Maine

[ashandvine]

Down their throat. Have someone hold them and pull down on their wattles. It opens their mouth. Shove the oral syringe in there, squirt.

We do it early in the morning before we let them out of the coop, and after we worm them we throw them out into the run so we know we got everyone. It takes some time, and there's a bit of anarchy (especially for those birds that HAVE TO LAY AN EGG NOW MOM!) but it works. What didn't work was putting the dose on a piece of bread (a common helpful hint from other people who worm) because they start fighting for the bread and some only get a small piece of the dose. Wattle pulling is totally the way to go.

So, the supportive responses here are very appreciated. I was similiarly grossed out and now am just examining all the poops too So far only one seems to have it, but because I lost a couple it may be that they did too. It seems like I have a peppering of a few things here all last week. Talk about a sucky week. I also got learn that my dad's last year of chemo didn't work along with other family details. Needless to say if *I* was a chicken I would be picking my own feathers out. Anyway, it seems like everyone is starting to be better from the sinus issue. All the vinegar, borax, and de etc are helping. I will go out today to see if I can get some kind of wormer.

What is waddle pulling??

I read to use Safeguard on the chickens for worms.

I went out onto the porch and the fox ran off about 15 feet, and then stopped and turned to look at me. I ran towards him and tried to look threatening (ha), and he did leave for now, but I have the feeling he'll be back.
Meanwhile, I have 12 week old chicks in my carport. That is not so secure. I wish DH wasn't working so much because I need to get them into the hoop coop.

Bucka, fox are creatures of habit. If they are on your property once they will be again unless you can disrupt that habit. Especially in spring when their kits are waiting in the den and nursing momma is starving. They will come at any hour of the day if they have had a taste of food or it looks like they will. I have had a number of older chicken and fowl keepers swear by their red eye machines but I still don't have them. If you see that fox again I would run out there and look loud and scarey again just to try to make a statement a few times about 'not here.' It will try at other times of the day to see if you aren't home then so you might want to leave the chickies in for a week. Pick grass for them if you have to. I have a son who pees around the coop and a dog who does the property perimeter. I think that helps too.

 

[Mainechick168]

hahahaha...forgot about the bug bites.. my hair is naturallly curly and it just gets bigger and bigger, the more i work outside in the humidity....Mine is a Maineboy, too...back Winterport....going to day to work on my run...i think i will copy your idea...i think it will work for our little flock.....what are your thoughts about adding on to it? I don't want to have multiple runs and coops.... i am already looking to expand my flock....four just isn't enough.....

I am from Farmingdale, but my maine boy is from Shirley ( near moosehead). As far as the coop goes...? this is my first time! We made it bigger than we thought we might need just in case...which is good, because my plan of getting 6 to start turned into 10! I don't think I'd like to have multiple coops and runs....I am hoping we can eventually add a goat dwelling into the mix someday!

 

[ashandvine]

I am very proud of her and just had to share. All this chasing of issues/illness was getting me down. This is my 'Eagle Orloff' as we call her, but officially she is a Spangled. She, like all chickens, moves a lot, so a better pictures was hard to get. This makes her head look really poofy. Usually she looks a bit more eagle like. Her beard is growing back in.

 

[buckabucka]

I am very proud of her and just had to share.  All this chasing of issues/illness was getting me down.  This is my 'Eagle Orloff' as we call her, but officially she is a Spangled.  She, like all chickens, moves a lot, so a better pictures was hard to get.  This makes her head look really poofy.  Usually she looks a bit more eagle like.  Her bear is growing back in.

I like the eagle orloff. We have a speckled Sussex that doesn't really have an eagle look, but after her molt her head grew it fairly solid white like that, so we call her snowcap.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Wattle pulling: hold chicken, grab wattles with thumb and forefinger. Pull down. Mouth opens. Shove oral syringe in. Deliver medication. Release wattles.

(Trying to be funny here AND work in one of my speckled sussex)

 

[ashandvine]

Wattle pulling: hold chicken, grab wattles with thumb and forefinger. Pull down. Mouth opens. Shove oral syringe in. Deliver medication. Release wattles.

(Trying to be funny here AND work in one of my speckled sussex)

Well this was perfect as her spangled color looks like my Spangled Orloff AND it helps me know what to do with meds. I usually have my son hold them, pry open their beak and dab with whatever. They are going on meds tomorrow: antibiotics for the littles and wormer for the bigs. I figure that will take care of both issues and they will be really cranky because they are all kept in but that is just how it has to be for a few days.

Do birds usually molt in the fall? Spring? Randomly? I have a Breda here who is in DIRE need of a makeover.


For anyone wanting a funny mental image: imagine my antisocial 'honkey' comets making an alliance with the new antisocial ducks... and then today the skittish goslings got out of their pen and they were initiated too. It is the weirdest flock! All banded together by their intolerance of me.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

They mostly molt in the fall, but they can molt randomly. Last year I had a few that were almost completely bald in the middle of winter. Silly, pitiful little things.

The wattle pulling works infinitely better than trying to pry their beaks open. Trust me and try it!

I have got to worm mine soon, too. Not looking forward to it. Bucka, I'll hold yours if you hold mine! I'll even bring the meds and oral syringe! (I bought 500 ml of it).

Your antisocial birds joined the anti-ashandvine party! My goslings actually ran away from home (after regurgitating their feed at me). The feeling was mutual.

 

[Mainechick168]

They mostly molt in the fall, but they can molt randomly. Last year I had a few that were almost completely bald in the middle of winter. Silly, pitiful little things.

The wattle pulling works infinitely better than trying to pry their beaks open. Trust me and try it!

I have got to worm mine soon, too. Not looking forward to it. Bucka, I'll hold yours if you hold mine! I'll even bring the meds and oral syringe! (I bought 500 ml of it).

Your antisocial birds joined the anti-ashandvine party! My goslings actually ran away from home (after regurgitating their feed at me). The feeling was mutual.

Superchemicalgirl, the last line here literally made me laugh out loud!!

 

[buckabucka]

They mostly molt in the fall, but they can molt randomly. Last year I had a few that were almost completely bald in the middle of winter. Silly, pitiful little things.

The wattle pulling works infinitely better than trying to pry their beaks open. Trust me and try it!

I have got to worm mine soon, too. Not looking forward to it. Bucka, I'll hold yours if you hold mine! I'll even bring the meds and oral syringe! (I bought 500 ml of it).

Your antisocial birds joined the anti-ashandvine party! My goslings actually ran away from home (after regurgitating their feed at me). The feeling was mutual.

That sounds like a good deal! (the bird holding and medication delivery). Haven't decided when to do it, but I'm open. Just let me know when you need assistance. Half of my problem is catching the birds in the first place. And I've never touched my rooster, ever. He is petrified of me, and after our last attack rooster, I stay clear of him, too.

I think by the end of tomorrow, the hoop coop may be ready enough for me to move my younger birds in. I figure that means the fox will come eat them all tonight. Every morning I look out there just thrilled to see they are alive, and one morning out went out there at 5 a.m. because I was freaked out that they hadn't crowed yet. The freezer group will stay in my carport until fall, but I'd really like to get the others secured.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Do yours go in a coop at night? All I do is go in in the morning, don't let them out and do them one by one. Once they're wormed I throw them out of the coop, that way I know who's been done and who hasn't been done. If yours aren't in a coop, then it's going to be a nightmare to catch them all unless we do it at night.

And I'm not afraid of no stinkin' roosters. Maybe I'll meet yours and change my mind, or maybe I'll invite him on a little trip to Gardiner.

I don't usually work the weekends, so those are good, and I *may* be on vacation the week after next (the 16th). My sister was supposed to bring her kids and come visit, but she's flaking out (as expected). I'm wondering whether I should take the week off regardless, whether I should suck it up and go to her or whether I should just work it because I'll feel guilty about not working anyway...