Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[Kris5902]

Looks like it's healing. When I got my RIR, Nevada, she had woulds all over her back, that looked very similar. I think they were from breeding. The vet said, well, they're healing, don't mess with them. I took about a month for full healing on the worst of them.

That’s good to know! My Mr Marans as a younger gent wasn’t quite as “adept” at the whole mating thing, and he did draw blood on Mrs Marans and her back ended up bare, but nothing this severe. He knows now what he’s doing, so he isn’t too hard on the girls. There wasn’t a Rooster in Zeta’s former flock, so I’m thinking she managed to cut herself on something in their run and at the sight of blood the flock moved in for a snack. She was much worse off a few weeks ago, according to her previous owner. She’s going to be leaving on a 3 week trip to visit family and her Husband likely won’t have time to nurse the single chicken, take care of the 4 YO boy, the flock, cattle, pigs, and work full time! Even dry and her not showing any real signs of the injury, her old flock was still apparently trying to cannabalize her when the owner tried to reintroduce her.

 

[BlueBaby]

@Kris5902 Is her flock needing a higher protein diet or something?

 

[Kris5902]

@Kris5902 Is her flock needing a higher protein diet or something?

Also quite possible, they are on a 17% layer, and a little too closely confined in the coop and run. It’s an older coop from before the space recommendations we currently use (just like the Farms situation, go figure?) which would likely be fine if free ranging during the day, but they do have some Raccoon and Mink issues, so the small secure run got added on. The owner is considering free ranging again now that they have a Rooster to watch them. Her Husband is a little less than thrilled by the whole “Rooster” idea, so I keep stressing that I can take him back and just buy Zeta if really needed. If I’m going to be building one or two more tractors, hey, why not do a third? He’s had roosters before that didn’t work out. I’m personally a fan though, and when the chicks are grown up enough, I’ll have more ladies for everyone

 

[BlueBaby]

Also quite possible, they are on a 17% layer, and a little too closely confined in the coop and run. It’s an older coop from before the space recommendations we currently use (just like the Farms situation, go figure?) which would likely be fine if free ranging during the day, but they do have some Raccoon and Mink issues, so the small secure run got added on. The owner is considering free ranging again now that they have a Rooster to watch them. Her Husband is a little less than thrilled by the whole “Rooster” idea, so I keep stressing that I can take him back and just buy Zeta if really needed. If I’m going to be building one or two more tractors, hey, why not do a third? He’s had roosters before that didn’t work out. I’m personally a fan though, and when the chicks are grown up enough, I’ll have more ladies for everyone

Ok, so that explains why they were trying to eat the low girl on the totem pole!

 

[aart]

Is her flock needing a higher protein diet or something?

Not sure any amount of protein will dissuade them from a rare cut of chicken butt.

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning Kris

 

[Kris5902]

Not sure any amount of protein will dissuade them from a rare cut of chicken butt.

That is just so true! Savage little cannibals... they can be so sweet and take care of and worry about each other, or they can turn into bloodthirsty fiends trying to eat each other at the sight of blood

 

[Kris5902]

Good morning Kris

Good Morning Bob! Or more like afternoon for you now... today has been a slow start, after yesterday’s rain everything is a little more soggy, slippery, and the humidity is pretty high. I was up too late waiting on Andrew to come home, and slept in a little, so he started the Heater for me before he left, which takes the chill off a little but pumps moisture into the air like nobody’s business. I’m glad I managed to get two more layers of shrink wrap window kit stuff on the skylight yesterday, or it would be dripping from the ceiling!

 

[Kris5902]

Well speaking of cannibalism and savage little monsters... We had two incidents. Last night a raccoon got a hold of one of the farm hens (she’s traumatized but ok) and this afternoon the sapphires decided to object to mr Eyebrows affections (I assume). He is now tailless and was bleeding. I staunched it with cornstarch and Blu Koted it. He didn’t even make any noise when he was assulted. I noticed his comb tips were a little black and was worried about frostbite, then I noticed the bloody beaks on the ladies and his back end looking off.

He’s too sweet a rooster to fight back even. He is now crated in the barn (will I ever get and keep the darn crate empty?) he kept falling asleep in my arms and didn’t even react to the cats. If I had a taller smaller Crate he would be in the trailer with me overnight. He did eat a few meal worms, and I will probably cook him up some egg and tuna tomorrow morning. He really needs to be ok. He’s Bb for blue eggs, beautiful, well tempered, and gentle with the girls (I don’t know why they turned on him, today is day three? Or maybe four since the chicken shuffle)

 

[BlueBaby]

Well speaking of cannibalism and savage little monsters... We had two incidents. Last night a raccoon got a hold of one of the farm hens (she’s traumatized but ok) and this afternoon the sapphires decided to object to mr Eyebrows affections (I assume). He is now tailless and was bleeding. I staunched it with cornstarch and Blu Koted it. He didn’t even make any noise when he was assulted. I noticed his comb tips were a little black and was worried about frostbite, then I noticed the bloody beaks on the ladies and his back end looking off.

He’s too sweet a rooster to fight back even. He is now crated in the barn (will I ever get and keep the darn crate empty?) he kept falling asleep in my arms and didn’t even react to the cats. If I had a taller smaller Crate he would be in the trailer with me overnight. He did eat a few meal worms, and I will probably cook him up some egg and tuna tomorrow morning. He really needs to be ok. He’s Bb for blue eggs, beautiful, well tempered, and gentle with the girls (I don’t know why they turned on him, today is day three? Or maybe four since the chicken shuffle)

So, the Sapphires are a mean breed? I guess that I won't be getting any of those, then.