grannys gone and done it

[h2oratt]

That can sometimes backfire.

Not if you find something you love to do

 

[Wishing4Wings]

So my Marans are the feather pickers. Jerks!!! Caught em in action. Poor nugget. Debating what to do now. Do those chicken blinder things work?

In other news, finally getting the new wagon professionally detailed. I just lack the time/patience/tools/stamina to give it the hazmat treatment it needs.

Other things to try before the blinders might be to change the run around. Add some extra roosts or logs... a ladder... something to break up the line of sight so the "target" can be out of sight. Provide a treat, like a hanging cabbage (takes them awhile to eat) or get a treat block. Mine have been picking feathers too, and some are molting, so they are always a target at that time. I got the feather fixer feed and it seems to be helping. I have heard that feather picking might be protein craving, so up their protein, which feather fixer might do. Also, let them out as much as possible. They get bored!

My picker is an Ameraucana. She has been near the bottom of the pecking order, and is overcompensating now that there are some youngsters and some broodies and molters. She has been throwing her weight around and being mean. I'm going to take her out of the population and keep her separate for a couple of weeks to let the others form a new pecking order without her. Then I'll add her back in as a singleton and we'll see if they close ranks against her and make her behave.

 

[h2oratt]

Hi everybody!

Hi tippy!

 

[h2oratt]

Other things to try before the blinders might be to change the run around. Add some extra roosts or logs... a ladder... something to break up the line of sight so the "target" can be out of sight. Provide a treat, like a hanging cabbage (takes them awhile to eat) or get a treat block. Mine have been picking feathers too, and some are molting, so they are always a target at that time. I got the feather fixer feed and it seems to be helping. I have heard that feather picking might be protein craving, so up their protein, which feather fixer might do. Also, let them out as much as possible. They get bored!

My picker is an Ameraucana. She has been near the bottom of the pecking order, and is overcompensating now that there are some youngsters and some broodies and molters. She has been throwing her weight around and being mean. I'm going to take her out of the population and keep her separate for a couple of weeks to let the others form a new pecking order without her. Then I'll add her back in as a singleton and we'll see if they close ranks against her and make her behave.

Wishing, how many chickens do you have?

 

[h2oratt]

Oh geez, he'd love that! He's wanted me to get a newspaper job for years now.

I'm much happier being a farmer.

You mean deliver newspapers?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

My layer coop has 9 hens plus the 2 pullets (11), bantam coop has 8 Serama hens and one cochin (9), garage pen has 4 Serama cockerels and 2 pullets (6).

So that makes 26, but I will be finding homes for at least 2 of the cockerels and maybe one pullet, so will not have more than 24, but the seramas are so tiny, you can count about 3 of them for one large fowl. I only have little over an acre, so can't go too crazy with my numbers.

How about you? Got tons?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Oh geez, he'd love that! He's wanted me to get a newspaper job for years now.

I'm much happier being a farmer.

You mean deliver newspapers?

I remember some time back camping saying she had a writing /journalist background. We'll see if my memory is working!!

 

[h2oratt]

I remember some time back camping saying she had a writing /journalist background. We'll see if my memory is working!!

Oh wow cool.

 

[h2oratt]

I remember some time back camping saying she had a writing /journalist background. We'll see if my memory is working!!

l

I have 4 old ladies 2 black sex link 2 barred rock
10 1 yr old hens , 2 Egyptians 1 golden campine 3 EE, 1 cuckoo Maran ,1 salmon favorelle. 2 polish top hats Just going through their first molt
1 orp rooster

5 mutts hatched from above chickens. About 4 months old

14 various orps and 2 polish hatched from eggs I bought about2 months old

1 mutt chick about a month

The 4 month old mutts are now crowing. I sure have some interesting cockerels. One is half favorelle,half orp, one is half white polish half orp, I guess we will process them as it looks like I have quite a few purebred orp coming up. No one wants mutt rooster except to eat and we can eat them.

 

[prostar]

Other things to try before the blinders might be to change the run around. Add some extra roosts or logs... a ladder... something to break up the line of sight so the "target" can be out of sight. Provide a treat, like a hanging cabbage (takes them awhile to eat) or get a treat block. Mine have been picking feathers too, and some are molting, so they are always a target at that time. I got the feather fixer feed and it seems to be helping. I have heard that feather picking might be protein craving, so up their protein, which feather fixer might do. Also, let them out as much as possible. They get bored!

My picker is an Ameraucana. She has been near the bottom of the pecking order, and is overcompensating now that there are some youngsters and some broodies and molters. She has been throwing her weight around and being mean. I'm going to take her out of the population and keep her separate for a couple of weeks to let the others form a new pecking order without her. Then I'll add her back in as a singleton and we'll see if they close ranks against her and make her behave.

Think I need to add some things to the raptor paddock. I do the hanging cabbage/chicken corn tetherball pretty regular like, but they go through it fast lol. Treat blocks...well, I do have quite a few varmints around.