Consolidated Kansas

[mikeksfarmer]

Rene thank you. I am limited on money but she is a sweety. I have just read the threads and am working on yogart and cider vin. Off to make her puke and comfortable. Have my fingers crossed.

 

[sharol]

Good luck Mike, let us know how it goes.

Sharol

 

[Myabcs3]

Quote:
Good luck Mike! Keeping my fingers crossed for lots of puke!


On a different note, I have a smaller EE hen that is the favorite of my larger Barred Rock Roo. She is starting to miss quite a few of her back feathers. Is my only option getting an apron for her or endure a bit of baredbackness? He is not rough with her, but the size difference is getting to be an issue for feather breakage.

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Oh my God! I picked up foxy from my kitchen box where she would be warm. I didnt have to do a thing and she hurled all over my floor. It was all I could do to get her over the trash can. It was clear liquid but it was the fowlest smell (no pun intended) I had the dry heavs for the longest time. I almost couldnt even do the clean up. there was so much water as she just drank a pint. Oh the poor thing. Sour crop is an understatement! I did express as much liquid from her as I could and she laied on the bottom of her box for an hour before she stood up. She is looking a little better today. I am hoping probiotics willl help.
I sure would like to know what causes this. Chickens love to eat my composte and I wonder if some of the rotten vegies or other could be the cause. I never again want to express a crop! Much less see a chicken that feels so bad.
I know that most of the world sees a chicken as just a dumb animal, but foxy and I do have a friendship. I think it would go a long way for every community to allow a back yard flock. When the egg recall was in progress most people were just worried about safe eggs. Few saw or see the missery caused by factory farms.
Respect the animal, respect the worker, respect the environment. We can do some of this with a back yard flock!

 

[Myabcs3]

Mike - great news on Foxy (I have to chuckle at the name)! Hope she continues to improve.

Your thoughts on the compost are interesting. I have kept my compost separate from the girls. When cleaning out the left over fruits and veggies, I only give to them what is still good, but past what my boys would eat. So no mold, maybe a bit soft (apples, etc). Anything with mold/rottenness goes into the "other" compost bin where I toss coffee grounds, potato peels, and the other stuff that I read on here that chickens should not have. Just thoughts...

Today is a full integration day of my two flocks (Chooks Chick is laughing if she reads the post as I have only lamented over this for about a month). The two groups have had "play dates" - free ranging together, etc. but always returned to their separate coops. This morning right off the bat, I opened the two chicken runs together and spent about 2 hours watching the sparring between the roosters and hens that crop up. So far so good-no serious blood shed! I think the hen sparring has been rougher than the roosters, but the roosters have been stepping in between the girls and lining things out. Isn't chicken society so interesting??? The roosters have been busy flirting and strutting as they have new females to impress. Too bad my coffee was very cold or I might have stayed for a bit longer.


Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Foxy was named because she was left for dead by a red fox who killed most of my flock. I am sure foxes kill planning to come back at night and take home the fresh meat. I however rescued her and kept her in a box on the kitchen table for 3 months before she could walk. Ruined the finish on the table. Glad I am divorced I know I would have gone through another divorce with the justifcation that she could see her two surviving sisters in the yard from the table.
Foxy dirnks but wont eat. I have made a slury of water and yogart. I expect to have to purge her crop late today again. She spends a great deal of time looking miserable with her eyes closed.
Mayabcs3 as you watch to flocks come together I am watching my younger more adjile roster (RIR Vs welsumer ) surplant the RIR. I feel sorry for him as he has become a gentalman finally. But I know he has to go soon. My hens are the producers; two roos with 20 hens may still be too many as the hens are showing feather loss. My best hens are the ones that show the loss the most because they are producing so many eggs they cant replace the feathers. I watch the transition of the younger girls every year. I often feel sorry for them. Sooner or later they find a place. Young hens often remind me of young girls on the playground. More on that later as I have been long winded here so far. Off to get free fire wood.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Yay!!!...... I GOT MY FIRST EGG TODAY........YAY!!!

 

[Myabcs3]

WHHOOPP WHOOOP!

doing the happy egg dance for you here in Baldwin!

 

[FondofChicks]

Quote:
Congrats! I am hoping my americana born early July with do that for me soon!

 

[sharol]

I have 7 born early July, 5 of whom are squatting with a vengeance. Fingers crossed I will get eggs soon.