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

[V1cky]

All three hanging out

They're coming along very nicely

P.s. Love their brooder

 

[Anniebee]

Ok so I didnt do a very good job of getting a good size comparison pic. Lol. But Hector being a LS is about twice as wide as Rodney my RIW. It has always worked in Rodneys favour as hes much quicker and more agile. Now Hectors size seems to be taking over more hence him emerging victorious this time.

This is one of the original chicken coops of the property. It is far too small for my flock and the otherone that was already here wasnt secure enough. Im wanting to use this as my broodys pen (if i get one!) But im thinking if that doesnt happen this season ill fix up the other for that use and finally get the frizzle bantams ive always dreamed of to put in here! Its been so long since ive had bantams im looking to u guys for suggestions on how many i could eventually put in here (keeping in mind i like my chooks to have space). I think i would probably fit 3 comfortably but would likely end up extending the run as id feel like they would be too caged..

so exciting finally having my own place that i can do up however I like! :-D

Hi RodneyRooster ---- There is more than enough angle in the photograph to show how much bigger than Rodney, Hector is. Seems size means one helluva lot to chickens.

I have a very big girl - Mandy Welsummer, the potential murderer of my little Mindy Araucana ( and previously my late dear little Moppit Silkie who died from resp. infection ) -- she struts around the coop, run and free range like she owns and has paid for the joint !! Her bright red comb is large, she stands very tall with attitude, and has taken to pecking at my Molly RIR, a bit more lately. She has always pecked at her with little problem, and when I feed them my rice and goodies mix, I have to stand there waving a leaf scraper - so's Molly gets a look in. Molly doesn't give a darn about the leaf scraper, but Mandy does remove herself from being the dominant pest at the food bowl, when I wave it in the air. .... which leads me to a new question ... I will ask it in a new post.

Size I believe, is the problem you are encountering with your two roosters. And two males of any flock, herd, band etc., will always vie for top position. It's the male way !!

They look like really beautiful chickens.

Cheers ---

 

[Anniebee]

I have another question ????????

Following on my previous post to RodneyRooster wherein I mentioned size and dominance etc. .... I have noticed on close inspection, since hubby commented on a 'punch-up' in the coop and run this evening, that Molly RIR has little bites or bits out of her comb.

I immediately blamed Mandy Welsummer for pecking bits off Mollys comb, but am now wondering about that, even though she believes she is boss cocky.

Molly's comb revealed the tiny bits removed - no blood - just a slightly reduced sized and 'ragged' comb, due to the disappearance of tiny parts of it. Her comb is good and red, overall.

On really close inspection, I noticed two scaly whitish patches on the comb as well .....not something that one would easily see on a daily basis, while they move and bob around the run, coop or garden. I tried to gently scratch off the scaly bits, but it didn't work. Her wattles and around her ears are all as they should be.

I will use some olive oil on her comb tomorrow, to try and remove the whitish scaly stuff. Meantime, I have been delving around on-line, about fowl pox. Have seen images that show blackened areas, and some with white scaly bits. All extreme photographs of the problem. And explanations about it all. The small scale patches are not blisters, and do not appear to have been so on Molly. The rest of her body is in good shape.

Molly is apparently healthy and is laying well --- none of my chickens ( I believe ) have lice or mites ... they occasionally preen after sun / dust / mud bathing !!! But do not peck at themselves or scratch their bodies or heads - certainly NOT continuously. It is in fact, rare.

Frankly, knowing Mandy Welsummers prediliction for being boss, it's my first guess that she has removed the tiny pieces from Molly's comb. .... but I doubt she is responsible for the two small scaly whitish bits.

Any thoughts on it - or what I can use on the whitish bits to prevent the spread of whatever it might be ???

Much appreciated, in anticipation.

Cheers ....

from the paranoid chook owner - Anniebee.

.

 

[RodneyRooster]

Awww thanks for the share @Teila was gorgeous!

Thanks AB. If my roosters have been fighting and manage to really lay into someones comb it will scab over with a white/greyish colour, dont know if yours is the same thing or not tho..

I have a new issue already! Lol

One of my girls laid this egg today.. outside, on the ground! In the middle of the ground not near a tree or anything.. its clear on one half and black on the other! With greyish areas. When i rotate it doesnt seem to move at all. Is this just a 'bad mix' on her part or could she be experiencing troubles more serious than that? Havent noticed anything odd recently

Cheers

 

[Anniebee]

Awww thanks for the share @Teila was gorgeous!

Thanks AB. If my roosters have been fighting and manage to really lay into someones comb it will scab over with a white/greyish colour, dont know if yours is the same thing or not tho..

I have a new issue already! Lol


One of my girls laid this egg today.. outside, on the ground! In the middle of the ground not near a tree or anything.. its clear on one half and black on the other! With greyish areas. When i rotate it doesnt seem to move at all. Is this just a 'bad mix' on her part or could she be experiencing troubles more serious than that? Havent noticed anything odd recently

Cheers

Thanks RodneyRooster .... your comment makes me feel a little better about it all. I think I can blame Mandy for the overall damage, but will be watchful for any other white scaly signs now, and will still give her some olive oil comfort tomorrow.

As for your egg ? ... if she has any breed that produces green / blue eggs, I might not be too worried, although have to admit that Mindy Araucana has never laid anything quite like that. She lays blue greens - and a rare occasion soft shell.

Only way to tell I guess, would be to crack it open - if it is rotten inside or whatever, seek other advice. One thought however, ... as she laid it out on the ground with nothing surrounding it, it might have picked up during the new laid wet sticky process, colour from the ground dirt and then dried off, as they do. Am by no means an expert on soil, but I believe soil can have different ph levels and different minerals etc. in it. Just a thought.

I am not at all sure what you mean by 'it doesn't seem to move at all' ? Would like to know if and how eggs 'move'. Have never shaken any fresh new eggs to find out ??

Sorry I cannot be of more help.

Cheers .......

 

[RodneyRooster]

Haha sorry by moved i meant whatever it was that seemed black inside it. Thanks i didnt think of it possibly being the soil. Really seemed from what i could tell to be on the inside but as u said i was gonna crack it open when i have my eggs for breakky in the morning so will give an update then

Yep id say just watch it, see if its just scab healing over. Or something else. Unless anyone here can think of anything else it might be..

Sweet dreams everyone

 

[RodneyRooster]

Oh and all my girls lay cream eggs except scarlett who lays brown. Pretty sure its one of my LS that would have laid it.

Also back to that size convo, Scarlett is my smallest hen by far and she is head hen who also lays the biggest eggs she has also never been taken on by any of the others, natural born leader little sweetie

 

[locknest4]

Our mites were little red ones. Is there more than one type of red mites?

It was useless on fleas though

Yes there are several types of poultry mite. The northern red is the hardest to treat. Remember that when using ivermectin there are egg withholding periods, and poisoning is also a risk.

http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2540&Itemid=2816
Spinosad is a much more effective product and can be purchased for flea control in dogs in the form of ' comfortis ' tablets .

Hi Fancychooklady, have been looking online at spinosad usage for chickens and garden spray with spinosad in it has been mentioned a few times. Would something like this work if applied topically to the back of neck?

If using 'comfortis' tablets what amount would be good to use? Have you or anyone tried it?

Any recommendations on treating the surrounding soil in the coop/run area? Have had chooks in it for past 4 years (although none for last week and a half). The coop under going renovations is an old aviary that we converted years ago. It is corrugated sheeting and has lots of cracks, holes and crevices! Am going to concrete in gaps between concrete flooring slabs and gaps at base of walls as well as surface spray area.

Would eucalyptus oil be advisable to mix with oil and apply to perches? Any more suggestion and advise is much appreciated

 

[locknest4]

49 out of 56 hatched now. And that includes the 2 infertile eggs and one that died early in the shell.
Best hatch I have had in a long time. 

Yay!!!!!! Thats fantastic news! Congrats to the highest extent!!!!

@locknest4 the pine is much better for them althought uve done a great job with it, its better if they can hold onto it properly (be a bit thinner) but dont think it will hurt as is.

Great ideas with the prevention! I always used hydrated lime in my sheds.

Thanks for the ovations guys :-D

Hi Rodney, what is and where do you get hydrated lime ?

 

[appps]

Hi Rodney, what is and where do you get hydrated lime ?

Correct me if wrong but hydrated and so safe lime is the one you put on your garden. Builders lime is not safe to use as it will burn.