This is girlygirlsmom and haven't posted in a while. My 8 girls have been reduced to 7; had a spontaneous death of one of my Sussex, Dot, a favorite. Was well and active one moment and dropped dead the next. Was very upset; was no warning. Came out in the yard with her sisters and in moments dropped dead. All others well and active since this happened about 7 months ago.
Have really enjoyed them all. Very tame, follows us around talking and most of them enjoy sitting on laps and talking.
Went through a hard molt in October, feathers everywhere, no eggs, actually seemed to lose weight, weren't eating as well. Lasted through most of December. Finally made it through and laying lots of eggs.
I still have coffee grounds in their nest box but sand on the coop floor and in the run. The run opens into a 45 foot yard protected with chicken wire and mesh. They love it. Hawks soon learned not to bother.
In the low teens this winter I used a oil filled heater to keep the temp around high 20's, low 30's. Have good ventilation in coop and had no problems.
Had on instance of crop problem with one hen, isolated her, did massage several times a day and got her through it. Another injured her toe, got infected and toenail and part of toe fell off. After soaking her foot, giving antibiotic, applying a dressing it was not healing so I took her to a livestock vet. She put her on Baytril and finally the wound closed over and healed. Elsie was a trooper through the whole thing and is well and healthy today albeit missing the better part of her toe.
My girls are such a blessing, so relaxing to interact with them. I ferment their feed, they love dandelions, marigolds, sprouts that I grow. They are a little over 2 years old now.
I am now allowing them some time in the big yard for about an hour since the family of hawks have moved on. I think they got into a huge carfuffle with the many crows around here and left.
Hope everyone is doing well.
