Consolidated Kansas

[ashncarson]

I have a question that might sound silly. Are most chicken owners have someone who stays home all day?

Most people that I know in my town that keeps chickens are stay at home wives and there is always someone at home. I work 7:30-3 during the week. I work close by and usually come home for a break but its still early and my husband works nights and sleeps until noon.

I worry about what would happen if a chicken was injured and got chased and pecked and I was not home to intervene. Am I just being a silly first time chicken owner?

Thanks for all your advice the past few weeks!

 

[ashncarson]

It's a sad day here. The vet is coming out to euthanize our 16 year old Brittany/SH Pointer dog. He has hit a wall, and just doesn't have any quality of life left. He is my DH's best friend, and we have had him since he was 2 weeks old.

Sorry about your doggy :/ We had to do that 2 years ago as well, she was 15. I had a great peace afterwards knowing it was the right decision.

I don't know if you have heard of Rainbow Bridge but here is what it says:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...​

 

[Frizzled Pink]

Morning everyone!

I just wanted to put a shout out that if anyone needs to get rid of a rooster or three, my neighbor is in need of some. Breed doesn't matter, she is in it for the eggs. The coyotes have been rather thick around our area in the last year and she has lost all but one rooster. PM me or try catching me on the list here. Thanks in advance!

Spooncreek has some- i think both bantam and LF, you are in Olathe right? See Spooncreek Organics on facebook, she is out Sante Fe past the lake

 

[chicken danz]

Thanks. I don't have the space to raise another set to full growth. May just have to make due with what I've got & let nature takes it course. Kind of sad though, I wanted more Easter Eggers.

My little rooster (Apple Jack) got injured today. They where outside in their temporary cage, and we had to leave the house for less than 30 minutes. When we returned I heard them being quite loud out back and after awhile I went and checked. One other chick (I believe he is also a rooster) was chasing around Apple Jack and pecking his comb.

I seperated him and he is alone now. I am not sure what all to do for him now. I do have some Triple Antibiotic Ointment cream made with Bacitracin. Is this something that is ok to use on him?

I am attaching photos. I did not edit them any so you can see the true color. The injury does not appear to be to bad, but then again this is my first time with chickens.How will they do when I add him back in?

Ash, he will be fine I am sure. You can use the triple antibiotic ointment on him as long as it isn't the kind that has pain killer in it. I'd recommend getting some blue kote for future injuries. It works great and hides the color of blood. I also use pine tar made for horses. It's messy but the other chickens won't pick on it. He should be fine to be with the others as long as there isn't any blood showing.

I have a question that might sound silly. Are most chicken owners have someone who stays home all day?

Most people that I know in my town that keeps chickens are stay at home wives and there is always someone at home. I work 7:30-3 during the week. I work close by and usually come home for a break but its still early and my husband works nights and sleeps until noon.

I worry about what would happen if a chicken was injured and got chased and pecked and I was not home to intervene. Am I just being a silly first time chicken owner?

Thanks for all your advice the past few weeks!

I think there is a huge cross section of both. It really doesn't matter if you are home all day or not because there is always a chance that something will happen and most of the time it happens so fast your being there makes no difference either way. Those of us who are at home don't sit outside and watch our birds all day. It's just not possible. I am only home now because I am retired. I worked before. Your best defense is to make sure you have a safe pen for them and to keep them fed properly and given fresh water every day. You may have to make some adjustments for weather to make it work the best but chickens have survived for centuries without all the creature comforts we give them. Keeping them healthy is the key here.
You will have losses. There is no way to prevent it. Things happen. But most of your birds will survive whether you work or not.

 

[cleansquared]

The referance to " the rainbow bridge" is also prevelent in norse and scandanavian & ancient germanic mythologies "trb" is said to be mankinds connection to diety or the heavens or god how ever you like to put it its nice here to see it represented for animals.. Thor whom could move and ajust "trb" was known to have a special gift to bring animals back to life after there old bodies were spent put into new form..

 

[ashncarson]

Ash, he will be fine I am sure. You can use the triple antibiotic ointment on him as long as it isn't the kind that has pain killer in it. I'd recommend getting some blue kote for future injuries. It works great and hides the color of blood. I also use pine tar made for horses. It's messy but the other chickens won't pick on it. He should be fine to be with the others as long as there isn't any blood showing.

I think there is a huge cross section of both. It really doesn't matter if you are home all day or not because there is always a chance that something will happen and most of the time it happens so fast your being there makes no difference either way. Those of us who are at home don't sit outside and watch our birds all day. It's just not possible. I am only home now because I am retired. I worked before. Your best defense is to make sure you have a safe pen for them and to keep them fed properly and given fresh water every day. You may have to make some adjustments for weather to make it work the best but chickens have survived for centuries without all the creature comforts we give them. Keeping them healthy is the key here.
You will have losses. There is no way to prevent it. Things happen. But most of your birds will survive whether you work or not.

Thank you! Does places like Tractor Supply sale the Blue Kote?

 

[Trish44]

Hey, just signed up. I live in paradise, ks. Just started a flock of chickens. All kinds. Just stated getting eggs! I was wondering if it was a good idea to add chicks next year. This year we had some turkeys & they didn't make it. I think the older chickens took care of them if you know what I mean.

Welcome to Consolodated Kansas! I try to add a few chicks each year so I have different ages & that way if some are molting then some will be ready to fill in with the laying. I have integrated them in before they were full sized & done fine with it. My flock is used to having new birds added like that though. They do put the new ones in their place so to speak, but they aren't terrible about it. The most commotion happens at the feeder most of the time when the young ones get pecked on the head & told they have to wait to eat. I have a long trough they eat from because I feed fermented feed & they will jostle for a place at feeding time.

My little rooster (Apple Jack) got injured today. They where outside in their temporary cage, and we had to leave the house for less than 30 minutes. When we returned I heard them being quite loud out back and after awhile I went and checked. One other chick (I believe he is also a rooster) was chasing around Apple Jack and pecking his comb.

I seperated him and he is alone now. I am not sure what all to do for him now. I do have some Triple Antibiotic Ointment cream made with Bacitracin. Is this something that is ok to use on him?

I am attaching photos. I did not edit them any so you can see the true color. The injury does not appear to be to bad, but then again this is my first time with chickens.How will they do when I add him back in?



His eye also appears to be red around the edges.....

I just saw Danz's note, I agree on the blue kote, that does seem to help keep the others from pecking till they can heal some. I just keep a can of it in with my chicken first aid stuff.

We had to go to Wichita today for an appt. & got back this afternoon so DH could get to work barely in time. I was just exhausted today so it hasn't been a productive day for me.

 

[sharol]

Yes. I got it a Orshlens in Topeka (sp). One caution the stuff stains everything it touches. I would suggest spraying it on a plastic or rubber glove while having both hands gloved (my sprayer leaked all over the hand holding it) and then applying it to the comb with your fingers. (Unless you like purple hands, of course) You don't want to spray it in his eyes accidentally.

Thank you! Does places like Tractor Supply sale the Blue Kote?

 

[lizzyGSR]

Some disturbing news from my little corner of paradise. I talked to the neighbor a couple of days ago, and they said that they lost their donkey to rabies. It sounded like a terrible way to die, and a very difficult thing to watch a pet go through. I am now terrified for my horses and my other animals. My birds are relatively safe, as they are locked up at night. The dogs have had their shots, but I had never gotten a rabies vaccine for my horses before. I have an appointment to go in (by myself - no hubby to help) with the horses to get their shots on Monday morning. I made the mistake of asking what happens if a horse gets rabies. I didn't like the vet's answer - they have to be put down. Now, I get to think about the what-ifs all weekend long.


An update on my duck... Her foot looked better this morning after I picked the scab off yesterday. The new scab is much smaller and looks much better than the old one. I was halfway tempted to try to pick it again, just to try to squeeze any yuck out of what is left of the bump. I didn't though. It is still smaller than it was, but it isn't shrinking as fast with this set of Baytril as it did with the first set. I am not sure why. Hopefully, this round will clear the infection up enough that the spot on her foot will heal the rest of the way by itself. Tomorrow is the last day of the second 3-day series of shots. I guess I'll know more the morning after tomorrow.

 

[cherwill]

It's a sad day here. The vet is coming out to euthanize our 16 year old Brittany/SH Pointer dog. He has hit a wall, and just doesn't have any quality of life left. He is my DH's best friend, and we have had him since he was 2 weeks old.

A photo from his youth (15 years ago).


Sleep well, Good Dog.

Oh Sharol, I'm so sorry. They really are members of the family and their lives are so short. My thoughts are with you and your DH tonight.

Hey, just signed up. I live in paradise, ks. Just started a flock of chickens. All kinds. Just stated getting eggs! I was wondering if it was a good idea to add chicks next year. This year we had some turkeys & they didn't make it. I think the older chickens took care of them if you know what I mean.

Welcome!

I saw in another post that you don't think you have a place to grow out younger birds before integrating them with your existing flock. Do you have some kind of enclosed yard for your chickens at all? We just subdivide the chicken pen with a temporary fence and use a dog kennel for them to go into at night. It's worked really well because they're all kind of used to each other by the time the young 'uns are grown enough for integration. They wouldn't need all that much space because they'd only be in it for a few months.

Some disturbing news from my little corner of paradise. I talked to the neighbor a couple of days ago, and they said that they lost their donkey to rabies. It sounded like a terrible way to die, and a very difficult thing to watch a pet go through. I am now terrified for my horses and my other animals. My birds are relatively safe, as they are locked up at night. The dogs have had their shots, but I had never gotten a rabies vaccine for my horses before. I have an appointment to go in (by myself - no hubby to help) with the horses to get their shots on Monday morning. I made the mistake of asking what happens if a horse gets rabies. I didn't like the vet's answer - they have to be put down. Now, I get to think about the what-ifs all weekend long.


An update on my duck... Her foot looked better this morning after I picked the scab off yesterday. The new scab is much smaller and looks much better than the old one. I was halfway tempted to try to pick it again, just to try to squeeze any yuck out of what is left of the bump. I didn't though. It is still smaller than it was, but it isn't shrinking as fast with this set of Baytril as it did with the first set. I am not sure why. Hopefully, this round will clear the infection up enough that the spot on her foot will heal the rest of the way by itself. Tomorrow is the last day of the second 3-day series of shots. I guess I'll know more the morning after tomorrow.

Good news about your duck, but not about the rabies. Unfortunately there is no cure for rabies. I know if a human is bit by something with rabies, there's a series of shots that can be given to try to prevent the rabies. I've never heard of anything like that for animals, but I guess I haven't had a reason to hear it. Maybe it doesn't come up because most people don't know about the rabies until it's too late?