INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

Am I understanding right that the flock is attacking this bird and caused the eye and face injury?

If so, you need to figure out why that is happening. I know it "could" be boredom, but why that bird in particular? "Sometimes" there is another underlying issue of illness with the bird and the others are drawn to destroy it. Sounds crazy, but in "natural" setting, taking out an ill bird would be good for the flock as it would draw predators to the rest.

Did you possibly notice her acting "off" or ill in any way before this happened?

The disclaimer is - there may not be any other issue with her. There may just be some cannibalistic birds in the flock and she's an easy target. If you have time you might want to observe the flock dynamics to see how they are acting around each other and interacting.

It may also help to give the flock some raw meat. Some ground meat is easy as you can throw small pieces all around so they can all get some. The propensity to attack another bird can "sometimes" just be the need to some animal/insect protein in their diet. Ground meat is usually less expensive than the dry mealworms by the lb. Some butchers will also sell liver or other meats for pet food that you can cut up tiny and feed. It's usually cheaper yet... our butcher does pet liver for .50/lb.


Hope she heals quickly for you!

 

[chick rookie]

chick rookie ~ Sorry about your hen's eye! The second remedy in this list is for an eye wash.
Not sure if you happen to have Boric Acid on hand, if not, just put the money toward buying what Kabhyper suggested since she has just gone through having chicken eye problems.

In general, just to be safe, I'd boil your water to a rolling boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. There have been human deaths associated with using tap or well water in a Neti Pot (for sinus problems) instead of using distilled or boiled water. I'm mentioning this because any water that is put in eyes or noses should be sterile because those areas are close to the brain. I'm referring to humans, but I'd say that the warnings also apply to chickens and other animals.



Just fyi to anyone interested in putting Boric Acid in your first aid kit, drug stores sell it.

thanks have some but I have triple antibiotic ointment, but I am going to keep this and put it in my kit.

 

[chick rookie]

Am I understanding right that the flock is attacking this bird and caused the eye and face injury?

If so, you need to figure out why that is happening. I know it "could" be boredom, but why that bird in particular? "Sometimes" there is another underlying issue of illness with the bird and the others are drawn to destroy it. Sounds crazy, but in "natural" setting, taking out an ill bird would be good for the flock as it would draw predators to the rest.

Did you possibly notice her acting "off" or ill in any way before this happened?

The disclaimer is - there may not be any other issue with her. There may just be some cannibalistic birds in the flock and she's an easy target. If you have time you might want to observe the flock dynamics to see how they are acting around each other and interacting.

It may also help to give the flock some raw meat. Some ground meat is easy as you can throw small pieces all around so they can all get some. The propensity to attack another bird can "sometimes" just be the need to some animal/insect protein in their diet. Ground meat is usually less expensive than the dry mealworms by the lb. Some butchers will also sell liver or other meats for pet food that you can cut up tiny and feed. It's usually cheaper yet... our butcher does pet liver for .50/lb.


Hope she heals quickly for you!

she has 3 hens she hangs out with and they all are higher on the pecking order. She has been fine, laying good eating good and not a lazy hen by no means, they get all our left overs and that includes the meat. I normally give meal worms for treats but not lately cause they have been getting hamburger and such in our leftovers. What gets me is it didn't happen until I let them all free range in the nice weather. all the meat they been getting is cooked so maybe I need to thaw out some raw hamburger tonight and give to them. thanks for the tips.

 

[kabhyper1]

I have never given my birds meat. Im sure they get bugs outside, but never raw meat. I have heard of a lot of mean chickens who have raw meat in their diet. Since I have no experience using meat, I can't speak from experience, but I don't personally want to risk it with my flock. They do really well without me testing the aggression waters.

I just want to also add that I am not condemning anyone who does feed meat, I just like having my chickens very calm since I don't have a huge area for them.

 

[kabhyper1]

ChickRookie, you may have to tube feed her until she heals a bit.

 

[lilmizscareall]

I feel like I've complete the first half of the Oregon Trail... I'm officially home, from traveling to @bradselig's, with a slew of birds. Somehow I ended up with 5 extra birds... How did that happen??? Then I stopped at the Muncie RK.... They just happened to have SLW, so I was suckered into their 6 chick minimum. Their "chick tanks" looked really good, nice and clean and full.
So on to the good stuff, chick pics!!!

Hello Mr./Ms. Personality!

(1)

(2)

(2)

(3a)

(3b)

(3b)

The SLW were in with black australorps, so did I pick the right baby chicks?

Side note: Why do my photos look so downgraded when I load them on here? I feel like it makes them look really blurry...
ETA, they're not as blurry when I click on them, so nevermind!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I have fed my chickens meat before and that has by no means changed their attitude. I have only had a few incidents, but nothing too severe. I wouldn't feed them raw meat though.

 

[Leahs Mom]

When I see a broody get out her fry-pan and cook the meat and insects that she has caught for her chicks.... that's when I'll start cooking meat for my birds

Seriously, though, it sounds like you've given them some meat which is a good thing.

I'm wondering if there may have been some kind of predator that could have gotten into the pen at all? Sometimes mice and rats will attack birds at night when they're on the roost. I know one gal who said she went out at night and could see mice crawling on her birds!!

They will literally pull feathers, etc. if there is an infestation.

I don't remember if you said you saw the other chickens actually attacking her or not.

 

[kabhyper1]

So I just called our Big R to see what chickens they are getting. I got my blue cochins there last spring and wanted a few more. The guy ssaid they are already spoken for! I didn't think they were allowed to do that. Boo. They are getting some other breeds I want so I'll still look. I need a few more girls for my 3 big boys.

 

[raisinemright]

I just set 7 BR and 7 RIR, I also candled the 9 Marans and everyone of them is getting more filled and the air sacks look great, there is still a little light area on the bottom but this makes movement easy to see. and let me tell ya they are moving around. All but one egg, had to throw it out it has not changed sense the last candling, this is day 15 for them so I figured it was a dud and to get it out before it blew up. My plan of action is to remove all but two trays from the auto turner and lay the marans in the floor while the 14 other eggs stay on the turner. I will bump up the humidity on lock down day and hope for the best that it does not effect the 14 eggs newer eggs to much. fingers crossed. next year I will have a second bator for this reason. I hope both sets turn out good.