2018 Newbie Chat!

[CannedMonster]

Do the tail feathers on the the base of a rooster become a part of the molt? I think I saw some kind of irritation on Prince.

I have used collodial silver twice for wounds now, both times it was healed up by the next day. I got to make more. I also have vetercyn.

They lose all feathers on the annual molt.
Some birds lose a lot at a time and others lose a few but it takes them longer to replace them all and finish.
I think some birds can take a month or two to conclude their molt.
My friend told me that Hector’s tail came in last.

 

[CannedMonster]

Warning!!!!!
Graphic!!!!
This is Ash’s wound from being over mated. Wally doesn’t even have developed Spurs, this is simply from mounting repeatedly.
View attachment 1653347
The black is a scab starting to form.

Poor girl!
Angus is growing spurs but hasn’t developed them all the way yet.
They’re stubby.
I know their claws can cause wounds like hers when they’re trying to balance on her to mate.
I’ll be checking my girls this weekend.

 

[CannedMonster]

Guys I have posted a thread under “Flock Management” to seek advice on how to separate my two roosters into two flocks, each with his own girls and coop.
I think I need a few more girls though.

I just can’t decide if integrating “started pullets” would be best or add a few more chicks?
I’m reluctant to do chicks because it takes so long for them to start laying.
But if I do older pullets I have the integration issues to worry about.
I’m so tired of integration!
I’ve been doing it for almost a year!
But I really don’t think I have enough girls for both.
I just don’t know...

I have 13 girls, not including the bantams.
One could have 6 and one could have 7...I guess?
Do I let the girls decide?
Most of my 10 younger pullets let Angus breed with them but they scream when Oliver does; except Elsie one of the Speckled Sussex. She seems to like him.
Mostly they scream and complain because he tries to breed the ones that aren’t laying yet, the dummy.
I can’t have Oliver with only one hen though.
Plus I can fit about 15 birds in the big coop but I’m not going to have room for that many in the new one.

Then I have the issue with the bantams.
Angus and Oliver are just too big for them.
I want a bantam rooster but he has to be able to handle himself with Angus and Oliver when all the bantams are free ranging with everyone else.
He can’t be too docile or the LF boys will move in on his girls.
But I don’t want a bantam roo that’s too aggressive and attacks them and gets injured or injures them.
Ugh!

Plus my DH has to deal with all this because I have to work full time now.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Warning!!!!!
Graphic!!!!
This is Ash’s wound from being over mated. Wally doesn’t even have developed Spurs, this is simply from mounting repeatedly.
View attachment 1653347
The black is a scab starting to form.

Awwwww poor girl
You've done a great job cleaning it up, looks like it might heal quickly, lets hope so

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Ouch. I really hope I don't have the same issue. I got so much going on with the dogs, I'm hoping I can focus on them for just a little bit.

I have 3 dogs with hip dysplasia, 2 have had hip surgeries on both hips. The youngest is doing really good, the older one that had surgery is on adequan and my oldest that is 14 was diagnosed with it not long ago--never saw that coming. She is on adequan. I bought a laser pad for pain relief and will be using that on the two older ones--both my girls. One of my GSDs gets allergies in the winter--he is actually allergic to the heat source in the house. So I keep the heat at 68 with a window cracked open which eased the itching. I got him a seasonal support supplement that seems to work for others. And I found a lump on my oldest golden. I've been monitoring it and it could be a fatty tumor--it hasn't grown, but another little lump appeared a couple inches from that one. I don't like this lump. My experience as a former vet tech is telling me its not good. I've moved away from lots of traditional medicines. I don't want surgery so it can spread, chemo destroys the gut. So I went with medicinal mushrooms along with a mushroom complex for immunity support. I will do this and watch these lumps. Of course I will take him in if I feel it's getting worse. I'm keeping my fingers crossed here. He us such a good dog. So my focus is on him and my oldest(she is 14.5) She seems to be moving better with the cold/snow. She goes out and is rolling around in it and doesn't want to come in..lol. She wakes me up to go lay out there. Her name his Misty but we call her Misty Furball.

So lots going on. Sorry for the vent, I just needed to get it all out. The struggle is real here, but we are survivors and I will do anything for all of them.

Awwww hun what a worry. I had an Alsation suffer with hip dysplasia, so know how debilitating it can be but by sounds of it yours are doing really well especially considering their age. Hopefully the lumps are only fatty tissue but has to be said, given their age they really are doing very well - hoping for you and your dogs hun

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Oh and I put an old soft dog bed I found in with the ducks. I'm pretty sure it will make a difference. I'll just rotate that with some blankets. They all were just looking at it, because of course they don't trust it yet. One of the runners did have one foot on it and was staying put. Hopefully they take advantage of it.

Just a thought but what about putting a few treats in the centre of it, might be enough to encourage them to get on long enough to see it won't hurt them and isn't a threat?

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Guys I have posted a thread under “Flock Management” to seek advice on how to separate my two roosters into two flocks, each with his own girls and coop.
I think I need a few more girls though.

I just can’t decide if integrating “started pullets” would be best or add a few more chicks?
I’m reluctant to do chicks because it takes so long for them to start laying.
But if I do older pullets I have the integration issues to worry about.
I’m so tired of integration!
I’ve been doing it for almost a year!
But I really don’t think I have enough girls for both.
I just don’t know...

I have 13 girls, not including the bantams.
One could have 6 and one could have 7...I guess?
Do I let the girls decide?
Most of my 10 younger pullets let Angus breed with them but they scream when Oliver does; except Elsie one of the Speckled Sussex. She seems to like him.
Mostly they scream and complain because he tries to breed the ones that aren’t laying yet, the dummy.
I can’t have Oliver with only one hen though.
Plus I can fit about 15 birds in the big coop but I’m not going to have room for that many in the new one.

Then I have the issue with the bantams.
Angus and Oliver are just too big for them.
I want a bantam rooster but he has to be able to handle himself with Angus and Oliver when all the bantams are free ranging with everyone else.
He can’t be too docile or the LF boys will move in on his girls.
But I don’t want a bantam roo that’s too aggressive and attacks them and gets injured or injures them.
Ugh!

Plus my DH has to deal with all this because I have to work full time now.

Obviously at the end of the day it's up to you to decide what is best for you and your flocks, however, if it were me and I had the room I would keep all the originals with Angus and get a new set of girls for Oliver, that way the flock doesnt have to be separated plus having new girls for Oliver might be enough to keep him occupied while you bring in a new rooster and distract him from trying mate with the bantams.
As for a bantam roo, what about getting one who already has girls, I know it would be extra chickens but my thinking is a rooster with girls will already be established in taking care of his flock and when you join them in with your girls, once you have integrated them and he has claimed them as his, he will protect them too.
Just a thought

 

[CannedMonster]

Obviously at the end of the day it's up to you to decide what is best for you and your flocks, however, if it were me and I had the room I would keep all the originals with Angus and get a new set of girls for Oliver, that way the flock doesnt have to be separated plus having new girls for Oliver might be enough to keep him occupied while you bring in a new rooster and distract him from trying mate with the bantams.
As for a bantam roo, what about getting one who already has girls, I know it would be extra chickens but my thinking is a rooster with girls will already be established in taking care of his flock and when you join them in with your girls, once you have integrated them and he has claimed them as his, he will protect them too.
Just a thought

Very good ideas.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I never considered finding a bantam rooster with a few more bantam girls...definitely something to consider.

I could get some started pullets to put with Oliver. That way I don’t have to wait long for them to be ready to breed and lay eggs.
I’m kind of limited on breeds though.

 

[CannedMonster]

Hey guys, I just bought some coop building plans they have on Meyer Hatchery’s website.
It comes with complete plans and a materials list.
They email them to you.
They actually have several sets of plans for several different sizes of coops.
They even have plans for a duck coop!
It’s low to the ground and has a ramp.

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, the one I wanted (for 10-12 chickens) was “out of stock”.
I asked them about it and they said they would get back to me.
I got the 4’x4’ plans (for 4-6 chickens) instead because DH thinks he can easily modify it to 4’x8’ to house 8 birds.
We’re going to build it in the side yard for Angus and 7 girls.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

Hey guys, I just bought some coop building plans they have on Meyer Hatchery’s website.
It comes with complete plans and a materials list.
They email them to you.
They actually have several sets of plans for several different sizes of coops.
They even have plans for a duck coop!
It’s low to the ground and has a ramp.

Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, the one I wanted (for 10-12 chickens) was “out of stock”.
I asked them about it and they said they would get back to me.
I got the 4’x4’ plans (for 4-6 chickens) instead because DH thinks he can easily modify it to 4’x8’ to house 8 birds.
We’re going to build it in the side yard for Angus and 7 girls.

How exciting! A new coop! I'll have to check out their plans. Not that I'm making one, just cause I like looking at them.
Hey, my thread asking about cold weather is a Featured Thread!!! Wow!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/opinions-of-cold-climate-chicken-keepers-needed.1289148/