2018 Newbie Chat!

[CannedMonster]

Here are a couple pictures of Sir Duke.

He seems to be molting. He is the only one out of all of them, of course he is the only one inside.

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It’s odd that he’s losing feathers.
After their juvenile molt they won’t molt again until about 16-18 months of age.
I wonder if it’s because of indoor temperatures?

 

[llombardo]

It’s odd that he’s losing feathers.
After their juvenile molt they won’t molt again until about 16-18 months of age.
I wonder if it’s because of indoor temperatures?

This is the first time he is loosing feathers. I'm thinking it's the indoor temps. It's not super warm. I do keep a window slightly open and all vents are closed.

 

[CannedMonster]

So I try to give all the animals a special treat on Holidays.

The chickens got..steak, chicken cat food, fresh homemade bread(they never get this), tomatoe, corn, lettuce, spinach and warm fresh cranberries

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The ducks got mixed greens, warm cranberries, some bread and green beans
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It seems I have 2 rabbits in the run--they got some Timothy hay. I realized there was a second one yesterday. How you ask? It was waiting for me to fill the water. I couldn't figure out where the water was going over night--now I know..lol. They are using the ducks pool with straw to sleep in--found one there today, that same one also spends time on top of the hutch. The chickens and ducks seem to like the rabbits and the rabbits are not trying to leave--I think they are happy where they are. I'm okay with that--I'll feed them and give water--plenty of shelter for them.i gave to say they are pretty smart

I hope you don’t end up with a colony of rabbits in there.
My husband used to raise them.
He said they’ll dig holes everywhere which can allow predators an entrance.

 

[CannedMonster]

So I try to give all the animals a special treat on Holidays.

The chickens got..steak, chicken cat food, fresh homemade bread(they never get this), tomatoe, corn, lettuce, spinach and warm fresh cranberries

View attachment 1597118

View attachment 1597120

View attachment 1597121

The ducks got mixed greens, warm cranberries, some bread and green beans
View attachment 1597122

It seems I have 2 rabbits in the run--they got some Timothy hay. I realized there was a second one yesterday. How you ask? It was waiting for me to fill the water. I couldn't figure out where the water was going over night--now I know..lol. They are using the ducks pool with straw to sleep in--found one there today, that same one also spends time on top of the hutch. The chickens and ducks seem to like the rabbits and the rabbits are not trying to leave--I think they are happy where they are. I'm okay with that--I'll feed them and give water--plenty of shelter for them.i gave to say they are pretty smart

That looks so good.
My birds only got some baked potato but I am giving them the turkey breast bone and scraps in the days ahead.

I brought Frodo into the house for a few minutes today.
He’s gotten very used to being handled now and actually walks up to me when he wants me to pick him up.

I’ve always wanted one of my bantam Cochins to let me cuddle them; I just never thought it would be Frodo.

He thought the TV was strange and was a little disturbed by my dog, Charlie’s, toy lol.

I’m keeping him in a dog crate in the garage right now as I treat him with Corid. He’s still very thin and his comb and wattles are still pale and shrunken.

 

[llombardo]

I hope you don’t end up with a colony of rabbits in there.
My husband used to raise them.
He said they’ll dig holes everywhere which can allow predators an entrance.

I'm checking the area daily. They are cotton tails. From what I'm reading(10 minutes ago) they are solitaire animals(which is true because they are never together when I search for them) until breeding time, this breed are not into the digging(unless it's for a nest), the babies are 4 inches long when born(the chickens may eat them?), they drink lots of water(hence my disappearing water), makes will fight with males, females will fight with females. They are right there with chickens as far as predators. I never thought about a raccoon eating them and they do. They don't usually live more then a year and 50% don't make it out of the nest.

I'm pretty sure they can not dig under because I have hardware cloth on the ground on the outer side and it wraps around so they would hit it. If they are not leaving I will add more hardware cloth on the inside to keep the chickens safe. I tried catching the first one, super fast and zig zagging everywhere. The second one moves slower and looks like at some point it had an injury to its nose--that is how I figured out there were two.

Obviously they are feeling pretty safe. They are probably thinking we got food, we got water and we got dogs and electric fencing, we are staying put.

I'm thinking that at least one may crawl under the straw in the pool to keep warm.

I must have a sign on my forehead that reads all animals welcome...lol. Although I do not want baby rabbits, what a nightmare that would be..

 

[llombardo]

That looks so good.
My birds only got some baked potato but I am giving them the turkey breast bone and scraps in the days ahead.

I brought Frodo into the house for a few minutes today.
He’s gotten very used to being handled now and actually walks up to me when he wants me to pick him up.

I’ve always wanted one of my bantam Cochins to let me cuddle them; I just never thought it would be Frodo.

He thought the TV was strange and was a little disturbed by my dog, Charlie’s, toy lol.

I’m keeping him in a dog crate in the garage right now as I treat him with Corid. He’s still very thin and his comb and wattles are still pale and shrunken.
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Hopefully he will be ok. I'm glad you are trying to make him better. These little feathered creatures sure can wiggle into your heart.

 

[CannedMonster]

GUYS!
I candled Pippin’s eggs today and there’s movement in the LF Naked Neck egg!!!

Unfortunately she had kicked the bantam egg out of the nest and it was cold.
I’ve read many broody threads where the eggs got cold but still hatched after being warmed again.
I put it back under her. When I candled it the development seemed okay but I didn’t see it moving.
I really hope this one hatched too because I’m hoping it’s Silkies child.

 

[llombardo]

Here is Ricky in his pool and in the back corner on the right behind the pool is one of the rabbits. Now I have two more creatures to worry about with predators....

 

[llombardo]

GUYS!
I candled Pippin’s eggs today and there’s movement in the LF Naked Neck egg!!!

Unfortunately she had kicked the bantam egg out of the nest and it was cold.
I’ve read many broody threads where the eggs got cold but still hatched after being warmed again.
I put it back under her. When I candled it the development seemed okay but I didn’t see it moving.
I really hope this one hatched too because I’m hoping it’s Silkies child.

When is hatch day?

 

[CannedMonster]

Hopefully he will be ok. I'm glad you are trying to make him better. These little feathered creatures sure can wiggle into your heart.

I know right!!
I used to not like him very much when he was always trying to be the Alpha rooster.
But now that he’s ailing and he’s still fighting I just admire his spirit and the fact that he won’t give up even though I can see how exhausted he gets.
If the Corid doesn’t work I have to assume coccidiosis isn’t the problem and try something else.
Sometimes I think I hear a crackling sound in his lungs when my head is close to him.
I wonder about pneumonia and if he might need antibiotics.