Help! My chickens/livestock are all healthy!!!!!

[Uzuri]

I'm scared to post in case I jinx myself but...

First timer here -- they've lived to 17 weeks anyway!

 

[luvmycritters42]

Yup, Happy (well, when I let them out to free range

) healthy chickens. We put off getting chickens for a few years because we didn't know anything about them (and husband was reluctant cuz he didn't want to build a coop)......finally broke down this year when the feed store was selling them for $1 each at the end of May. I'm SO glad!! I LOVE them! Fun to watch. Fun to feed all our leftovers too (they like that!!) They are just so cool. And hubby did a GREAT job building the coop. Now, if they would start laying some eggs.........

.

We have 1 RIR, 1 BO, 1 Cochin Banty, 1 Silver L. Wyandotte and 3 unknown mixed breeds (2 are roos) that we got from a friend.

 

[crazyhen]

I have 9 layers all are healthy and singing. Happy Hens. I have two young splash from Speckledhen also happy and healthy. I am NPIP certified. They have been checked for mycroplasms, salmonella, viruses, and pylorrum a few weeks ago. Nice and healthy at this point. I love to hear them singing.
The only down is I spend to much energy and money building them new coop extensions or changing things. LOL It is so much fun though and definitely habit forming. The eggs are rich and really good. The Yolks are nice and dark orange from the scratch grain, treats and grass I rake and give them after mowing. When I had a crowing roo I loved that too. I have one growing now that will be splash orp. I love the orps. Gloria Jean

 

[michickenwrangler]

Both times I bought chickens, I bought more than I wanted to have b/c I figured at LEAST one would die from something. Not the case! I've raised two batches (small batches) with no mortality. Our roo had scaly leg mites but it's cleared up after vaseline applications (though he hides now whenever I come into the run

 

[Beekissed]

You know, when I bought a couple of sheep all the old timer sheep people told me all the horror stories about......

.... how sheep come out of the womb looking for a place to die, sheep are stupid, smelly and more trouble than they are worth, they won't stay in any fencing, and that the coyotes will eat them all and I wouldn't make any profit.

I love my sheep! They are happy, healthy, funny and adorable to watch. They stay fat on grass, they smell like horses and hay, they don't try to get out of my fencing. Not noisy, not dumb, not getting out and no predators would dare brave my LGDs.

If I had listened to all the doom and gloom folks, I wouldn't even have bothered but my life has definitely been enriched by these sheep. If everything goes alright with offspring, I should make a very good profit off them this year....plus the joy of having such easy animals to keep. Cheap, no work, fun to watch....sort of like the chickens!

 

[Tala]

All my critters are healthy, except my dog who has a "mysterious" skin problem.

All 5 of my chickens are getting along great - so far the worst thing to happen to them is that white Leghorns don't stay white when they get dirty rooster feet on their back every day

I have completed 99% of the fence work in the back yard and they are now allowed to range all day (were in a tractor) so they're really enjoying their freedom. My fence is only 5ft high, but only one of my pullets has her wings clipped - they seem to stay on the ground most of the time until they go to roost and they put themselves to bed so that's all good.

I'm constructing them a larger coop, which should be raccoon proof, and will hold approx 13 chickens. I intend to get 6 more chicks in the spring, and hopefully get a few more pullets. They can grow up in the tractor until they're big enough to go in with my current flock.

 

[babyblue]

the horses are not dead and neither are the chickens, that is what I joke with my family constantly. (my mom and I have very different opinions on what the carried weight of nonworking pet horses should be) they are fed, watered and have a clean and dry place to sleep at night. all should be right in the livestock world tonight.

 

[Beekissed]

"Not dead" is definitely in the plus column......

 

[NancyP]

I am a newbie with 32 meaties who are fat and happy and 3 full bators of misc shipped eggs (duck and chicken) all doing well. Thanks for doing this thread. You are right the doom and gloom can seem daunting at times.
Nancy

 

[BeccaOH]

Another fun thing about my flock is several young roosters learning to crow. This morning I heard a "baaa" behind me. We don't have sheep. Turned to find my young BO roo attempting to crow.

And people told me that that the crowing would be annoying. I love it!

Oh, and I have a young BA hen that growls. Crazy sound comes from her throat. I went into the coop last night to retrieve an egg from under the roost, and she growled at me. Not a "bawk" but a "grrr."