I have wrapped mine in the type of wrap from the feed store often used for horses and on their legs. I then wrapped over it with an ace bandage. If they get it wet of course it gets a bit more lose. Good luck!
Thank you so much for the idea! I have a squirt bottle that will work perfect. He actually just charged be from the inside of thenrun and I was out. Then went to spir my princess who protects me. So I went in the coop slippers and all with my training stick and told him to leave her alone! I...
when ever my roo acts all tough, you know crouch down attempt to get his side to you with an open path to pounce/spir/flog you? one of my hens, gets inbetween him and me and pecks his face! If he does "one up me" with a successful hit she jumps on him, as if to spir him! what a kind sweet...
PROS: less feed cost, temperment seems happier, dust bath a lot more=less pests
CONS: Higher risk for predators, destroy gardens, may lay eggs other than the coop
if the head feathers look chewed or they are itching or shaking their heads I would suspect mites/lice. if might be a pecking order thing (?) I believe when they go to molt they also start looking feathers on their head first
They have a dust bathing boxnin the coop with pellet stove ash, play sand and DE,,. They have less dust and a cleaner coop than my house! I have sprayed walls with goat&sheep spray and ensure extra feathers are out of the coop and changed bedding weekly. I spotted about 3 birds going to town on...
I assumed it was a lower pecking order issue, however now there are 3 hens with hair loss on their heads. When I shut them up this evening several were scratching their heads, by their ears. I sure do hope that you are right.
Been battling lice this spring, have found a small amount of nits, still (much less than before) but what is this? Black marks in waddles and combs and hair loss on the head? 3 treatments of ivermectin (spaced apart of course), sevin dust, sheep/goat spray. What the heck am i missing here? I...
Wonderful docile bird and easy to handle. They are late to mature and do not begin to lay until 23+ weeks. They make little noise and don't scratch too much. My rooster hardly ever crows, and they free range well. The only con could be is having feather footed bird and keeping a coop and run...
thanks prairiechickens! i believe its more important to teach kids about animals how to handle them, and when to stay away, than it is to teach the animal to be good around children. Afterall, he is a rooster, and at the perfect height to cause damage too ;) I am sure looking forward to the day...
she has fed them irregularly since they were chicks. however, this time she didnt. perhaps the sound of the swooshing snow attire played a significant role. either way that method seemed to have worked for the time being. in combination with her feeding the flock more we should be a well rounded...
While in the coop today my toddler 2.5 year old was also outside playing, she was interested in the birds and I allowed her to walk in the coop and run with me. She was wearing a snowsuit winter gloves, thick winter coat (the pink, purple michilan kid) the rooster jumped on her back and like...
sourland, what are some techniques that you recommend or used? I have had to chase him down in the run when I treated him for lice on 3 seperate occasions recently, every time i chase him around a bit and then he stops in a corner and crouches down or under a shovel right before I pick him up...
Has anyone ever had a protective hen attempt to keep you from taking their eggs in anyway, when NOT broody?
Has anyone had their rooster flog/spir another hen to protect you?
Laid some scratch, collected eggs, on the way out my most protective hen runs in front of me and turns to her side and...