Very nice, younger Amerucana. Today I noticed she's bloated belly and waddling. I've seen this before and there must be something better than a rubber glove and Vaseline.
Really want to help her but am not sure how to help. Any ideas??
I've had 2 extra hours of light on to get some laying...
A week ago, one. Now her sister.
If I am planning on giving one hen chicks in another week, (she's sitting on 5 golf balls, was going to introduce 4 chicks), can each get 2 chicks or does one need to be broken from this spell and the other allowed to be mom?
Thanks, Tim
I have a very sweet Mottled Java that sat on the nest all last night acting like she had to lay, but never did. This morning I checked for egg binding and found nothing, and she hopped right down, but at lunch she was back on the nest, moaning like she was alying but had nothing close enough for...
Hello....
We had a big girl, Buffy, start getting a messy vent area. Very messy. Then I noticed a few other girls with the same issue. Behavior is fine, just the looks I guess but I figured I would make sure.
Wet, cold spring.
Thanks, Tim
So a RIR has a bleeding rear or inner claw / nail. Not flowing blood, but bloody spots in the snow.
Should I do anything to be proactive about this?
Thanks, Tim
So one of the EE girls laid an egg that was almost the size of a baseball! I will have to get a picture up. Next day, there was an egg that was no shell, all soft. Now, she has been on the nest for hours. Might she need to be lubricated or helped? Any tips on getting her back on track?
Hello all again!
We have a 3-4 year old RIR that lately has been laying different and thinner eggs. By different I mean they are not the same color and smoothness they used to be.
Today I watched her mount a 2 year old Aulstralorp hen and act just like they were mating.
Is this in any way...
Our 4 year old BR hen has the stumps where spurs would be. No nail but has the stumps. Is this normal? Just noticed it today as she went after the newest flock member.
Thanks! Tim
I want to be as humane and responsible as possible and need some advise please. A 3 year old RIR is waddling around because her stomach or lower bowel area is totally swollen. I lubed up with a surgical glove and my finger came back blood and stool even though I was very gentle and careful...
we have a 3 year old RIR that has been waddling more than walking, and her tail is down. Today I noticed her feet are getting red. Any thoughts on what to look for?
Thanks, Tim
Who else has winter molters? Our EE started, then there were BR feathers everywhere. She is nearly naked.
Any additives we can / should provide to help?
We have 4 girls who are now 4 years old. Egg production has defiantly dropped. Do you allow them to live out their lives or do you cull & stew? We are back yard farmers, not real farmers so this would be an experience. Just curious as to what backyard farmers do with older girls.
Thanks! Tim
Our new girls are about 6 months old right now. 2 EE, Aulstralorp, Gold Star. Will they lay this fall / winter or wait until spring? Rule of thumb? We keep coop at 40*F. Faces are pretty red.
Thanks!
Hello again all!
We have 4 3 yr old hens and now have 4 10 week old pullets. We were told that the big girls eat lay mash that has hormones to promote egg production, and the little chicks get a basic growing feed. The issue is that the big girls almost exclusively eat the chick food. Will this...
Two nights ago we had a raccoon...how should I say this...injure 2 of our chickens to the point that I had to finish the job personally. Very sad night. A BR and a EE died. We found a person selling in our area but all are 6-7 week old birds. Our current flock is 3 or so years old, 4 remain out...
Our 6 girls are constantly fighting for top bird, 2 BR, 2 RIR, 2EE. All 6 lay fine, two years old this spring. 3 have no tails, and one lost hers today with blood around her hind area. Seems the BRs rise and fall from power, but the EEs always get picked on even though they have never been on...
I cought some Chubb fish today and would like to give it to our girls for protine. Should it be cooked? Fillet or fish halves? Good & fat fish, they liked the few bits of meat we threw in...
Thanks, Tim
One of our BR's has a completely bare area well under the vent, where she would nest. Is this normal? There is a large pink area with not one feather... Girls are doing well in the winter. I have a heater in the coop for them and it gets to high 30's but does not freeze.
Tim