sitting on a clutch of eggs last week and hasn't moved from her nest yet. Should I take her off the next for a few minutes so she can move around and poo? I keep food and water near her at all times. I just saw the thread on "broody poo" and it got me to wondering.
My year old Minorca seems to have what looks like a droopy, saggy bottom, the area where her feathers are around her vet seems to droop - not the feathers but her bottom. I thought she had an egg stuck in there and did a little "exploration" but found nothing and she has been laying regularly...
My hen has started to sit on her eggs and she is in the "preferred" box. All the other hens join her when they need to lay their eggs. Needless to say, it gets quite crowded in there. This morning there were three in there at the same time. Can I move her to another box without disrupting her...
I came upon this on some website. It's great and true:
All I Need To Know In Life I Learned From My Chickens
by Michaele Oleson
Wake up early, stay busy
Rest when you need to, but always stay alert
Visit you favourite places every day
Scratch out a living
Routine is good
Plump is good
Don't...
You may have read some of my previous posts about my chicken who had crop problems and we eventually had the vet operate on her. (She is doing great!) Then another chicken came down with another crop problem (we've since discovered what the problem was and have taken care of it...) I tried all...