Idaho?

[BeccaSmith]

Is their coop free of drafts? Is it nice and dry in there? Are they drinking enough water? Eating okay?

Their coop is draft free but does have ventilation, I think it has been lacking a little on the ventilation side as it has been pretty smelly in the coop lately. I use the deep litter method with pine shavings, it worked well last year, but the pine shavings don't seem to be the same this year even though it is the same brand. I have been turning their litter daily with a pitch fork and it seems to help and I also add more shavings as needed. As far as food and water, I haven't been home during the day due to work to see if the 3 are drinking enough or eating enough, I do know they eat the scratch I put outside of their coop in the morning. Today I was gone most of the day again, it was pretty cold today and most of the chickens didn't want to go in the snow I think they hung in the coop most of the day until the snow melted off mid afternoon. I did notice when I got home around 3:30 that most of the chickens were out free ranging but the 3 SLW were in the coop on a roost so that is not a good sign to me.

 

[Mo5C]

I have an Amber Star that just started growing her feathers back after molting and she went a couple weeks where she wouldn't even budge out of the coop, I think she was embarassed because she wasn't looking her best and it didn't help that the couple of times she did venture out of the coop my old Delaware rooster (2 months old) and a Barred Plymouth Rock hen would attack her and actually bloodied her up one day while I was gone, I since rehomed the rooster and the hen and got her some new friends. I know that's not the same situation as you but them staying in the coop is somewhat normal ( or so I was told by a friend that raises chickens but don't quote me on it ) as for the puffed up and haunched up (unless they are actually sick), they sometimes do that when they are cold, I think they do it to help warm themselves up. Do you know anyone that could "chicken sit" for a day while you are at work so you could see if they actually eating and drinking alright? I know Wilma (my Amber Star)got really skinny while she was molting, but that was just because my bpr hen and the Delaware roo would chase her away from the food, I started leaving food and water in the coop with her and now she is back to her normal weight. Just keep an eye on them and if they get any worse maybe call a vet or even Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell might know what to do. I know I almost made all of my hens a chicken saddle, and I still might to help keep them warm through the winter. Wilma is starting to grow her feathers back and she still has her days where she just stays in the nesting box and won't come out of the coop, but I make sure there is always plenty of straw in the coop to keep her and my 6 other chickens warm. If the 3 refuse to leave the coop try leaving food and water in there with them and get them a thing called a chicken block (it has extra vitamins and nutrients to help keep them healthy and warm through the winter), I am not sure what it is called but I know Zamzows and D&B sells them. Depending on where you are at, I have an extra waterer(it is only one of the mason jar waterers) if you want it, I bought a Heated 3 gallon waterer so I don't use the smaller one anymore. Also try getting cracked corn for them I hear it helps them stay warm in the colder months. I wish you luck with your flock and hopefully they are all OK and healthy. Sorry about the "novel" I hope it helps.

 

[Mo5C]

OK does anybody know of anyone that is selling ducks in the Boise area that wouldn't mind selling me 2 of them ( yes they would end up on the dinner table)? I have been looking for ducks (hopefully already butchered) for my dad as a Christmas present. I don't like the idea of eating them but he hasn't had duck since he was 13 and he is 73 . Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Daloorashens]

Chickenstock is May 4th... I think I posted earlier it was May5th... so mark your calendars!!!!!!!!!

Don't know about the Boise area... I know there are several BYCers from that area, somehow we need to get everyone checking in here more often....

 

[BeccaSmith]

I have an Amber Star that just started growing her feathers back after molting and she went a couple weeks where she wouldn't even budge out of the coop, I think she was embarassed because she wasn't looking her best and it didn't help that the couple of times she did venture out of the coop my old Delaware rooster (2 months old) and a Barred Plymouth Rock hen would attack her and actually bloodied her up one day while I was gone, I since rehomed the rooster and the hen and got her some new friends. I know that's not the same situation as you but them staying in the coop is somewhat normal ( or so I was told by a friend that raises chickens but don't quote me on it ) as for the puffed up and haunched up (unless they are actually sick), they sometimes do that when they are cold, I think they do it to help warm themselves up. Do you know anyone that could "chicken sit" for a day while you are at work so you could see if they actually eating and drinking alright? I know Wilma (my Amber Star)got really skinny while she was molting, but that was just because my bpr hen and the Delaware roo would chase her away from the food, I started leaving food and water in the coop with her and now she is back to her normal weight. Just keep an eye on them and if they get any worse maybe call a vet or even Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell might know what to do. I know I almost made all of my hens a chicken saddle, and I still might to help keep them warm through the winter. Wilma is starting to grow her feathers back and she still has her days where she just stays in the nesting box and won't come out of the coop, but I make sure there is always plenty of straw in the coop to keep her and my 6 other chickens warm. If the 3 refuse to leave the coop try leaving food and water in there with them and get them a thing called a chicken block (it has extra vitamins and nutrients to help keep them healthy and warm through the winter), I am not sure what it is called but I know Zamzows and D&B sells them. Depending on where you are at, I have an extra waterer(it is only one of the mason jar waterers) if you want it, I bought a Heated 3 gallon waterer so I don't use the smaller one anymore. Also try getting cracked corn for them I hear it helps them stay warm in the colder months. I wish you luck with your flock and hopefully they are all OK and healthy. Sorry about the "novel" I hope it helps.

I'll try looking into the chicken block, but they have access to food (layer crumbs) and water 24/7. Thank you for the offer of a waterer, but I have 3, one is on a heated base for the winter inside their coop, the other two I take out fresh water to them daily, if it is cold out I will use warm water in them.

I had my niece over this weekend so I wasn't able to spend any quality time with my chickens to monitor the three I am concerned about, but I did go out and sneak a peak at them a couple of times and I saw the three outside of the coop scratching around and they looked ok minus being super pale. Maybe I am just being super paranoid about them but it just seemed something was different and I don't like to just dismiss things to easily, I had a hen that was laying internally early this year and didn't recognize the signs in time to help her so I try to keep a watch full eye on them. I'll still watch them closely as I am not 100% sure that nothing is wrong. Their stools, not the just the three I am worried about have been very messy and smelly lately, and sometimes the whites have been pretty liquidy as well. Wish I had a local chicken expert who could look at the stools and say "yep" or 'nope" to if they are normal. I have seen the picture thread of what is normal but should chickens really always have smelly messy stools? It just doesn't seem right!

 

[Mo5C]

I'll try looking into the chicken block, but they have access to food (layer crumbs) and water 24/7. Thank you for the offer of a waterer, but I have 3, one is on a heated base for the winter inside their coop, the other two I take out fresh water to them daily, if it is cold out I will use warm water in them.

I had my niece over this weekend so I wasn't able to spend any quality time with my chickens to monitor the three I am concerned about, but I did go out and sneak a peak at them a couple of times and I saw the three outside of the coop scratching around and they looked ok minus being super pale. Maybe I am just being super paranoid about them but it just seemed something was different and I don't like to just dismiss things to easily, I had a hen that was laying internally early this year and didn't recognize the signs in time to help her so I try to keep a watch full eye on them. I'll still watch them closely as I am not 100% sure that nothing is wrong. Their stools, not the just the three I am worried about have been very messy and smelly lately, and sometimes the whites have been pretty liquidy as well. Wish I had a local chicken expert who could look at the stools and say "yep" or 'nope" to if they are normal. I have seen the picture thread of what is normal but should chickens really always have smelly messy stools? It just doesn't seem right!

I have no idea about the paleness or the stools being messy and smelly as I just started my chicken project. Have you asked the people at Meyer Hatchery? They might know what is going on with your hens. Also if you live anywhere near Caldwell, ID Dunlap Hatchery there in Caldwell might know.

 

[IdaArchae]

Chickenstock is May 4th... I think I posted earlier it was May5th... so mark your calendars!!!!!!!!!

Don't know about the Boise area... I know there are several BYCers from that area, somehow we need to get everyone checking in here more often....

Yay! I am going to be there. I don't NEED any more chickens, but that won't stop me from getting a couple. By the way, Bisque got loose yesterday, and a whole comedy routine ensued with my plump husband chasing her down with his long handled fishing net...I wish I had remembered that my new camera has a video function!

 

[pawtraitart]

Yay! I am going to be there. I don't NEED any more chickens, but that won't stop me from getting a couple. By the way, Bisque got loose yesterday, and a whole comedy routine ensued with my plump husband chasing her down with his long handled fishing net...I wish I had remembered that my new camera has a video function!

Too funny!

Was he out of breath by the time he caught her?

 

[Daloorashens]

Yay! I am going to be there. I don't NEED any more chickens, but that won't stop me from getting a couple. By the way, Bisque got loose yesterday, and a whole comedy routine ensued with my plump husband chasing her down with his long handled fishing net...I wish I had remembered that my new camera has a video function!

haha, that IS funny! I guess at least she got caught! did her molt get worse?

 

[IdaArchae]

He was out of breath, and little purple, lol! He opened the gate and she just bolted, like "WAHOOO, lookit all this pasture!!!!" She has like one black tail feather left, and is slowly losing more fanny feathers. I don't think she will throw down all at once, though, she seems to be losing, replacing, losing, replacing, losing.....