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

[Anniebee]

Don't worry, I'm still learning too ^-^ Now that I'm raising chicks myself, for the very first time, i'm very scared and panic at the smallest thing. Lucky for me the BYC community are always on standby and without them I don't know where i'd be now!

So totally agree Pugg ... the BYC community here are wonderful, friendly and most helpful people - and they have helped me immeasurably over the past almost 3 years. Without them, I would not know what I know now.

- but with chickens, I don't think we can ever stop learning. They are not always as easy to raise, as a lot of non-chicken people think.

 

[Pugg]

agree, and non-chicken people don't understand why we are so obsessed with them

 

[Fancychooklady]

To Satay and Fancychooklady .... so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved hens.   ...  It's a horrid thing to have to go through.  RIP

...........

And to Kleonpatra - you did the right thing - sad as it is to have to say.   Once a dog - has killed - it will usually do so again.   ... Perhaps it was trained with only one type of animal to protect, therefore saw the chickens as predators.   From memory you had a horse or horses as well ?  .... in any case, it had gone awry whichever way one looks at the situation  - and could not be trusted any longer - even with humans, I would think.   So sad, but he's at peace now.  RIP.

Thanks Annie.
Blood spots can vary in size and consistency. If it continues it might be time to change feeds. It's also important not to keep food stored for too long and of course throw anything out that might be rancid or moldy.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook/28/blood-spots/

 

[Kleonaptra]

To Satay and Fancychooklady .... so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved hens.   ...  It's a horrid thing to have to go through.  RIP

...........

And to Kleonpatra - you did the right thing - sad as it is to have to say.   Once a dog - has killed - it will usually do so again.   ... Perhaps it was trained with only one type of animal to protect, therefore saw the chickens as predators.   From memory you had a horse or horses as well ?  .... in any case, it had gone awry whichever way one looks at the situation  - and could not be trusted any longer - even with humans, I would think.   So sad, but he's at peace now.  RIP.

Thankyou. He was very bad around the horses. He just could not stop himself. My broodmare is due to foal anytime now and I've been just frantic. Its very sad.
I got some new birds I cant wait to show off, get some pics up soon

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks Annie.

Blood spots can vary in size and consistency. If it continues it might be time to change feeds. It's also important not to keep food stored for too long and of course throw anything out that might be rancid or moldy.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook/28/blood-spots/

Thank you so much Fancychooklady .... I read all on the link.

I am quite paranoid about keeping food dry. Which is why I never use lucerne or hay. However, straw becomes 'damp' at times, which is making me wonder. ....I keep all the layer pellet food dry in the original bag, sealed tightly over and clamped with large pegs..

I have my own mix of cooked rice, raw rolled oats, wheat bran, scissored broccoli and / or cooked peas, beans, finely chopped kale or cabbage a bit of cheese, an occasional hard boiled egg - a big handful of scratch mix all with a little boiled water to mix to warm softness - and any or all of - ( grated cheese, hard boiled egg, left over meats, sardines - when moulting only ) kitchen scraps - all of which is eaten down to the last mouthful ( they are shocking gormandisers ). In summer they get yoghurt and water melon.

It is interesting about mouldy food though - and I would NEVER have thought of it, as I am constantly filling up the food containers. It has been non-stop rain and piercing cold here for weeks ( Victoria ) and I am beginning to think that perhaps overnight their food has become 'damp' - and is eaten 'damp' ... but I doubt it would ever have time to go actually mouldy. It certainly could have been damp. On the other hand, I throw out used straw from their one nesting 'bed' ( they don't roost in the freezing weather ) ... and they scratch around in that in their run, however that has almost disappeared into the mud now. I do know they pick at it though - and it would be ultra-wet and dirty. ( tomorrow I take the top off the ground altogether so's there's no more muddy straw lying about ). .... But then, I have noticed that chickens will eat just about anything - tiny grit and stones, dirt

, assorted leaves, and heaven knows what they find in the garden.

The clear patches of mud in recent days they have had sooo much fun in - as worms have come to the top ( small immature pale coloured things ) ... and they scratch in that mud to catch and eat them. ...

The eggs I have referred to however, go back to the very beginning of their resumption of laying.

Perhaps those 'first' eggs after such a long time, are difficult to get going,
and they bleed into the forming yolk .... would that be possible ?​

Also noted on the link, sudden sounds / frights and disturbances, and they have had plenty of those ( chainsaws on fallen trees, hammering in a new shed by the back neighbour, massively high winds, hail on their corrugated iron roof, and huge flocks of screeching cockatoos, which frightens them into their coop, into a corner ) .... none of which I can stop or help. !! ... I just wish I could. ... The cockies have been particularly active recently as they herald rain in large loud flocks, and there's been soooo much of that. The currawongs are singing their heads off yesterday - which also means more rain and cold. !!

I feed them the Barastoc Layer Pellets - am wondering if they have changed the ingredients recently. Will try to find out, ( not that they would readily admit to much ). And lately, instead of throwing them scratch mix on the ground I have been giving them that in dog bowls - to prevent it getting muddy !!

Thanks again ...

Cheers -

 

[Anniebee]

Thankyou. He was very bad around the horses. He just could not stop himself. My broodmare is due to foal anytime now and I've been just frantic. Its very sad.
I got some new birds I cant wait to show off, get some pics up soon

It is indeed very sad, and I understand.

Your broodmare will be far more relaxed now, and you can look forward to the birth of a beautiful foal, very soon. .

and looking forward to pix of your new chickens.

Take care -

- Anniebee.

 

[satay]

Seems like it was a weekend for it. I found my favorite coronation hen dead with what appeared to be a broken neck , Saturday . RIP Annabella .
Sorry for your loss

 

[satay]

I got 16 eggs last week .. not a bad effort for 6 little banties and of that 6, not all are laying.

During the work week we do not eat eggs much if at all, so I gave away 1/2 dozen to my neighbour; will scramble up 1/2 a dozen for the gals for breakfast in the morning and today, because I find hubby and son will eat them if they are in the fridge, ready to munch on, I made some Devilled Eggs .. yummo!

I actually got enough send down to my mum in brissy this morning. She will be over the moon as she hates shop eggs.

 

[satay]

agree, and non-chicken people don't understand why we are so obsessed with them 

I so agree with you. It is the same with sheep. How many people have said to me why do you have sheep aren't they just dumb animals. Then they meet my four and it's like oh the are so cute and friendly wish I could have sheep

 

[satay]

 Congratulations on the eggs Teila!  Only two of my girls are laying at the moment   My other girl Charlie who always has eggs for me is with her "boyfriend" at the moment so I won't be eating those. My two Australorps haven't laid for a while now, could it be to do with the cold? they are only a year old. Perfectly healthy (and quite bossy), My Ancona I recently got hasn't laid since she arrived.I Think it's been a month now? She's absolutely timid too, as soon as I walk into the run all the girls run up to me and she bolts to the other side. I'm trying to hand feed her so she'll get to know me but she's a tricky little one. 

Sorry about your little one Satay.

Thank you pugg and everyone else. Thankfully the butcher bird has not been seen since but I am keeping an eye out.