California - Northern

[ronott1]

Ugh!…And then there were 7. A small raptor of some sort took one baby bresse today. Mom was out for about an hour, I didn't count when I put her back. Went out again to let her out and was missing one bresse. talked with a neighbor who said it wasn't one of the big hawks flying around, but a smaller raptor had it this morning. Not sure how to keep them out of my pasture.

Oh No!

I have seen videos of a small raptor landing on a run post, dropping in and killing chickens in the coop.

I hope yours goes away!

 

[chrissyr]

Thanks Ron. I don't think he will. They've supposedly been having a field day with pigeons. It's such a bummer. my tiny little 3 weeks old baby chick. Really ticks me off. Most of their runs are covered, but not my pasture. not sure what would be a good covering for that. it's big

 

[member 142084]

What do you do in the winter to keep the mud at bay in the runs/pens?

I have sand in my hut and put a tarp over the part of the run that goes into the entrance. Making drainage ditches and sand are the best plus it helps you chickens digest their food better. I avoid the nasty spots.

 

[BCollie]

If a chicken has started squatting, does this mean she'll start laying soon? My Black Andalusian, Henry, is my first to start laying and also squats for me(that is, if I can get my hand over her back. She thinks she's a roo and will attack me whenever I to grab her)
I noticed that both of my Speckled Sussex, now 8? months old, will squat when I go to pick them up and if she's squatting and I touch her tail, she moves it aside. Henry attacks me every time I go to pick up one of the girls, thinking I'm trying to hurt one of her hens.
Neither of the Light Brahmas will squat.

I had sort of accepted that they wouldn't start laying until after winter but now than Henry has started laying I'm wondering if any of the others will, too. Making me go crazy!

 

[ronott1]

If a chicken has started squatting, does this mean she'll start laying soon? My Black Andalusian, Henry, is my first to start laying and also squats for me(that is, if I can get my hand over her back. She thinks she's a roo and will attack me whenever I to grab her)
I noticed that both of my Speckled Sussex, now 8? months old, will squat when I go to pick them up and if she's squatting and I touch her tail, she moves it aside. Henry attacks me every time I go to pick up one of the girls, thinking I'm trying to hurt one of her hens.
Neither of the Light Brahmas will squat.

I had sort of accepted that they wouldn't start laying until after winter but now than Henry has started laying I'm wondering if any of the others will, too. Making me go crazy!

It is one to two weeks from the first squat to the first egg.

You will have eggs soon from her!

 

[Happy Chooks]

 
Absolutely the case for the large breeds, like heritage BR's.

LOVE them!  I have an EcoGlow 20 and a 50.  They don't tip over, and you don't have to worry about fire - they don't get hot enough for a fire.  The chicks are much more content under them too.  I won't go back to heat lamps.  Add to it the $$$$$ savings on the electric bill.

Do they keep up in this kind of weather in an outside wooden coop? Or is it better suited for indoors? usually in the spring i have chicks out there with a heat lamp. A wooden enclosed pen

They say they are for indoor use only. I brood outdoors in a small coop, but the plug is protected inside the coop. The plug is not weather proof, so it would need to be protected from the elements. If it is really cold when I hatch, I'll put a 75 watt light bulb to give them a bit of extra heat for a week or so - just so I don't have pasty butt.

 

[CackleJoy]

My Dark Brahma cockerel that quit crowing? My son says he's coughing and I kind of agree. His eyes look slightly runny but I was shining a flashlight in them. His behavior is still normal. None of the other chickens sound funny. I went to the feed store looking for something to help and left with nothing.
I know you've covered this before but can you run it by me again?
What do you use for a cold?
Should I treat all the chickens?
Do I need to withdraw from eating eggs?
How will I know if it's more than a simple cold?
Thank you all for the help, I'd like to get ahead of this.

 

[ronott1]

My Dark Brahma cockerel that quit crowing? My son says he's coughing and I kind of agree. His eyes look slightly runny but I was shining a flashlight in them. His behavior is still normal. None of the other chickens sound funny. I went to the feed store looking for something to help and left with nothing.
I know you've covered this before but can you run it by me again?
What do you use for a cold?
Should I treat all the chickens?
Do I need to withdraw from eating eggs?
How will I know if it's more than a simple cold?
Thank you all for the help, I'd like to get ahead of this.

You may want to. The second preliminary report from my Australorp Necropsy said she had a Bacterial infection in her lung. Further testing will determine what type.

The breathing symptoms sound like your boy but she did not have watery eyes.

 

[BCollie]

Quote:
Really?!

 

[ronott1]

Really?!

Yes! I have chickens starting to lay this week. One of the Australorps or the Fogel pullet and my little EO Marraduna Basque hen.

I am getting a very pretty pink egg from one of them too.