Maine

[lazy gardener]

SCG: I've put an old swingset in my run, have lots of rebar and fiberglass posts in there as well. The kills seem to be happening on the back side of the run, when the girls fly over the fence. I'm thinking about trimming wings, though I hate to. I like to let them out for some free range time. I need to cull my meat roosters, and that will give the flock some more room, with access to the old coop that has a bare ground 8 x 12. I've put some CD's around for the flashing reflections, and can put some fish line up, string it from coops to swing set. Need to be more viligant around hawk hours.

Bucka, I see no reason why you can't eat your prolapsed girl if she has enough meat on her to make it worth while.

 

[CoopChick719]

Your Horror story for the day.

Don't read if you're squeamish!

It's official! I'm a rat murderess. I had to dispatch a rat that ran through the trap backwards. It didn't kill it but caught it in the middle. When I went to pick the trap, it squealed, I screamed & dropped the trap. The rat was dragging the trap so I stomped on it. Ewwww! I'm so glad I wearing my winter Boggs with the thick sole year round.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

My question: If we end out culling her, is there any reason we can't eat her?

Other than being tough/old, no reason, unless she was seriously infected, and you caught it early, so I doubt it.

SCG: I've put an old swingset in my run, have lots of rebar and fiberglass posts in there as well. The kills seem to be happening on the back side of the run, when the girls fly over the fence.

So are you certain it's hawks then? My losses outside the pen are to foxes. Can you put a radio outside?

It's official! I'm a rat murderess.

 

[lazy gardener]

Oh yes, I know for certain it's hawks. Caught them in the act both times.

 

[buckabucka]

@coopchick, not sure I could have stomped on the rat! . Grabbed a shovel maybe, and struck it, but stomping, I don't know... I've found a rat tunnel into the hoop coop, so I may get a chance to try it out.

My prolapse hen is still alive for odd reasons. I left her in a cage in the coop when I went to work, and DH was thinking he might do her in today. He told me this afternoon that when he went in the coop, she was gone, and I hadn't properly latched the cage. I could have sworn I latched it. The hen was wandering somewhere in our fenced woods and he never saw her.

She came back this afternoon. Nothing was protruding from her vent. I decided if she was going to be alive, I was going in there to get that stuck egg out. She had a bath, and there is no egg that I could feel at all. The prolapse started again though, and since I didn't have preparation H, I used honey (someone on here claims that works). I don't know if the inside of the vent is always that red, or if she has an infection. And why does she keep straining when there is nothing in there? Maybe there is swelling and it feels like an egg? It was getting late, so I put her back in the cage. This time, I double-checked the latch. It is one of those dog cages that you lift the door to unlatch it. Just in case, I took a longish twist-tie and put it on so the door wouldn't lift at all. It barely reached, but I was able to put a couple twists in it.

This evening I went out to count heads and lock up, and there she was on the roost. The twist-tie was hanging free, and the cage door ajar. I should have named her Houdini. I'm not sure she will stay alive for long, but I let her be tonight.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I always let them live if they have a desire for it. I think yours does.

 

[CoopChick719]

Bucka, it was pure reflex! DH said he's going to start sleeping with one eye open

.

I had a Red Star with prolapse. I cleaned her up then lubed up a gloved finger with Nustock and gently slid it back in. It stayed & didn't return.

Set the traps again. Also made up a tray of rice, plaster of Paris & instant potato flakes recipe with a bowl of water nearby. Don't know if it really works but I only had to buy the PoP so we'll see.

 

[buckabucka]

I never heard of the plaster of Paris trick. You'll have to let us know how that goes! I could do that where the rats are coming in, if I am willing to close off the pullet area. They are newly integrated and like to sleep in their pen, so I've been leaving it open, but I could cut off access and put traps or poison.

Is Nustock something I would find at TSC? I also read about giving them calcium, but I'm not sure if that was to help pass a stuck egg or to fix the prolapse. Mine has weird symptoms. There is no prolapse most of the time, but she is constantly straining and trying to create one. It goes back in on its own, but she won't stop pushing.

This hen is just two years old, so I'd like to help her if I can. She is lucky to have lived at all though, -she is one that I had to do all the hatching, including a painstaking bath under a heat lamp to remove all the shrink-wrapping. I named her Crusty, because that was how she looked during most of her chickhood. If she lives, I'll have to call her Houdini.

 

[CoopChick719]

Nothing in the traps! Don't think my PoP tray was touched but I'll keep putting it out there. I know how wary they are of new things. Maybe add some peanut butter to it.

I looked for Nustock at most of the farm supply places around me. I think 1 place had it but I can't remember where. I decided it wasn't worth the drive so I ordered it online. There is also a DIY recipe for it on here. Search homemade Nustock. I think it's pine tar, sulphur powder & mineral oil.

I hope she makes it too! Would have loved to seen how she got out of that cage!

 

[CoopChick719]

@buckabucka Lyman's Farm Store right in Fairfield has it. 238--9209