Chickens by Easter .... Maybe

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Question .... wife witnessed one of the chickens eat a feather. Said it was about 4 or 5 inches long and it looked like the bird ate it intentionally. Is this something we should worry about, a sign of some nutrient they my be lacking, or just a chicken thing?

 

[3KillerBs]

Question .... wife witnessed one of the chickens eat a feather. Said it was about 4 or 5 inches long and it looked like the bird ate it intentionally. Is this something we should worry about, a sign of some nutrient they my be lacking, or just a chicken thing?

They do that sometimes.

It's fine, as long as it doesn't turn into a habit. That, especially if it includes pulling each others' feathers out to eat them, can indicate either boredom or a protein deficiency.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They do that sometimes.

It's fine, as long as it doesn't turn into a habit. That, especially if it includes pulling each others' feathers out to eat them, can indicate either boredom or a protein deficiency.

x2. If they pick up a few feathers off the ground and eat them, it's not a problem. Different than feather picking, that's for sure.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

I must be getting flaky ... I have seen information on installing standard HN's on schd. 40 PVC but I can't find it now.

Does anyone know the size of pipe tap and the tap drill size that will allow a HN to screw into schd 40 pvc water pipe?

 

[aart]

Does anyone know the size of pipe tap and the tap drill size that will allow a HN to screw into schd 40 pvc water pipe?

I believe it an 1/8" NPT.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

I believe it an 1/8" NPT.

Thank you ......

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Function won out over form this time. When I left they were still sneaking up on them and snatching out bits of straw. They have four weeks to figure out what they are for.

 

[cavemanrich]

Peeps have 101 different ideas on nests, and nest boxed. I think there is advantage to the vertical crated you set up. Mainly,,, chickens do not choose to sleep in them. A common occurrence with nest boxes.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

I believe it an 1/8" NPT.

You are correct.
For schedule 40 PVC 1/2 inch diameter and larger use an 11/32 tap drill and a 1/8 inch x 27 NPT tap.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

While scooping the poop boards this morning I found what looks like a coccidiosis poop. I knew things were moving along too smoothly but, I also knew it was just a matter of time before something would happen.

After doing some research and watching the birds I discovered that only one of them is showing any symptoms of coccidiosis. She is standoffish, slow moving, and not much interested in what is going on around her. This was especially evident when she watched the other birds fight over the scratch and didn't participate herself.

From what I learned in my research, I will start the Corid treatment in the morning for all ten birds.

Any advice would be appreciated.