Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

Without a picture I cannot advise you at all on what to do with the coop.

As far as the water goes - you have 2 options - run an extension cord and get a heated dog dish (if you only have 3 birds this will work) or bring out water morning and evening for them to drink and swap waterers out.

 

[diana507]

The picture was to show LG that they were red and not dusky. Today her comb is pale pink and not bright red. If I move her box to the coop I don't think she will be in it long. All that is over the top is poultry netting. I think what I am going to do like I think SCG mentioned is put her in at night and let then figure it out on the morning once I get the new flock block. In the box she's acting like a normal chicken other then her pale comb today and when she gets all wound up she wheezes.

 

[lazy gardener]

Personally, after all this time, if she's still symptomatic, I'd be looking at culling. But, no matter what you do, you should choose the option which you are most comfortable with. There is no right or wrong here, if she's not suffering.

 

[diana507]

If I put her back and it returns she will be culled. I also read somewhere on here about sometimes they will always have a slight wheeze. I haven't got a new flock block yet, I will tomorrow. Been in bed sick today while also tending to my sick nephew with the possible flu and my niece with pneumonia. Hopefully I can put her back out tomorrow just not feeling up to it.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sorry you're dealing with family illness. Been doing a lot of that here as well. My GD has been sick with resp bug and had fever for well over a week. My GS came home this morning from school with stomach flu.

 

[CoopChick719]

They are giving off some pretty eggs!

Love those eggs, bucka!!

Miss Kitty (a neighbor cat) comes to hunt the rats every night. I don't know if she gets anything but I've been leaving the play yard gate open for her. I'm going to leave a little feed out there to see if I can lure the rats her way. I'm taking all food & water in at night. Hoping to starve the little *&(%$#@ rats! Snapped my hand in a trap the other night. Thankfully I had gloves on so only a small bruise.


diana507--Good Luck with your girl! I agree with SCG on returning her to the flock. Lots of treats and distractions! They're like 2 year olds And put her on the roost under the cover of darkness. That has always worked well for me.

I scored a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins!! On my way to work, there was a shop that had filled their window boxes with all sizes. I had been meaning to stop & ask them what they were going to do with them after Halloween. They put up their Christmas decorations and put a Free tag on all the pumpkins. Woohoo!!

Anyone have a recommendation for a good, bright headlamp? I was asking my dad about one. He said "Whadda ya want...a miner's helmet?" I said, YES!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

As far as the head lamp goes the best one I ever had was one that had 4 settings and one of them was red light alone (without white light), followed by 2 varying intensity light and then light with red. The red alone was phenomenal for inspecting chickens without disturbing them (or going in under cloak of red light to worm/delouse everyone without them freaking out). The light I have now, while bright, doesn't have a red alone setting.

 

[buckabucka]

I have this headlamp: http://www.rei.com/product/829552/petzl-zipka-plus-2-headlamp
You can set it to red or white light, steady or flashing. I like the simplicity of the retractable cord, and I can wear it on my wrist if I'm out on the road and just turning it on if cars are coming. Just don't pull it off your head with one hand, or your hair gets all tangled in it!

Good score on all the pumpkins! I've been eyeing some deteriorating pumpkins that someone threw over the bank down the road, but I was kind of embarrassed to carry them home on my walk. Maybe if I strap my headlamp on my wrist and go at night.....

 

[diana507]

I bought the chicken a huge rabbit cage thay is big enough for her to be in, in the coop for a spell for them to get used to her. I think it will be better. Plus on the other hand I can use it for some chicks this summer when they come out of the brooder and can go into the coop with the big girls.

 

[buckabucka]

Sounds like a good plan, Diana. I've got 2 sets of two birds in caged off areas too. They went in on Sunday and I hope to release them Saturday. The weather is supposed to be nice, so the chickens will have a chance to go outside and get away from each other, if need be. I'm looking forward to it, because feeding and watering in 5 separate areas is getting to be a real pain!