Ideas for taking care of their Beaks

[Red Door Coop]

Hi anyone: I purchased the largest cuttlebones I could find in hopes of being good for the chickens, as they are indoors all the time at this point. I do put in gravel, sand, have a big stone in there they can rub on but any other ideas would be helpful at this point.

Red Door Coop

 

[bobbi-j]

Why are they indoors all the time? How old are they?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Yeah,why are they?Thats not healthy or good for them or you.

 

[Red Door Coop]

Hello TwoRoos and Bobbi-j : To answer your question of why they are in the coop all the time

First : we live right next door to a mink ranch..............
second: motivating my husband to help build a run...........wanna come and help

They are still spoiled chickens. It is a good coop with a cement floor, a big window screened with chicken wire, a fan, dirt, leaves, straw, good perches and nest boxes and they must be happy as they are laying well since last Sept. and have a variety of things to do but you are correct. It would be better for them to be outside on these wonderful days. Hopefully soon he won't be too busy still working to help put up a good run. Your run ideas would be appreciated

I looked into a chicken tractor but that won't work for me. I've had two brain injuries over the last 1.5 years and don't need one more job of moving something all the time. They would have enough variety with a good run. I have a huge flower garden and raised beds and we have 3 acres so their is enough greens etc. to share with them. Red Door Coop

 

[bobbi-j]

You might want to mosey on over to the Coop and Run Design section of the forum. The fastest way for me to motivate my hubby to do something is to start it myself! I'm one of the least mechanically inclined people on Earth. He's learned the hard way that it's just easier for him to help me in the first place than have to redo what I've done unsupervised. You should see the look in his eye when I help myself to his power tools. He gets a quiver in his voice when he asks, "What are you planning on doing with THAT?"

 

[Red Door Coop]

Thanks Bobbi-J : Some days its enough just to do what I'm doing after a concussion and shingles on my brain but it is coming. One day I will surprise him by backing up with a load of materials . I just looked through "chickenwhisperer" plans for a - Coop for a French Hen. Pretty impressive! We will have to use mink wire for sure otherwise our efforts would be in vain. Thanks for your encouragement. When its done I hope to post photos RDC

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks Bobbi-J : Some days its enough just to do what I'm doing after a concussion and shingles on my brain but it is coming. One day I will surprise him by backing up with a load of materials . I just looked through "chickenwhisperer" plans for a - Coop for a French Hen. Pretty impressive! We will have to use mink wire for sure otherwise our efforts would be in vain. Thanks for your encouragement. When its done I hope to post photos RDC

Yes, our situations are different. You hang in there and recover. I'm not sure what "mink wire" is. Is it similar to hardware cloth? I had a mink get in my coop this winter. Lost half a dozen hens. Of course it took the pullets and left the old girls! Wishing you all the best.

 

[Red Door Coop]

Bobbi-J: I have come far and having the chickens has helped. I did not know a thing about chickens which is exactly why I got them. I needed to learn something new and build new pathways in my brain. Its been a fun journey and lots of laughs.

I don't know what hardware cloth is? Mink wire is a small holed wire that does not allow the mink to pass through even when they are just past newborn which means they are about the size of a man's thumb then. What does hardware cloth look like? Maybe that is a better option?

I find it absolutely amazing really that I have come from not being able to do anything for myself like driving for a time, calculations, cooking, walking well, reading much (I'm a reader), plus plus to having chickens, organizing the selling of them, taking time to deliver them as it gives me social connections as I had to quit work. So God is good and I can do much even if my extended world seems smaller.... internet helps as well. Chicken Little, HenLee, Henny, Penny, Edwina, C.A., sister chick, J.C., plus the other six are great teachers.

I have no trouble selling my eggs and could sell much more if I chose. My customers are great! We'll see what I end up doing............

For everyone's info: there is no trouble with their beaks I just thought they may need "something" different.

 

[bobbi-j]

Bobbi-J: I have come far and having the chickens has helped. I did not know a thing about chickens which is exactly why I got them. I needed to learn something new and build new pathways in my brain. Its been a fun journey and lots of laughs.

I don't know what hardware cloth is? Mink wire is a small holed wire that does not allow the mink to pass through even when they are just past newborn which means they are about the size of a man's thumb then. What does hardware cloth look like? Maybe that is a better option?

I find it absolutely amazing really that I have come from not being able to do anything for myself like driving for a time, calculations, cooking, walking well, reading much (I'm a reader), plus plus to having chickens, organizing the selling of them, taking time to deliver them as it gives me social connections as I had to quit work. So God is good and I can do much even if my extended world seems smaller.... internet helps as well. Chicken Little, HenLee, Henny, Penny, Edwina, C.A., sister chick, J.C., plus the other six are great teachers.

I have no trouble selling my eggs and could sell much more if I chose. My customers are great! We'll see what I end up doing............

For everyone's info: there is no trouble with their beaks I just thought they may need "something" different.

I'm glad you are on the road to recovery! Chicken keeping is a great hobby, and is a continual learning experience.

Hardware cloth sounds similar to your mink wire. It's wire fencing has square holes that are either 1/2" or 1/4" in size. (It may come with bigger holes, too, I just have never looked for it so I don't know). Sounds like mink wire would be a good thing for you, considering where you live.

As far as the cuttlebone, I don't know that they would need it. I can't say for sure, because I've never had to look into it, but I don't think a chicken's beak is like a parakeet's that will keep growing and growing. Maybe I've just never noticed because mine have access to dirt, gravel and such. At least for 9 months out of the year. I don't notice any excessive growth in the winter when they're cooped most of the time.