Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

I have lots to catch up on but i wont right now, will take a long time lol. Just an update from me tonight. My 3 younger hens are now comfortable enough to eat with the others (with enough distance to get a head start if chased haha) so although they still sleep and roam seperately im not really worried anymore.

Ive been meaning to look it up, can a hen be almost broody? I sometimes find Miss Vonte in the nesting box usually in the morning not longer after waking and early arvo as if trying to lay an egg or sit on them (shes fluffed out as though she is) but she spends a lot more time out of the box than in it. She hasnt laid for a few days now. Have been alternating from thinking maybe shes broody to wondering if shes trying to lay and failing cos of sickness or bad diet. But she seems perfectly healthy and eats the same as the others and my other hen has laid every day without fail from day 1.

I also think were going to build a fence to enclose just a small run (10x10m?) for them this week. That way they can stay closed in but still have that extra outside area on top of their sheds. And prob try letting them free range out the fence couple times a week.

This idea has come from the fact that today they decided the 3 acres they have to roam in is not enough and decided to visit the neighbours across the street and way up the road. IN their gardens! So since we dont have a gate i can close im left with no other option, i cant let them roam the neighbours veggie patches! Theyve left the property but not gone into any yards couple times but never regularly, i called them back 4 times today! Just kept going straight back out to roam further and further each time.

Not great photos but one at least shows how green it has gotten (brown to vibrant green in about 3 days!) And that the 2 flocks almost socialise now

6 acres is fully enclosed with dog proof wire. A few of my bantams still feel the need to high foot it to the neighbours a few days a week. Lucky she doesn't mind.

 

[satay]

Fancy, I tend not to get sick. And I'm not saying coccidiostats are without merit, they certainly have their uses. I can also admit, that in my climate it's probably a lot easier to go with the no treatment route, since our temperatures are less beneficial for the oocysts. Your regular 30-37C temps hit the sweet spot for them pretty nicely, while our often below 20C temps helps keep the problem down. Another way to battle the problem is to insure that the bedding stays dry. A slightly moist 30C environment would probably require some medication in the flock.

I'm just trying to get people to think before using medication, especially when it hasn't been prescribed by a professional. I thought the pro-med side was strongly enough represented already, so I chose a slightly black and white tone in my reply. As long as the person administering the medication first reads up on how it works, and understands what they're doing, and carefully checks the dosage and treatment intervals, I have nothing against it.

I'm like you felix. I don't get sick often but when I do I get in trouble from the doctors for taking weeks to come in... I always tell them I was waiting for it go to away by itself.

 

[satay]

And momma goat giving her son Toby a little cuddle. Toby has been a little ' under the weather ' of late and momma seems to be aware of it.

Oh so sweet.

 

[appps]

Can I get some crop advice please.

Have noticed for a while that Carl seems to have a really full crop in the afternoon. More noticeable when I pat her than usual. Finally was the one to let her out this morning so had a feel before she ate anything and it's still very full this morning.

Where do I start? Never had a crop problem before.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Can I get some crop advice please.

Have noticed for a while that Carl seems to have a really full crop in the afternoon. More noticeable when I pat her than usual. Finally was the one to let her out this morning so had a feel before she ate anything and it's still very full this morning.

Where do I start? Never had a crop problem before.

I usually leave them penned for a day without food. If the crop is still bulging massage in a downward motion and examine again in the morning.
An impacted crop will usually have a sour odour . Excessive thirst is one of the first signs of trouble.

 

[appps]

I usually leave them penned for a day without food. If the crop is still bulging massage in a downward motion and examine again in the morning.
An impacted crop will usually have a sour odour . Excessive thirst is one of the first signs of trouble.

She has been like this for a couple of weeks I think as that's when I remember thinking what a piggy she must have been because it was so full in the afternoon. Wishing now I'd thought to check it out that next morning. Off to lock her up!

So you mean if it's still bulging this afternoon massage?

 

[Fancychooklady]

She has been like this for a couple of weeks I think as that's when I remember thinking what a piggy she must have been because it was so full in the afternoon. Wishing now I'd thought to check it out that next morning. Off to lock her up!

So you mean if it's still bulging this afternoon massage?

Yeah, sometimes if you catch it early , a little manipulation gets things moving. If she is still eating and pooping normal it might just be a case of slow crop. In that case a little fasting won't hurt.
I feed just a little sardine in olive oil or make a mash with oil.
This article gives you pics of what's normal and what's not.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html

 

[Sidhe13]

Injured baby is awake and calling for company. She is trying to stand today and manages for a while, resting the weight on her good leg, before getting tired and sitting back down. She hobbled forward a few steps for food too. She is back in a small box, propped up, with food and water within reach. The fire will stay stoked for her today. I will see about maybe making her a sling this afternoon....

 

[Teila]

Good morning Folks

Thank you for the kind words regarding our little nuggets and of course, I have to agree, they are sooo cute! It appears that KiKi is going to be popular

Fancy congratulations on the Champion, Champion Reserve and qualifying for Sydney; very exciting!

While I acknowledge that your garden visitor is a predator, he is very beautiful! Good to read he was not hunting chicks and that dinner tree of yours sounds a bit eerie

Glad he didn’t drop the tiger snake!
Love the goat snuggle pics.

cwrite I am also enjoying the cooler weather but while I am not complaining, the shorter daylight hours means the girls are going to bed at 05:30 instead of 07:00 so I do miss spending more after work time with them. Their free range while I get the outside chores done has definitely diminished and by the time I have finished, they are ready for bed.

Good to hear that you came through the weather unscathed Nu2chooks15 except for that muddy foot. I am pleased you are getting eggs and enjoying them. We have been an egg free zone for 34 days but I did notice Dusty squatting just a little yesterday.

Hey Deej211 how do the girls like their new nest boxes? I just wonder, if they try and balance on the outside edge, do the pots topple over?

chooks01 I love your little guys beautiful big eyes. Bummer re: the bator!

Sidhe13 sorry to hear you are having dramas with your little ones, I hope things settle for you soon. I can not offer much in the way of advice and you are in good hands with Fancy

ChristieB I am pleased you found your cat or should that now be cats

Sam good to see your gal has feathers again; as you might have seen in the photos, Dusty is back to her beautiful self also. It is nice when our featheries actually have feathers!

Nice to see you RodneyRooster and nice to also read that your newbies are growing in confidence.

I believe hens can be almost broody; LuLu has been ‘playing’ at being broody (first time) for a couple of weeks now; she is also just finishing a moult. She spends some time on the nest box but not a great deal, she also tries to feed her invisible babies and has days when she is fine and others when she is semi broody. I believe that Cilla’s hatch and subsequent bubs may have something to do with this and a couple of times I could have sworn she was trying to talk Cilla’s bubs into going with her; chick-napping!

It is with interest that I read of wing clipping and fence building to keep chickens at home. I only have a small yard and low fences and none of my gals have ever shown the slightest interest in breaking out; they never venture out of eyesight of the coop.

appps sorry to read about your crop dramas; you are also in good hands with Fancy’s advice. I have managed to recover two gals from sour/impacted crop going on that advice. Gotta love those sardines in oil! Just a side note, I also gave mine some yoghurt which I believe helps settle the good/bad bacteria balance in the crop while also acting as a lubricant to hopefully move things along.

No news of note from Bambrook Bantams

 

[Deej211]

Good morning Folks 

Thank you for the kind words regarding our little nuggets and of course, I have to agree, they are sooo cute!  It appears that KiKi is going to be popular 

Fancy congratulations on the Champion, Champion Reserve and qualifying for Sydney; very exciting!

While I acknowledge that your garden visitor is a predator, he is very beautiful!  Good to read he was not hunting chicks and that dinner tree of yours sounds a bit eerie  Glad he didn’t drop the tiger snake!
Love the goat snuggle pics.

cwrite I am also enjoying the cooler weather but while I am not complaining, the shorter daylight hours means the girls are going to bed at 05:30 instead of 07:00 so I do miss spending more after work time with them.  Their free range while I get the outside chores done has definitely diminished and by the time I have finished, they are ready for bed.

Good to hear that you came through the weather unscathed Nu2chooks15 except for that muddy foot.  I am pleased you are getting eggs and enjoying them.  We have been an egg free zone for 34 days but I did notice Dusty squatting just a little yesterday.

Hey Deej211 how do the girls like their new nest boxes?   I just wonder, if they try and balance on the outside edge, do the pots topple over?

chooks01 I love your little guys beautiful big eyes.  Bummer re: the bator!

Sidhe13 sorry to hear you are having dramas with your little ones, I hope things settle for you soon.  I can not offer much in the way of advice and you are in good hands with Fancy 

ChristieB I am pleased you found your cat or should that now be cats 

Sam good to see your gal has feathers again; as you might have seen in the photos, Dusty is back to her beautiful self also.  It is nice when our featheries actually have feathers!

Nice to see you RodneyRooster and nice to also read that your newbies are growing in confidence.

I believe hens can be almost broody; LuLu has been ‘playing’ at being broody (first time) for a couple of weeks now; she is also just finishing a moult.  She spends some time on the nest box but not a great deal, she also tries to feed her invisible babies and has days when she is fine and others when she is semi broody.  I believe that Cilla’s hatch and subsequent bubs may have something to do with this and a couple of times I could have sworn she was trying to talk Cilla’s bubs into going with her; chick-napping!

It is with interest that I read of wing clipping and fence building to keep chickens at home.  I only have a small yard and low fences and none of my gals have ever shown the slightest interest in breaking out; they never venture out of eyesight of the coop. 

appps sorry to read about your crop dramas; you are also in good hands with Fancy’s advice.  I have managed to recover two gals from sour/impacted crop going on that advice.  Gotta love those sardines in oil!  Just a side note, I also gave mine some yoghurt which I believe helps settle the good/bad bacteria balance in the crop while also acting as a lubricant to hopefully move things along.

No news of note from Bambrook Bantams

2 slept on them. They dont topple as ive secured them to a piece of ply. Fussy pants araucana refused to go near them. I put one in her regular laying dpot and she freaked. Had to move it so she could lay her egg. Paler than usual. Doesnt have the brown layer. Weird.