2x4s in either orientation and 2x2s are commonly used sizes for roosts, with rounded edges of course. I mostly use 2x2s but have some very big birds now and will probably be switching to flat side up 2x4s for one flock eventually because of that.
Chickens don't like to spend a lot of time in...
I have a smaller version of this style coop; if you’re able to do caulking around the metal/wood join on the roof panels might help those last longer - the plywood of those panels was the first part of mine to fail due to slow snow melt from two winters getting in at the sides. It was actually...
If you can get the bird to hold still, a down feather held near the nostril should show it clearly if you can’t feel air on your hand (which is admittedly tough with small birds).
Snakes can fit through pretty tiny holes. Nearly all predator proof enclosures are not snake proof even with small...
Is air coming from both nostrils? Physical obstruction from debris getting stuck can lead to swelling without other symptoms at first, but it can progress to creating abscesses in the sinuses.
Stings from insects and bites from even non-venomous snakes can also cause swelling without...
Thanks for the ping!
The short answer is yes, it's definitely possible to 3D print splints and prosthetics. Here are two examples, a prosthetic and a brace used on chickens specifically:
"Creamy the hen and her 3D printed foot"...
Hoovers supplies my local TSC too. I can't speak to their Delawares but of the original 6 BO pullets I started with four years ago, I only have two left and only one really has had zero reproductive issues. Three of them died directly from reproductive issues and the other had some other kind of...
Bummer...I guess it really is just a gamble then. The "good size" you showed looks like it would actually be just fine for my pullet, but also because of the shape of the bits not just the size. Maybe smaller as little logs like that would also be ok...hard to know for sure without trying it...
I have a pullet who injured her eyelid right out of the egg, so she has one eye that closes a bit wonky and is therefore prone to getting small debris in it. I had to switch her flock's coop from a mixed size pine bedding that was really absorbant to large flake to minimize dust and smaller...
She's a mixture of buff orpington and barred rock, but a couple generations in from those original starting breeds, so the interesting hidden traits are starting to come out I think.
She loves to snooze like that on laps too. Just tips over and kicks those footsies out 🤣
I have been advised that Miss Boots and her horiffic choice of sun snoozing pose should join this thread. She is fine of course...she just likes to make sure that my adrenaline level isn't lol.
The new Goober hut is operational. Still a few minor things to do like mulch over the skirt. These two will still get plenty of outside time weather permitting, but the old setup was one of those short prefab designs and Goobs is a tall boy who keeps getting taller. This one has much needed...
I finally utilized some of the big build capacity of the Creality K2 Plus. I have a rooster hen pair that have been together since last winter and just got a prefab coop upgrade. However, there's not such abundant room in their new house that I can put a really big feeder like my...
This is Boots. She definitely had a bit of a rough time as a little chick earlier this year. In addition to the corrective shoe thing at hatching, there was another problem I never posted about: she managed to do a self-inflicted injury to one of her eyelids shortly after her feet were fixed, so...
In this warm summer weather I've been taking the Ameraucana babies out each day. With all of my past chicks' first outings, I put the tractor within view of but not fully inside main flock's enclosure. These chicks are so wiggly I didn't trust that for a minute lol. They need an enclosure within...
I let the boys out for a photo shoot a few days back.
Mr Squeak loves the camera. He will just twirl, flap, prance about, and strike a dramatic pose all day.
Liu Kang is difficult to get goot photos of because he's a dance maniac, but he is a pretty boy when he's in focus! Getting some nice...
So I thought I had 5 roosters/cockerels in the bachelor pen, but actually I have 4 of those and then this one weird striped wading bird creature. Assuming Speedy grows into his legs and feet, he is going to be MASSIVE. And if not, then he's going to be trending towards the modern game build...
Well, the frat house is getting...interesting LOL. There are five birds in there right now. There should be 4 on one side and 1 on the other side...that being Mr Squeak, who has no off button if his brother sets him going.
Now, Squeak is separated from the otehrs by a barrier that I have...
An update: not long after the second round of dewormer concluded, significant feather growth started up again for both birds. Raven in particular is definitely doing a full molt now. She is a pincushion. Buuuuut…several of my other birds in a different flock also decided late July was the time...