I haven't checked her crop this morning yet. She eats a layer feed, her treats are 2 or 3 blueberries and about a tablespoon of mealworms daily, and whatever she forages in the yard while she's free ranging (about 4 hours daily). There is oyster shell available, plus dirt and sand. She doesn't...
Peggy, a 1 year 10 month old Easter Egger, has been doing this thing where she opens her mouth wide and her chest heaves. This behavior started about a week ago, and she does it several times per day.
She just came out of a brood, and otherwise she seems ok. She is drinking, eating, scratching...
She said this is new, she did send me this photo of her (not the best quality) taken last year. But thanks for the reply, I wondered that too, and you may be right.
Thanks for the quick reply, I meant to put that in the first post.
Yes, it is the almost the same on the other side, and she is getting plenty to eat. I don't think anyone is picking on her, I believe she's the top hen.
My friend just noticed her Buff Orpington has some purple on her wattles and face, comb looks fine (see photos). She told me the hen is eating, drinking, laying and very active and scratching around the yard. I've read that could mean oxygen deprivation , but I've never seen it in person before...
I just found this thread, I was going to put it in a separate thread, but here's my take on Jingle Bells:
(sung to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Chicken chicks,
Chicken chicks,
Chickens all the way!
O what fun it is to play
With a chick - en today, hey!
Chicken chicks,
Chicken chicks,
Chickens all...
Yes, is it that obvious? LOL
My friend got 4 several day old chicks last June, I remember telling her, "why do you want chickens?" and I thought it was a crazy idea.
But then, as they grew and I got to know them, and then they started doing cute chicken things, well... now I'm the crazy...
She is 1 year and 5 months old. Our other three chickens (all the same age) just had their first molt and have regrown their feathers. Peggy, the attacked chicken, hasn't molted at all yet. I thought maybe she wouldn't molt this year either since she hasn't started yet and the others have.
The...
We had a hen get attacked by a dog last week, and her whole rear is now bald. I'm not sure if the dog pulled out the feathers or it was a "fright molt".
My question is, will her butt feathers start to grow in now, or will they have to wait until she molts? She didn't molt this year, and I'd...
Here's an update: I was watching our coop cam and didn't see Peggy this morning, she didn't even show up when our auto door opened that allows them into an extended run. I was so worried.
I went out, couldn't find her, then thought, wait, there's no way.
But there she was, in the nesting box -...
I was so down Tuesday night, earlier that day a dog somehow got into the backyard (surrounded by a 6 foot tall privacy fence) and attacked our chickens who were getting a couple of hours of free ranging. Only one was hurt, she lost most of the feathers around her rear, and some leg and wing...
Our other three chickens are molting, Peggy was the only one that hasn't molted yet. We are planning on checking her out better today to check for any hidden injuries. I know there was no blood visible or staining her feathers, but a better look underneath is definitely warranted.
Thanks!
Hopefully encouraging news! I watched the coop cam today, and when the auto door from the coop to the run opened this morning, all the girls came out. And, Peggy, the attacked chicken, was the first one out!
There's another auto door that let's them into an extended run area, I had thrown some...
Thanks so much for your reply! The chicken mom sort of cried/cursed out the neighbor, who was apologizing profusely. I do think he felt badly his dog did that and promised it wouldn't happen again. We'll see....
At this point it's up to us now to make the yard more predator proof, so that's my...
Thanks! The door on the left leads to an extended run they have access to for most of the day. This is the first injury any of our chickens have suffered and I was just really worried. Thanks for your replies.
The dog didn't get in their run, they were out free ranging in the back yard. And I've checked the fence, the dog didn't dig under anywhere. There was a possible very small hole that the cat can barely squeeze through, and I boarded up that hole.
Thanks again for the advice!
My run and coop...
Thanks! She was able to get up on the ramp on her second try, and she also was able to get up on her roosting bar which is about 20 inches off the coop floor. It is hard to pick her up normally, but we'll try tomorrow to look her over better.
They are all tucked away in the coop now, so I can't...