Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Beekissed]

This is a reason to keep this going. This was posted in a poultry thread on facebook.

My 3 yrs old hen has laid no shells or totally deformed soft shelled eggs for months now. She's been to the vet many, many times to the point that I give her calcium injections at home when she's feeling depleted. I've tried all the tricks for increasing her calcium too - but ultimately she just has bad parts. So...the next step is to implant a hormone to try to stop her from laying period. Anyone have any experience with this?

Walt

Point taken.

There is a thread on BYC wherein the lady was giving her rooster hormone injections to turn him into a transgender rooster in hopes that this would keep him from crowing, as she lived in the city and could not have a rooster.

When I read such things it just makes me want to go lie down.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:

You've got to be kiddin' me...........

 

[Maven]

And I thought of one more question!

I saw an add on CL where someone said they had 'pure bred Buff Orpington chicks' for sale. As the Mr. and I have decided, after careful consideration of all the breeds we've sampled, that we would like to narrow our flock to Buff Orpingtons and Black Australorps only, I was very interested in this ad as the chicks were very reasonably priced.

SO! I sent an email with the following questions to the seller:

1) You mentioned they are pure bred - can you tell me what strains/lines that they come from? Are they bred to the English or the American SOP? Are they show quality or pet quality birds for the most part?

2) Or are they hatchery chicks? If they are hatchery chicks, which hatchery did you buy your stock from, and how long have you been breeding these hatchery birds?

3) How old are the chicks at this time?

4) I assume that the offer is for straight run?

5) Can you possibly send pictures of your flock - I am particularly interested in the size of your cocks, although the size of the hens matters too. I am looking for Heritage Large fowl chickens that are actually LARGE.

6) Is your flock a closed flock?

7) Do you have mites/lice in your flock?

8) How long have you been raising Buff Orpington Chickens?

9) Do you happen to be NPIP certified??

My question to the OTs: I tried to think if there was anything else I should ask, but couldn't come up with anything at the time. In your vast experience, if YOU were inquiring about the birds, what questions would YOU ask/add to the list above, and which of the above questions seem rather irrelevant to you, if any?

I'd like to put together a good, standard list of questions I can go by whenever I consider purchasing birds in the future.

thanks!!

 

[Maven]

Quote:

Holy Hades in a handbasket!!

You know, you just can't.fix.stupid........

 

[AZ_HenHouse]

Question about behavior
I have alpha banty cochin with a 7 week old chick (singleton-still mothering somewhat I think because she doesn't raise babies over the winter-otherwise she is done with them at 5-6 weeks).

Earlier this week we lost a 25 week pullet from 2 clutches ago (I tell ya my hen is a momma machine spring and summer). This pullet was raised with 4 other pullets and some roos that are no longer here. Many of our pullets seem to pair off and this one did with a buckeye-they roosted together and were generally around each other most of the time.

Today, the banty cochin, who has not bothered, pecked at, or generally acknowledged said pullet since she brooded the next clutch, was "cleaning" her--Buckeye was dust bathing and she was picking through her feathers -very nicely not hurting her and would not let other chickens come bother her. At one point she actually got on her and looked like she was scratching. Thought maybe she had "bugs" but checked her out and she looks clean. She did this for about 20-30 minutes-and was vocal to a couple other hens who are higher pecking order than buckeye to leave her alone.

It was just wierd....any idea what was going on?

My son thought she might be trying to make her feel better since he thinks she is depressed over the untimely demise of her partner.

 

[City farm]

Holy Hades in a handbasket!!

You know, you just can't.fix.stupid........

AGREED totally agreed.. We say that all the time... Glad to hear it.. One more time
You can't fix stupid! Another favorite saying round here is "common sense is not so common"
Chicken lovers... Sometime do go over board..

 

[Beekissed]

Question about behavior
I have alpha banty cochin with a 7 week old chick (singleton-still mothering somewhat I think because she doesn't raise babies over the winter-otherwise she is done with them at 5-6 weeks).

Earlier this week we lost a 25 week pullet from 2 clutches ago (I tell ya my hen is a momma machine spring and summer). This pullet was raised with 4 other pullets and some roos that are no longer here. Many of our pullets seem to pair off and this one did with a buckeye-they roosted together and were generally around each other most of the time.

Today, the banty cochin, who has not bothered, pecked at, or generally acknowledged said pullet since she brooded the next clutch, was "cleaning" her--Buckeye was dust bathing and she was picking through her feathers -very nicely not hurting her and would not let other chickens come bother her. At one point she actually got on her and looked like she was scratching. Thought maybe she had "bugs" but checked her out and she looks clean. She did this for about 20-30 minutes-and was vocal to a couple other hens who are higher pecking order than buckeye to leave her alone.

It was just wierd....any idea what was going on?

My son thought she might be trying to make her feel better since he thinks she is depressed over the untimely demise of her partner.

Nope, no idea. Tell your son that chickens can't reason to that degree, nor can they plan the action of "making one feel better" or even remember why they were supposed to be making another bird "feel better". Just normal grooming, flock socializing behaviors.

 

[galefrances]

I'm wondering what to do this winter concerning dust bathing. My chickens currently have areas in the dirt run that they have dug, but of course these will be frozen soon enough. I've placed one of those rubber pans from TSC in the corner of the coop and filled it with wood ash, but they've been using it for a litter box instead. Should I have add something else in with the wood ash?

 

[Beekissed]

Move it out of that corner and place it under something so they don't perch in it but can get low and access it later...my birds like to dust under the truck, under pallets, under the picnic table, etc. Don't place it there until the ground is frozen, then they will use it because it's the only game in town. Mix their present dust material in with the ashes at a 50/50 ratio...then it will be ready for when they really need it.

 

[fowlman01]

Trainers select fixated dogs for drug, or cadaver dogs. Getting their toy is the reward when they have done a good job. The reward for a retriever is for you to throw something for him, but he must bring it back. Lots of praise then. THEN you can say, "OK, go play"! You would say, "That will do1" to a herding breed to let them know that they were off duty, and should not chase anything. This works. Keep at it!

.Quote:

It works with our Corgi's.

Walt