Consolidated Kansas

[RoosterLew]

Wow, all we've been getting is some really cold drizzle, nothing to collapse anything! We've barely seen snow down here in the "south" this year.
Well the races finished up early today, so we decided to swing by work and get my weekend duties done and pick up the wooden box for the new brooder. So this is where we're out tonight.

48" long 30" wide and 20" deep!

Right now I have a divider in there to keep them in about 1/3 rd of the space. I figure when they can hop the divider I'll pull it out. For tonight the light is setting on the boards, tomorrow it'll get mounted to a hole on the side with the solid top and I will wire the removable lid with hardware cloth. Definitely going to need to upgrade to a 250w bulb. Having trouble getting the heat up. It will get better when I move them to the covered part.

Does anyone ever paint the inside of the brooder to make it easier to clean?

The little red chick is a Rhode Island Red. Man is she bossy! When the 2 BO's get together she squeezes between them and pushes them apart!

Best part about the new brooder? It was a crate we received parts in at work, and the 2x2's are lumber we have stacks of at work that come with loads of steel. All free wood!!

 

[sarajoy]

Howdy all - been so so busy with organizing/packing plus digging/transplanting perennials and trees to the new place. So not on the computer much these days. But, had a problem Thursday night. I was working so hard to get all the trees I had dug up here replanted at the new place, that I worked too long. I don't have automatic doors, so it was dark by the time I got home, and the chickens had tucked themselves into bed but the coop was open. My dogs must have been rambling on their perimeter walk - I usually do that with them at dusk or a little after. A raccoon just walked right in and chomped on one of my young brahmas (7 months old). He got bit on the face and on the butt. Not sure which was first - he was sleeping on a perch, so probably his face first, then bent over to protect his head, and the coon got a mouth of feathers from his butt. Apparently he put up enough of a squak with the first bite to bring the dogs at a gallop, as when I got home the dogs had the coon treed. Feathers all over the coop. And my poor little light brahma roo ("Little Roo", differentiated from "Mr. Roo" - the adult light brahma). I washed him off as best I could with colloidal silver, his eyes had started to swell already and I really couldn't tell how much damage had been done. His butt was bare and probably sore from the plucking, but no actual open wounds there. I'm keeping him separate so he doesn't get pecked, and trying to care for him. Have mostly been using colloidal silver. His butt seems to be healing up fine. But his eyes are still swollen. I used colloidal silver first day, but picked up some blue wound care stuff that said it was safe for eyes at Orschelns yesterday. He can work one eye open, after I clean it with the cs and then spray on the wound care stuff. There is still blood in the eye, but that eye is working - is able to follow my movements, and see his food. He is eating and drinking. He doesn't keep it open for long though, and its always crusted over a bit by next time I go to clean it in a couple hours. Worst first thing in the morning of course. He doesn't seem to be in pain. He gets freaked when I first pick him up, even when I talk to him and reassure him first. I guess cuz he can't see me. But I go slow and soon he can gets that it is me and I'm helping and he calms down. He seems to be healthy apart from the eyes. But I'm afraid with the blood around his pupil that the eye was pierced. It may still be able to heal, be slowly healing. The fact that he seems able to see, follow my movements, after I've cleaned it out and he can open the eye, seems a good sign?? So far he has yet been able to open the other eye. It was the more grotesquely swollen of the two, at first, and though there is still some swelling around both eyes, there is more yet on the unopened one. I'm guessing he can learn to adapt to life with one eye, at least long enough to breed a new generation. He can have a protected life from here on out. At the new place, there will be a nice sized breeding pen and a separate "retirement" coop for older birds that have become more pets and I don't want to harvest. He won't be free-ranging any longer if he has only one good eye. At any rate, I'm wondering if there is anything else I could or should be doing for him? I wish I could have killed the coon (to make sure it wasn't rabid or carrying some other disease), but after I got home and the dogs had alerted me to where he was I too freaked about how many chickens might be dead to insist they "stay" till I sent Mike out to deal with it. I just ran to the coop to check on the chickens, and the dogs followed me. By the time I realized I should have told the dogs to stay put and hollered for Mike the coon was gone. Aside from not being happy about being in an enclosed space, and not seeing well (or at all when the eye closes up between cleanings), Little Roo seems healthy.

One other question. When at Orscheln's for the blue wound care spray, I was also looking for something else - a spray that would act like a liquid bandage. the one I got is just a spray, stays liquid and evaporates. I thought there was another product that would dry/seal a wounded area. It wouldn't help with Little Roo of course, as it couldn't have been used on his eyes. But I have a couple light brahma hens who are getting overworked by Mr. Roo - the adult light Brahma. I wanted to coat her back - but they didn't have anything like that at Orscheln's (in Parsons). Is there a product like that, and if so where would I get it? In the meantime, I think I'm going to take an old pair of sweat pants and make them some kind of coat out of the legs.

Thanks for any input. Sara

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

One other question. When at Orscheln's for the blue wound care spray, I was also looking for something else - a spray that would act like a liquid bandage. the one I got is just a spray, stays liquid and evaporates. I thought there was another product that would dry/seal a wounded area. It wouldn't help with Little Roo of course, as it couldn't have been used on his eyes. But I have a couple light brahma hens who are getting overworked by Mr. Roo - the adult light Brahma. I wanted to coat her back - but they didn't have anything like that at Orscheln's (in Parsons). Is there a product like that, and if so where would I get it? In the meantime, I think I'm going to take an old pair of sweat pants and make them some kind of coat out of the legs.

Thanks for any input. Sara

If you are not aware of them, chicken aprons are made just for that purpose. People make and sell them and you can find free patterns on the internet. Very simple and your sweat pant fleese would work well for them.

 

[chicken danz]

Hello all!

Newbie to BYC & "chickeneering", as I like to call it

My chicks (Buff Orpingtons & Dominiques) & keets (Pearl) arrive 3rd week in April. Busy getting the coop and brooder ready

The discussion on "pocket omelettes" cracked (no pun intended) me up because I'm such a likely candidate, ah!

Look forward to keeping up with you all!

Kendra

Welcome! Always glad to have a new chicken buddy here. Tell us a little more about yourself. Do you have your coop ready for your chickens yet? Please join in!

Thank you!! However the seller said he was giving them some kind of med to deworm and get rid of other pests like ticks, mites, lice. Would they possibly still have mites? No big deal though...I have some Sevin in the garage I can just put on them anyway.
Oh ok...So it just blocks them from seeing the spot to peck on the other chicken? Can they still forage well?

I reread your post and it could just be picking from the others. However once a chicken is treated for mites if there are eggs they will hatch in about 2 weeks so you might need to treat again. Also wet weather causes a real breeding ground for mites. Mites can come from anywhere. They just show up. I try to keep my birds treated but I am sure some of them get them now and then. I like using Ivermectin but I still sprinkle some sevin around every now and then as an added layer of protection.

Wow, all we've been getting is some really cold drizzle, nothing to collapse anything! We've barely seen snow down here in the "south" this year.
Well the races finished up early today, so we decided to swing by work and get my weekend duties done and pick up the wooden box for the new brooder. So this is where we're out tonight.
Does anyone ever paint the inside of the brooder to make it easier to clean?
Great brooder box!! Great price too! I painted the inside of some of my coops to both protect the wood and to make it easier to clean. You need to be sure to use a safe and sealing paint. I like using the barn paint that has both paint and sealer all in one. It's not toxic like some sealers are.
The little red chick is a Rhode Island Red. Man is she bossy! When the 2 BO's get together she squeezes between them and pushes them apart!

Best part about the new brooder? It was a crate we received parts in at work, and the 2x2's are lumber we have stacks of at work that come with loads of steel. All free wood!!

One other question. When at Orscheln's for the blue wound care spray, I was also looking for something else - a spray that would act like a liquid bandage. the one I got is just a spray, stays liquid and evaporates. I thought there was another product that would dry/seal a wounded area. It wouldn't help with Little Roo of course, as it couldn't have been used on his eyes. But I have a couple light brahma hens who are getting overworked by Mr. Roo - the adult light Brahma. I wanted to coat her back - but they didn't have anything like that at Orscheln's (in Parsons). Is there a product like that, and if so where would I get it? In the meantime, I think I'm going to take an old pair of sweat pants and make them some kind of coat out of the legs.

Thanks for any input. Sara

Sara joy you are so lucky that chicken survived at all. Raccoons normally snap off heads. He will be back for the rest of his dinner so be on the look out. I think I would be giving your bird an antibiotic orally as well because of all the bacteria in the raccoons mouth. You could even use your CS. I am a firm believer in natural stuff and I keep CS on hand as well. For your hens you might want to make some chicken saddles. If you don't sew you can use a basic pattern and just cut it out of fleece material since it doesn't fray.
We are in snowville for sure. I have no idea how many inches of snow we got and are still getting. But there are huge drifts at least 4 foot high. My windows on the south of the house are packed in snow where it whipped around the house and stuck to the screens. I can't see out. I am going to have to go out and knock snow off the netting again so I don't have any come crashing down. They were predicting 4 to 7 inches and we definitely got every bit of the 7".
I decided to go ahead and brine my first midget white turkey so I am cooking it for dinner tonight. I may be glad I have it cause I know my roads are drifted shut. Not sure what all we have to eat with it but at least we'll have turkey!!! I was going to cook it last night but decided it would be even better if I brined it.

 

[HEChicken]

Hello all!

Newbie to BYC & "chickeneering", as I like to call it

My chicks (Buff Orpingtons & Dominiques) & keets (Pearl) arrive 3rd week in April. Busy getting the coop and brooder ready

The discussion on "pocket omelettes" cracked (no pun intended) me up because I'm such a likely candidate, ah!

Look forward to keeping up with you all!

Kendra

Glad to have you with us - where in the state are you? And from where did you order the chicks and keets? Can't wait to see pics when they arrive.

Wow, all we've been getting is some really cold drizzle, nothing to collapse anything! We've barely seen snow down here in the "south" this year.
Well the races finished up early today, so we decided to swing by work and get my weekend duties done and pick up the wooden box for the new brooder. So this is where we're out tonight.

48" long 30" wide and 20" deep!

Right now I have a divider in there to keep them in about 1/3 rd of the space. I figure when they can hop the divider I'll pull it out. For tonight the light is setting on the boards, tomorrow it'll get mounted to a hole on the side with the solid top and I will wire the removable lid with hardware cloth. Definitely going to need to upgrade to a 250w bulb. Having trouble getting the heat up. It will get better when I move them to the covered part.

Does anyone ever paint the inside of the brooder to make it easier to clean?

The little red chick is a Rhode Island Red. Man is she bossy! When the 2 BO's get together she squeezes between them and pushes them apart!

Best part about the new brooder? It was a crate we received parts in at work, and the 2x2's are lumber we have stacks of at work that come with loads of steel. All free wood!!

Free is always good! Hey - it looks really good Rooster. Bossiness is my experience of hatchery RIR's too - I've had a couple. From what I've heard, the breeder quality RIR's that have been bred to heritage standards are not this way so it makes me wonder what hatcheries mix in. Often the hatchery will add in something to make them better layers.

For adjusting heat, you can go with a bigger bulb or raise/lower the one you have. If you can hang it and get it lower, you might not need to go with a bigger bulb. If you go up to the 250w, you might find it is too warm and in that case I would put it on a rheostat (light dimmer). I made several rheostats of my own a few years ago, using a basic electric box with the switch plate that has two outlets and a dimmer. They have been invaluable when brooding chicks (not what I originally made them for) as I can leave the light in one position and dim it as they get bigger and need less heat.

Howdy all - been so so busy with organizing/packing plus digging/transplanting perennials and trees to the new place. So not on the computer much these days. But, had a problem Thursday night. I was working so hard to get all the trees I had dug up here replanted at the new place, that I worked too long. I don't have automatic doors, so it was dark by the time I got home, and the chickens had tucked themselves into bed but the coop was open. My dogs must have been rambling on their perimeter walk - I usually do that with them at dusk or a little after. A raccoon just walked right in and chomped on one of my young brahmas (7 months old). He got bit on the face and on the butt. Not sure which was first - he was sleeping on a perch, so probably his face first, then bent over to protect his head, and the coon got a mouth of feathers from his butt. Apparently he put up enough of a squak with the first bite to bring the dogs at a gallop, as when I got home the dogs had the coon treed. Feathers all over the coop. And my poor little light brahma roo ("Little Roo", differentiated from "Mr. Roo" - the adult light brahma). I washed him off as best I could with colloidal silver, his eyes had started to swell already and I really couldn't tell how much damage had been done. His butt was bare and probably sore from the plucking, but no actual open wounds there. I'm keeping him separate so he doesn't get pecked, and trying to care for him. Have mostly been using colloidal silver. His butt seems to be healing up fine. But his eyes are still swollen. I used colloidal silver first day, but picked up some blue wound care stuff that said it was safe for eyes at Orschelns yesterday. He can work one eye open, after I clean it with the cs and then spray on the wound care stuff. There is still blood in the eye, but that eye is working - is able to follow my movements, and see his food. He is eating and drinking. He doesn't keep it open for long though, and its always crusted over a bit by next time I go to clean it in a couple hours. Worst first thing in the morning of course. He doesn't seem to be in pain. He gets freaked when I first pick him up, even when I talk to him and reassure him first. I guess cuz he can't see me. But I go slow and soon he can gets that it is me and I'm helping and he calms down. He seems to be healthy apart from the eyes. But I'm afraid with the blood around his pupil that the eye was pierced. It may still be able to heal, be slowly healing. The fact that he seems able to see, follow my movements, after I've cleaned it out and he can open the eye, seems a good sign?? So far he has yet been able to open the other eye. It was the more grotesquely swollen of the two, at first, and though there is still some swelling around both eyes, there is more yet on the unopened one. I'm guessing he can learn to adapt to life with one eye, at least long enough to breed a new generation. He can have a protected life from here on out. At the new place, there will be a nice sized breeding pen and a separate "retirement" coop for older birds that have become more pets and I don't want to harvest. He won't be free-ranging any longer if he has only one good eye. At any rate, I'm wondering if there is anything else I could or should be doing for him? I wish I could have killed the coon (to make sure it wasn't rabid or carrying some other disease), but after I got home and the dogs had alerted me to where he was I too freaked about how many chickens might be dead to insist they "stay" till I sent Mike out to deal with it. I just ran to the coop to check on the chickens, and the dogs followed me. By the time I realized I should have told the dogs to stay put and hollered for Mike the coon was gone. Aside from not being happy about being in an enclosed space, and not seeing well (or at all when the eye closes up between cleanings), Little Roo seems healthy.

One other question. When at Orscheln's for the blue wound care spray, I was also looking for something else - a spray that would act like a liquid bandage. the one I got is just a spray, stays liquid and evaporates. I thought there was another product that would dry/seal a wounded area. It wouldn't help with Little Roo of course, as it couldn't have been used on his eyes. But I have a couple light brahma hens who are getting overworked by Mr. Roo - the adult light Brahma. I wanted to coat her back - but they didn't have anything like that at Orscheln's (in Parsons). Is there a product like that, and if so where would I get it? In the meantime, I think I'm going to take an old pair of sweat pants and make them some kind of coat out of the legs.

Thanks for any input. Sara

Oh wow, Sarajoy, so glad for your dogs and you getting home when you did - there are not too many chickens who survive a raccoon attack. I haven't heard of either the wound sealer you are talking about or the colloidal silver so that is a new one on me. When I had a hen attacked by a fox, I squeezed triple antibiotic ointment liberally into all 4 of her wounds and that seemed to do the trick and she healed up nicely but her wounds were on her back, not her eyes. There is a product called Vetericyn. They make two versions - one is a liquid spray but the other is more of a gel that is specifically for ophthalmic use. I am reading off my bottle right now and it says:


Quote: So it sounds appropriate for use in this situation. The last bird I used it on had crustiness due a respiratory infection and I found that the consistency of the gel really made it easy to keep her eyes clean.

Auto doors are expensive but I really do love mine as I always worry about something like this happening if we are out late, or go away overnight. Before I installed mine I thoroughly researched all available models and have been really happy with the one I eventually settled on. Let me know if you want any information on any of them. Mine was super easy to install and has worked flawlessly since I've had it. Although expensive, sometimes there is no price you can place on "peace of mind". When I went out of town recently I decided not to get a chicken sitter and instead left out enough food/water to last them, and knowing the door would open and close to let them in and out allowed me to go without worrying about that while I was gone.

We woke up to about 4" accumulation and drifts much worse than that. Ugh. So no excited about this much snow in late March. Let's hope this is the last winter blast and from here on out it will be Spring!!! I couldn't even get my coop door open this morning due to the snow drifts - fortunately I filled up the feeder yesterday so I know they have enough food to last through today. A third of the way down my chicken yard we have a dog igloo that the dogs sleep in at night, but a couple of the hens prefer it for laying in. One of those dedicated hens plowed her way through the snow this morning to get to it to lay her egg - I guess she really thinks its better than the nest boxes in the coop to go to all that effort. I watched her from my kitchen window and it was really slow going getting through all that snow.

 

[chicken danz]

Ha! Ha! Heather. I have a group of chickens that lays daily in one of the dogloos. The dogs sleep in there as well. The chickens just go in and drop their egg and the dog lets them. I have a dog bed in there so they must like the cushy feel of it. Silly birds! I've got shickens out running around in the snow. How silly is that? You'd think they'd want to be safely tucked in their coops today. It quit coming down for awhile so I guess they felt it was a good time to run out and play.

 

[lizzyGSR]

I've got shickens out running around in the snow. How silly is that? You'd think they'd want to be safely tucked in their coops today. It quit coming down for awhile so I guess they felt it was a good time to run out and play.

The official snowfall total for this area from the NWS is 15". I'm not sure how much we got here because the wind blew it all around, making it difficult to measure. We needed every bit of it, though. Now, let's just hope that it'll melt before it all blows away. Believe it or not, my ducks/geese are hanging out in their house today. Apparently, they don't like cold feet. They've got a little area of their run packed down pretty good from where they were hanging out yesterday, but they are hiding in their house today, despite the fact that it's sunny with barely any breeze here today. Silly, silly birds.

 

[chicken danz]

My geese are all standing by their water bucket out in the snow. I haven't seen the ducks so I am assuming they are in their house. That is pretty rare. I'm still not anxious to get out there. The wind is really blowing hard which equates to super cold.

 

[jeanniec]

it is awful out there.. i had to wade through drifts to get to the chicken house.. and here is a picture of my daughter-in-law and son who are stuck in a snow drift trying to get a bale of hay... spring COME BACK NOW!!!

 

[sarajoy]

If you are not aware of them, chicken aprons are made just for that purpose. People make and sell them and you can find free patterns on the internet. Very simple and your sweat pant fleese would work well for them.

Thank you - I'll go look for a pattern before just diving in with my scissors - which is what I was getting ready to do before I read your post! Sara