Maine

[lazy gardener]

Bucka, Beautiful feather pattern on that roo. what is he?

Quail Trail: With all of this snow, I don't think it really matters that you didn't get a run built, as Ash said, just a matter of time before the fencing is below the snow anyways! I just went out and bought what ever heated water bowl they had at TSC. It's blue and 5 qt, designed to kick on when the temp gets down to 40 degrees. So far, it does a good job. I have it set up on a pallet and put a milk jug of water in the middle to keep them from getting into it, and to keep their wattles out of it.

I read input from one fellow who was putting milk jugs full of hot water into his coop under the perches at night. Not a bad idea, may not kick out much heat, but certainly couldn't hurt. Just to be extra safe, I put my jug in a bucket so if it freezes and splits over night, it won't soak the bedding. My girls were all up on the perches tonight. At least several of them have been sleeping in the nest boxes, so, for what ever reason, they are happier tonight.

After seeing all the comb damage, my resolve to stick with rose and pea comb birds is strengthened!

With this super cold weather, any sprouts I put out are frozen before the girls get a chance to eat them, so the last batch went into the fridge, and will be fed when the temp gets more reasonable.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Poor guy. What breed is he?

He's a 7 month old BA

 

[lazy gardener]

help me out here. Brain cramps. BA?

 

[buckabucka]

Black Australorp?
That's a Basque rooster, lazy gardener.
My hens did go outside into the run today. It got up to 9, and I let them out. Most of them seemed happy to be out there, while those that are molting stayed put.
I was seeing piles of roundworms on the poop boards in the fall, but kept putting off worming due to the molt. I finally got around to it over Christmas, and I feel like I know which hens had the worst case of worms now. Some of the older hens were so sluggish, just sitting around hunched up all the time. Now they are out digging in the leaves, pushing around the younger pullets, and acting like their old selves.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

My showgirl had a disastrous day. While us humans were out and about she was having horrible things happen to her butt.

When I found her at 5 PM she was huddled underneath the nesting boxes in a corner with all kinds of horrors frozen to her butt. Definitely some poo and some other unidentifiable goo. Hopefully it wasn't broken egg.

Anyway, I brought her inside and she got to take a nice shower in the kitchen sink. She is very calm as long as she is perched on my hand or arm, but the second she doesn't have a grip on me, all heck breaks loose.

I got a majority of the goop off, and got a whole new chicken experience:



I somehow doubt that this is what Mr Sassoon had in mind for his product's use.

 

[buckabucka]

Oh, cute photo, blow-drying the showgirl! I'm glad she's feeling better.

I've only had to do that once, when a lavender Ameraucana got a sour crop. We had to keep her in the house for a week and her butt was nasty, so she had a good wash and blow dry.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

help me out here.  Brain cramps.  BA?

Black Australorp?
That's a Basque rooster, lazy gardener.
My hens did go outside into the run today. It got up to 9, and I let them out. Most of them seemed happy to be out there, while those that are molting stayed put.
I was seeing piles of roundworms on the poop boards in the fall, but kept putting off worming due to the molt. I finally got around to it over Christmas, and I feel like I know which hens had the worst case of worms now. Some of the older hens were so sluggish, just sitting around hunched up all the time. Now they are out digging in the leaves, pushing around the younger pullets, and acting like their old selves.

Yes, Black Australorp !

 

[lazy gardener]

OK, Bucka: The red/blonde barred rooster is a Basque, right? Where did BA come from, I could see that that refers to Black Australorpe, but don't know how that entered the thought process. I'm truly having some brain cramps! Thanks. Perhaps it's time for me to toddle off to bed! What did you worm your flock with?

 

[buckabucka]

OK, Bucka:  The red/blonde barred rooster is a Basque, right?  Where did BA come from, I could see that that refers to Black Australorpe, but don't know how that entered the thought process.  I'm truly having some brain cramps!  Thanks.  Perhaps it's time for me to toddle off to bed!  What did you worm your flock with?

This is starting to get like "who's on first?"

Read back a few posts. Windy Bay farm posted a photo of her frostbitten rooster. I asked her what breed he was, and she replied: BA. I had also posted photos of my frostbitten roo, and you commented that he was pretty and asked what he was. Your next post said you were having a brain cramp and what is a BA? I tried to answer both questions in one post. I probably should have quoted everyone to make my answer clear, but the confusion was worth the good chuckle I am having right now.

I wormed with Valbazen.

 

[suzMEchicks]

I did end up opening the coop to let them all out for the afternoon. Practically a heat wave. Got up to 20 ! Put down hay and gave them all kinds of treats out there but only 3 of them would go out. The black sexlink are the biggest by far but are also the wimpiest.they both barely stuck their noses out. I think they are the ones that are laying every other day too. But they are awful pretty. I'm looking forward to warmth too.