Australians - Where are you all????

[Teila]

Howdy Kezabel and Beulah89

I am approximately 16kms North of Brisbane City and Mum to Britney (Bantam Leghorn); Dusty (Bantam Langshan) and Cilla (Bantam Black Cochin) who has 5 x 2.5 week old Bantam Silkie bubbies that she is very proud of!

Chicken-math dictates that 1 or 2 of them will not be leaving home! lol

 

[Anniebee]

]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/6031593/width/350/height/700[/IMG]
Hey there,
I'm in Cairns. New mum to two golden sex-link (i think lol) ladies.
I've been down to the central coast. Got a mate that lives in Lake Haven.

Originally Posted by kezabel

Hi to everyone, I'm pretty new to this site and was wondering how many australians are among the members.

I am really enjoying this site and come back at least 3 times a day for a read and to get advice. Thanks to everyone who has answered my questions.

So where are all the Aussies??? Holla Back Aussies with where in this great big land you live.

Me, I'm From NSW a Suburb called Charmhaven Its on the Central Coast of NSW about an hours drive north of sydney.

________________

Welcome Kezebel .... hope you enjoy your visits. I open my BYC email updates every day - the first thing I do. Enjoy it so much, and everyone is so helpful and friendly. Not like some groups that get into major and nasty arguments .... this is different - a great site. And I think at least 90% of people on here are Aussies, so you are 'at home' with us all. I live in Upwey, Victoria, with 3 chickens - yes only 3, ( lost two - a Silkie who got very wet in a storm and developed upper respiratory failure ... and a Barnevelder who simply rolled over one day and passed on - Barnies have some problems that Barnie fanciers are working on - sure hope they figure out what snuffs out their dear little lives so often ). Anyway, that's me - in Upwey, with me 3 chooks - an Aussie bred Araucana, a Rhode Island Red, and a rather aloof and somewhat aggressive Welsummer ( but I love her anyway ) ....

Cheers .... AB

 

[Anniebee]

We have been doing a lot in the garden lately, and have had to move my 3 chooks around to accommodate the alterations. Mind you, the chooks will accommodate more than the alterations - they will alter them altogether, when next allowed to free range ( I have not mentioned this to husband yet !!! ....

). My Welsummer has stopped laying altogether - is well, has a lovely red comb, and does her daily thing normally - but no eggs. My Rhode Island Red is also having off days for eggs - so we are getting less and less. Little Mindy Araucana, no matter what the situation, still lays 6 or even sometimes 7 days out of 7.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS : Do chickens stop laying if they get stressed out, and moved around to ( temporary ) new quarters ? Makes sense if that is what happens, but frankly I didn't think it would, as we have been careful not to upset their routines too much. Poor Mandy Welsummer seems to be in a never-ending moult, and is preening herself a lot and has not produced an egg now for 5 days ? Molly RIR has always been a good layer - producing 5-6 eggs per week, but has also backed off to about 3 a week. Mindy Araucana - just keeps on laying eggs, no matter what. The two big girls ( RIR and Welsummer ) are now back in their normal coop and have taken up their original roosting positions again. I am hoping to hear some cackling tomorrow - but if anyone could tell me - does stress and routine changes stop chooks laying, I would be most appreciative. Am not ultra-worried, but it puzzles me somewhat.

Thanks in anticipation ......

Cheers .......... AB

 

[tillyita]

We have been doing a lot in the garden lately, and have had to move my 3 chooks around to accommodate the alterations.   Mind you, the chooks will accommodate more than the alterations - they will alter them altogether, when next allowed to free range ( I have not mentioned this to husband yet !!! ....   ).    My Welsummer has stopped laying altogether - is well, has a lovely red comb, and does her daily thing normally - but no eggs.   My Rhode Island Red is also having off days for eggs - so we are getting less and less.  Little Mindy Araucana, no matter what the situation, still lays 6 or even sometimes 7 days out of 7.    

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS :   Do chickens stop laying if they get stressed out, and moved around to ( temporary )  new quarters ?    Makes sense if that is what happens, but frankly I didn't think it would, as we have been careful not to upset their routines too much.   Poor Mandy Welsummer seems to be in a never-ending moult, and is preening herself a lot and has not produced an egg now for 5 days ?   Molly RIR has always been a good layer - producing 5-6 eggs per week, but has also backed off to about 3 a week.   Mindy Araucana - just keeps on laying eggs, no matter what.     The two big girls ( RIR and Welsummer ) are now back in their normal coop and have taken up their original roosting positions again.   I am hoping to hear some cackling tomorrow - but if anyone could tell me - does stress and routine changes stop chooks laying, I would be most appreciative.   Am not ultra-worried, but it puzzles me somewhat. 

Thanks in anticipation ......

Cheers .......... AB 

Chickens will often stop laying if the are stressed - just ask anyone with a dog that likes to chase them! It is not uncommon for them to go off the lay for a week or so (sometimes longer) when they get moved from one coop to another, and they generally don't lay when they are moulting because all the nutrient in their diet is going into growing new feathers rather than into egg production. Egg production can also slow right down if you have a spell of hot weather - I think this is so the birds can regulate there fluids better but don't quote me on that one as it's pure speculation.

 

[Anniebee]

Chickens will often stop laying if the are stressed - just ask anyone with a dog that likes to chase them! It is not uncommon for them to go off the lay for a week or so (sometimes longer) when they get moved from one coop to another, and they generally don't lay when they are moulting because all the nutrient in their diet is going into growing new feathers rather than into egg production. Egg production can also slow right down if you have a spell of hot weather - I think this is so the birds can regulate there fluids better but don't quote me on that one as it's pure speculation.

Thanks so much Tillyita. She seems to be growing her new feathers again now too. I have noticed some new down on her sides, just today - so poor Mandy is coping - and that's about all.

PLUS, and I didn't even think about this ... our very large 1 yr old "puppy" Golden Retriever Ruby, has more access to them now - meaning she can get closer to the chicken run fences. Molly RIR stands up to her big time - and comes over just waiting to have a good peck at her nose - and if that happens, it might teach Ruby not to try and play with chooks through fences. Mandy Welsummer has always been a very aloof chicken, and aggressive towards other chickens, but not towards her mate Molly RIR ( little wonder huh ? ). Ruby thinks it is wonderful when Molly approaches her - head held high and standing as tall as she can. Ruby's backside goes up in the air all ready for some fun - but she might be in for a bit of a surprise one day if she keeps it up. I cannot now, keep Ruby away from the fences, but certainly she does NOT get in with the chickens ( that would be chaos ). We are in for a spell of warmer weather, but can't say that we've been exactly warm down here in Victoria, these past few weeks !!

Will have to figure some way to stop Ruby going near the fences - oh hubby WILL be pleased ( not ). He has just created a lovely new garden and chicken runs, coops etc. And Molly is back laying a bit more perhaps - another egg this morning - 2 in 2 days. Maybe because she has shown Ruby that she is not afraid of her ??

Again thank you - your answer has lessened my concerns a great deal.

Cheers .......... AB

 

[juzzk]

Hi all I'm new to this site and think its great we have 30+ hens 1 rooster 20 chicks 2 ducks and 6 ducklings.
I'm located in the eurobodalla area of lovely NSW

 

[MyHaven]

Hi, my girls are a bit off the lay too. In the past few weeks the sand flies here on the bay where I live are the worst they have been in more than 30 years. Two of my 5week olds that are the least feathered of my nine are red raw. I have had to start bringing them all, Mums included, into the house at night. I think the swarms have stressed the big girls. I have spread lime and looked for breeding spots. Pet insect repellent and burning coils are the only things I can think of to do but neither treatments last through the night for the big girls. The sand flies are attacking 24/7, not just dawn and dusk.

If anyone has any other suggestions I'd appreciate it.

AB, you could try "conditioning" Ruby to be "neutral" to the chooks. I could give you some tips if you like.

Cheers to all.

 

[MyHaven]

W

Hi all I'm new to this site and think its great we have 30+ hens 1 rooster 20 chicks 2 ducks and 6 ducklings.
I'm located in the eurobodalla area of lovely NSW

Welcome and pleased to meet you.

 

[MyHaven]

Hi, my girls are a bit off the lay too. In the past few weeks the sand flies here on the bay where I live are the worst they have been in more than 30 years. Two of my 5week olds that are the least feathered of my nine are red raw. I have had to start bringing them all, Mums included, into the house at night. I think the swarms have stressed the big girls. I have spread lime and looked for breeding spots. Pet insect repellent and burning coils are the only things I can think of to do but neither treatments last through the night for the big girls. The sand flies are attacking 24/7, not just dawn and dusk.

If anyone has any other suggestions I'd appreciate it.

AB, you could try "conditioning" Ruby to be "neutral" to the chooks. I could give you some tips if you like.

Cheers to all.

Hi, further to my earlier post, I am also researching something to sooth the chickens. Here are photos of the poor little things. All of them including the big girls are being bothered but these too little lightly feathered fellows are really hard hit.



This is the same on his chest and tops of wings.



I'll be going out later to get some vanilla car air fresheners. I read here on BYC that some people have had success using it as a repellent hanging in them in the coop. But please, all ideas are appreciated.

If anyone knows something that will both treat the irritation and protect the birds I am all ears.

The fully feathered chicks and adults look fine they seem to be able to fend the sand flies off.

Cheers

 

[Beulah89]

My girls have been off the lay for about a week too. We've had really hot weather up here though which has now turned into mini monsoons at night.