Chicken Help Line

[Some0ne848]

the new 1.5 month old chick is only with me till tomorrow morning. and I have no chick feed. what can I feed it????????

 

[dlf1052]

I have 5 hens and two roosters who insist on roosting in the tree. I have had no problem with predators but I feel terrible about them sleeping in the rain and cooler temperatures are coming. We live in Texas but it can get pretty cold. I have a coop that they slept in when they were smaller but one day decided to go into the trees. My chickens are completely free range but need advice about how to get them to go in at night. I worry that they will get too cold. HELP

 

[sumi]

Apart from the weather, a passing nighttime predator could get them. They really would be safer in the coop. I had a similar problem with some of my flock (and a predator did get one of them), so I climbed the tree every evening and plucked them from the tree and put them in the coop. After a few days they got the message and started going into the coop by themselves. It's a pain, but it's the only way unfortunately.

 

[delisha]

the new 1.5 month old chick is only with me till tomorrow morning. and I have no chick feed. what can I feed it????????

scrambled eggs, lettuce, spinach, any kind of meat.

I have 5 hens and two roosters who insist on roosting in the tree. I have had no problem with predators but I feel terrible about them sleeping in the rain and cooler temperatures are coming. We live in Texas but it can get pretty cold. I have a coop that they slept in when they were smaller but one day decided to go into the trees. My chickens are completely free range but need advice about how to get them to go in at night. I worry that they will get too cold. HELP

do not feed them at all..during the day. sprinkle corn on the ground right before night time at the door way and into the coop for a few days..on the third day, just sprinkle it in the coop. with regular feed inside the coop. Shut the door. You will need to do it a few times till they get it. You might have to resort to locking them in for a few days and feed in the coop.just at night. also if the corn treat does not work. I would not feed them any corn at any other time or any other type of feed until they sleep in the coop at night..every night. If they sleep in the coop for a solid week you can go back to your regular schedule of feeding and letting them FR.

 

[dlf1052]

Ok. I decided the answer to my problem of my chickens sleeping in the tree was to weather proof the coop and move it just a bit since that was their lift off pad for the tree. Well when it got time to begin the coop trek....nobody wanted anything to do with it. I had with held food all day and had only moved it about 3 feet but they wouldn't come near it. We chased chickens until we were worn out. It ended with 3 in the coop, 2 in the favorite tree and 2 others in yet another tree! It has been terrible each night since. They now go 6 different directions and end up in really stupid places. None in the coop. If I can reach them, I move them after dark but I am completely defeated. Any advice for this Texas girl who is at her wits end.

 

[Some0ne848]

I have a Australorp cross. And yesterday I was sitting with her and found her face and ear love thingy was while. And not white white but pale. It is usually red. What happend?

Ps not sure what its called but the ear lope thing look like this.

The red thing next to the wattle.

 

[delisha]

feed the birds in the coop and only in the coop..do not feed them outside..put the water in too.
do not lock them in until they are comfortable going in to eat.. feed only at night in the coop.
close them in..make sure you let them out at first light..
stop chasing them

only feed at night.


check the coop and make sure it is safe first

 

[delisha]

I have a Australorp cross. And yesterday I was sitting with her and found her face and ear love thingy was while. And not white white but pale. It is usually red. What happend?

Ps not sure what its called but the ear lope thing look like this.
The red thing next to the wattle.

Poor quality picture and confusing post about thingys.I am going to guess that you are trying to ask about the ear lobe color. It is normally red and now it is pale. Hormonal surges change colors. Moult, broody, illness, pests and bugs can change the color. It is good you are aware one of the birds have changed colors and it is always something to watch. This time of year it is usually moult. You need a fish net to catch your wild birds for this reason alone.

 

[Some0ne848]

so should I do anything. it didnt last long but it is on and off sometimes. my golden comit had it today just for a few mins. they seem normal and the color is normal red. anything I should do when it happens?

 

[lazy gardener]

She is two months old now, by the time her quarantine is over she will be three months old.
For additional safety, I put one of the established birds in with the new girl in the quarantine pen for the last week. They usually bond enough that they become buddy's. You will find out if the new bird is a carrier of any disease and the new bird will get some additional needed bacteria from the established bird before introduction. Introduction goes a bit better with an established buddy.

I like that thinking. When you choose a buddy for a new flock addition, do you pick one from higher up in the social order??