2018 Newbie Chat!

[BBZZZZTT]

This lovely - do your chickens ever fly out over the fence?

So far no. They have the ability to though obviously.
They stay in a completely enclosed run unless I am out there with them though.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

I took the chicks out to the run for the first time today. I'd been giving them grit for a few days already. It was in the 80s so no need for any additional warmth for the time we were out. I stayed in the run with them just cause they were so fun to watch, lol. They found some natural grit and went at it, it was smaller than the chick grit so maybe they liked it better. Ate leaves and chased a bug and generally had a good time after they got over their initial fear of a new place. I'd taken them out in a box and just put them in the box, loaded the feeder and empty waterer on top and ran inside. It was already drizzling. Good thing we went in when we did because it became a downpour. Jade managed to fly from the top of the box to the perch I made for them. Quite a feat.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Hi everybody, I'm a newbie. I am super new to chickens and just recently bought two reds and two Americanas. I am really excited to see how I do with these chickens and then maybe I can increase the number of my feathered friends. My son will also be raising poultry for 4H. I have been researching alot of poultry info because down here it's like pulling teeth from a donkey, getting someone experienced to talk to you about raising poultry. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone

you'll find many knowledgeable and experienced people on here and all so friendly and willing to help

 

[CannedMonster]

I took the chicks out to the run for the first time today. I'd been giving them grit for a few days already. It was in the 80s so no need for any additional warmth for the time we were out. I stayed in the run with them just cause they were so fun to watch, lol. They found some natural grit and went at it, it was smaller than the chick grit so maybe they liked it better. Ate leaves and chased a bug and generally had a good time after they got over their initial fear of a new place. I'd taken them out in a box and just put them in the box, loaded the feeder and empty waterer on top and ran inside. It was already drizzling. Good thing we went in when we did because it became a downpour. Jade managed to fly from the top of the box to the perch I made for them. Quite a feat.

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Cute babies !
They love being outside.
You’ll be surprised by how good they are at jumping.
I always give my babies roosts so they learn to use them early.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

So far no. They have the ability to though obviously.
They stay in a completely enclosed run unless I am out there with them though.

From what I can see you have a really lovely place there - Probably why they have no want nor need to fly, your place is beautiful

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I took the chicks out to the run for the first time today. I'd been giving them grit for a few days already. It was in the 80s so no need for any additional warmth for the time we were out. I stayed in the run with them just cause they were so fun to watch, lol. They found some natural grit and went at it, it was smaller than the chick grit so maybe they liked it better. Ate leaves and chased a bug and generally had a good time after they got over their initial fear of a new place. I'd taken them out in a box and just put them in the box, loaded the feeder and empty waterer on top and ran inside. It was already drizzling. Good thing we went in when we did because it became a downpour. Jade managed to fly from the top of the box to the perch I made for them. Quite a feat.

View attachment 1525534 View attachment 1525535 View attachment 1525537

Awwwww little darlings, they are beautiful

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Woke up late.... abnormal for a chicken keeper who’s coop is next to the house. Very abnormal for a chicken keeper with a rooster!
Wally my roo lost his voice....
I jumped on google and pulled out my guide to chicken keeping. More often then not it’s respiritory illness.
I run outside and watch Wally closely, no wheezing. No discharge from the nasal. Ugh not respiratory....
He sounds like a squeaky toy being stepped on when he crows. Like something is stuck....
run back out, feed coconut oil and boiled egg to him... pray for my Wally bird, nothing has changed since this morning....

I've heard Roos can lose their voices from over crowing, also heard a swollen thyroid can cause a Rooster to lose his voice and squeak instead, might be worth looking it up?
Apparently birds can get laryngitis and can get common colds too, am thinking they'd be coughing to though.
Really hope he gets well soon, will keep him in my prayers

 

[PNW_Peepers]

I've heard Roos can lose their voices from over crowing, also heard a swollen thyroid can cause a Rooster to lose his voice and squeak instead, might be worth looking it up?
Apparently birds can get laryngitis and can get common colds too, am thinking they'd be coughing to though.
Really hope he gets well soon, will keep him in my prayers

I haven’t heard of a swollen thyroid before. I have a couple big books on chicken health the biggest problems with most of these books is that they target broiler or laying hens. None of them discuss much about roosters: I posted in the emergencies thread this morning and so far it seems like he’ll get over it. If it continues into the fall I might have a much bigger problem. It could be anything from being an overused crow to avian influenza.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Update on Wally:
Did more research, I swear I’m always reading up something new on chickens. We’re going to hope for the best, if no improvement in two days were treating the whole flock for worms. We have safeguard on hand. Which has a 14 day withdrawal period. Keep an eye on your flock, they can get worms from eating insects like slugs, snails, or garden worms. They’ve even been known to get them from a dirty run! Yikes.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Update on Wally:
Did more research, I swear I’m always reading up something new on chickens. We’re going to hope for the best, if no improvement in two days were treating the whole flock for worms. We have safeguard on hand. Which has a 14 day withdrawal period. Keep an eye on your flock, they can get worms from eating insects like slugs, snails, or garden worms. They’ve even been known to get them from a dirty run! Yikes.

I've been reading about gapeworm because one of my ducks has partly lost her voice and sometimes sounds like a squeaky toy, shes been coughing as well though, I am keeping an eye on her but so far she hasn't developed any of the other symptoms and tell tell signs attached to gapeworm. We don't have any de-worming products for ducks in the UK so people usually use chicken or geese products but they don't always work so is often a case of hit or miss - Just thinking if it might be worth your while to de-worm your flock any way? Vets here recommend de-worming chickens twice a year regardless so I'm thinking it wouldn't do them any harm?