2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

I went from a 5 gallon heated bucket to a 2.5 gallon heated bucket. I'm still decuding where I will dump that daily, but at least I can lift it.

I may go buy empty buckets to bring out to refill.

I think empty buckets is a good idea, think it would make things easier, even if only a little. - I'm thinking of doing that myself actually.

 

[CannedMonster]

My sister just called and she says Her leg is fine and repeated how strong his legs are. She completely doesn't blame him and knows he was doing what he was suppose to. We all grew up with lots of animals so we get it.

He is all comfy with his girls in the coop now.

View attachment 1572919

When his spurs grow out it may be a different story.
I’m watching Angus’ spurs growing and will have to consider how to address that if it ever becomes an issue.
But he hasn’t tried to flog anyone in a very long while so I’m not worried.

 

[llombardo]

When his spurs grow out it may be a different story.
I’m watching Angus’ spurs growing and will have to consider how to address that if it ever becomes an issue.
But he hasn’t tried to flog anyone in a very long while so I’m not worried.

I'm keeping an eye on the Spurs. I believe those can be filed down? Maybe I'll shoot for kerping them where they are now.

Crowing? I've read that they shouldn't crow in front of you.. He has always done this. In fact I think he only crows when he is trying to get my attention or hears me. If he hears me pull up in the car--he crows. If he hears I'm up in the morning-he crows. If I go outside and then come inside-he crows. It sounds like he is screaming for me--literally. Just like in the middle if the night, he hears stuff, he crows and then I come out and make sure everything is secure, he stops crowing. If a dog is out there at night, I don't hear him crow. It's like he knows when he may need back up. Can they be that smart?

 

[llombardo]

The ducks are loving the pool. They took to it right away, usually they think anything new will kill them.

 

[CannedMonster]

I’m not sure if I mentioned on this thread but I believe I may have an egg eater.
We haven’t gotten anything but bantam eggs for several days and I haven’t gotten an egg from my sex link Red, since Monday.
I found a small bit of egg yolk in the bedding on the floor of the coop when cleaning a few days ago.
This is very concerning as Red is my best layer.
Red and Angus were in there scratching around in the bedding like they were looking for something yummy...
I’ve been watching very closely this morning...I was able to get Emily’s egg so I know it’s not her.

In other news...Frodo is back!
My friend gave him back to me since Silkie passed and Frodo hasn’t been doing well at her house.
He is very skinny and didn’t have good color at all.
The hen he liked at Kat’s house died and the other bantam roo has all the girls.

He’s been here for a few days now and I put Pippin and Cricket in with him.
He ignores them...
He doesn’t tidbit or crow at all.
No dancing or attempts to breed.
He doesn’t seem to be ill (isn’t puffed up and seems to be eating) but he sure isn’t the same guy he used to be.

I’m going to worm him and see if that helps.
I’ll also put some NutriDrench in the water.

 

[llombardo]

I’m not sure if I mentioned on this thread but I believe I may have an egg eater.
We haven’t gotten anything but bantam eggs for several days and I haven’t gotten an egg from my sex link Red, since Monday.
I found a small bit of egg yolk in the bedding on the floor of the coop when cleaning a few days ago.
This is very concerning as Red is my best layer.
Red and Angus were in there scratching around in the bedding like they were looking for something yummy...
I’ve been watching very closely this morning...I was able to get Emily’s egg so I know it’s not her.

In other news...Frodo is back!
My friend gave him back to me since Silkie passed and Frodo hasn’t been doing well at her house.
He is very skinny and didn’t have good color at all.
The hen he liked at Kat’s house died and the other bantam roo has all the girls.

He’s been here for a few days now and I put Pippin and Cricket in with him.
He ignores them...
He doesn’t tidbit or crow at all.
No dancing or attempts to breed.
He doesn’t seem to be ill (isn’t puffed up and seems to be eating) but he sure isn’t the same guy he used to be.

I’m going to worm him and see if that helps.
I’ll also put some NutriDrench in the water.

I hope it works out with Frodo.

I have found egg like you described in the coop on occasion. It was a soft egg. Is it possible that someone layed a shelless egg and they got it?

 

[Anna Ranieri]

The ducks are loving the pool. They took to it right away, usually they think anything new will kill them.

View attachment 1573748 View attachment 1573751 View attachment 1573756

Lovely pictures

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I’m not sure if I mentioned on this thread but I believe I may have an egg eater.
We haven’t gotten anything but bantam eggs for several days and I haven’t gotten an egg from my sex link Red, since Monday.
I found a small bit of egg yolk in the bedding on the floor of the coop when cleaning a few days ago.
This is very concerning as Red is my best layer.
Red and Angus were in there scratching around in the bedding like they were looking for something yummy...
I’ve been watching very closely this morning...I was able to get Emily’s egg so I know it’s not her.

In other news...Frodo is back!
My friend gave him back to me since Silkie passed and Frodo hasn’t been doing well at her house.
He is very skinny and didn’t have good color at all.
The hen he liked at Kat’s house died and the other bantam roo has all the girls.

He’s been here for a few days now and I put Pippin and Cricket in with him.
He ignores them...
He doesn’t tidbit or crow at all.
No dancing or attempts to breed.
He doesn’t seem to be ill (isn’t puffed up and seems to be eating) but he sure isn’t the same guy he used to be.

I’m going to worm him and see if that helps.
I’ll also put some NutriDrench in the water.

I remember you mentioning a while back that you had eggs going missing and traces of yolk. Could it be a grass snake or something?
Poor Frodo, sound like he's had a hard time of it lately - hopefully he'll reach the end of his mourning and accept Pippin and Cricket

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I'm keeping an eye on the Spurs. I believe those can be filed down? Maybe I'll shoot for kerping them where they are now.

Crowing? I've read that they shouldn't crow in front of you.. He has always done this. In fact I think he only crows when he is trying to get my attention or hears me. If he hears me pull up in the car--he crows. If he hears I'm up in the morning-he crows. If I go outside and then come inside-he crows. It sounds like he is screaming for me--literally. Just like in the middle if the night, he hears stuff, he crows and then I come out and make sure everything is secure, he stops crowing. If a dog is out there at night, I don't hear him crow. It's like he knows when he may need back up. Can they be that smart?

I don't know where you read about not crowing in front of you but it isn't true, there is no evidence what so ever of roosters crowing in front of anyone is a bad thing (or even means anything. There is an old superstition about crowing in front of you being very bad luck, and that a person "shouldn't let a rooster crow on your doorstep" which would bring bad luck for the rest of your life and even death - so whether what you read came from that I don't know but I know enough about cockerels to know that isn't true.
I promise you I have no wish to offend anyone who may read this but one of my biggest hates is when humans provoke an attack then blame the rooster or label him aggressive or unsafe, it also gets at me how so many blame a rooster for doing what they are designed and programmed to do and accuse the rooster of being aggressive when all they are doing is their job. It is my belief that cockerels deserve respect and understanding and is the owners responsibility to learn, gain and understand everything about roosters and about keeping a rooster. I also believe that learning their rooster is a great help to ensure they don't provoke an attack. I have great admiration for you due to you doing what needs to be done to prevent any provoked attacks i.e. no longer taking carrier bags near him.
I am asking you please to watch this video and take note of everything this guy is saying, he is an expert who is renowned for his expertise and skill in breeding, keeping and training roosters. In this video he uses Gamefowl only because he had an aggressive bird but all this is across the board for all cockerels - I believe this video may answer some if not all your questions and concerns.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

So very very proud of my beauties, no feather picking or feather eating at all today! There was some chasing and some pecking as usual every morning from those wishing to reiterate that they are above the underlings but no one pulled any feathers at all
Pedro chased and pecked Roo a few times this morning but always has done, and at one point Roo got shoved and pushed a few times by the ducks when she got in the way of them foraging but they didn't bite her, just shoved her about to see her off from their goodies they'd found but as I said no feathers were pulled, picked, harmed or eaten at all.
Pedro's tail was down a lot again for most of the day but I believe this to be due to the miserable weather we had because late afternoon the rain stopped, sun came out and was quite warm and from then on her tail was up and stayed up.
They had their first experience of hailstones, they didn't like it and were scared, they all ran to hide under a bush, all four under the same bush, all together the whole time, no fighting, chasing, pecking or bullying at all and later in the day I saw them again all together resting in their favourite spot under my grandson's trampoline.
I've noticed the vast amount of change in the feed levels, they've eaten in two days what had been taking almost a week to eat, which satisfies me that they are eating a good amount of their feed now, which I am so relieved about. As they have done so well I decided to give them back their bedtime treat but gave only a teaspoon per bird but will gradually build it back up to half a tablespoon per bird per day. There was a little bit of snappiness as there was so little to share between them but they soon calmed and at bed time everyone went to bed with no fuss or bother and settled down really quickly. I'm so relieved and very pleased to say the least