Hi everyone, Southern Oregon chicken lover here. I had no idea that there were so many breeds out there. I just finished looking at the breeds section and, wow!, is all I can say. Our Grange Co op out here carries what must be the 'standard' breeds. I have the following: 1 Buff orpington rooster (enormous) named Roderick by our boys, 1 buff orpington hen, 3 black australorps, 1 silver laced wyandotte, 2 rhode island reds (I think), and a leghorn. Most are in full molt right now and look horrible poor little things. I did have several more but we have a resident sharp shinned hawk that has harvested a few here and there. I rescued my leghorn from the hawk the other day and had to sit with her on my knee for about an hour while she calmed down. I think that she was too heavy for the hawk and so he had to land with her under him at which point I scared him off. We live on sixty acres of forested land and the hens are all free range and so they are exposed to the predators. They do go home to their coop at night and for the most part they lay in the morning. I admit to pandering to these creatures, which means that they get a mash of wild rice and ground flax seed several times a week.
I do have a question though, my rooster's comb keeps getting scabs on it and the ends of the comb are always a sort of dark purple color not bright red like the rest of it. Why is this, it is not very attractive? Is there a vitamin supplement that I should be feeding them? Thanks for any input. Kat
I do have a question though, my rooster's comb keeps getting scabs on it and the ends of the comb are always a sort of dark purple color not bright red like the rest of it. Why is this, it is not very attractive? Is there a vitamin supplement that I should be feeding them? Thanks for any input. Kat
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. It could be fowl pox. It is spread by mosquitoes. Its a virus and there is no treatment, but you can add vitamins and extra treats for them to help their immune system fight it. A pic would help to ID. 
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