Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[NanaLynn]

Nancy - There are others with the same problem that are posting about lost feathers with no signs of bugs. Here is the link below. It starts at post 30577, I thought it was you posting when I was reading it at first. Not sure it will help you, but so far from what I've been reading they say it's feather pecking at night.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/729605/the-natural-chicken-keeping-thread-ots-welcome/30570

 

[trsturself]

I think we may have our first broody! Our cochin has been in the nest box every time I check it starting yesterday afternoon. I took her out yesterday and this morning and she goes right back in there. She slept in there last night too. What's funny is this means we have a broody bunny too. That chicken is our rabbit's best friend. She follows her everywhere and cuddles up to sleep with her, even if it's on the roost! This morning I went to check for eggs and found the cochin in the nest box surrounded by rabbit hair! I don't know if she was plucking it from the rabbit for her nest or if the rabbit was plucking it herself. It was obvious the two of them slept together in there.
Too bad we'll be gone this week and already have a million chicks or I'd go get her some more cream legbar eggs!

 

[MamaShell]

That's great...does the hose hook up to it?

I still have the chicks in the garage, so, I have it set up with a 5 gallon pail. I plan to make a second one for when we transfer them out to the coop. I think I will just fill it with the hose in summer and bring gallon jugs out in winter, rather than hook it up to a hose. I think that would be too hard to keep a garden hose from freezing in the winter.

Does anyone else have a nipple watering system? I figure I could use a submersible water heater to keep the water in the pail warm but would that keep the water in the hose and pipe from freezing? What do all of you do for water in winter?

 

[MamaShell]

It was either my Rhode Island Red or one of my Barred Rocks I keep checking for more eggs, but no luck.

Hopefully, you will get some more eggs soon! I love your Avatar! That poor pup must think his world has gone crazy - he is in a pen and the chicken is roaming free in the house! Very funny!

 

[christine9]

That's great...does the hose hook up to it?

I still have the chicks in the garage, so, I have it set up with a 5 gallon pail. I plan to make a second one for when we transfer them out to the coop. I think I will just fill it with the hose in summer and bring gallon jugs out in winter, rather than hook it up to a hose. I think that would be too hard to keep a garden hose from freezing in the winter.

Does anyone else have a nipple watering system? I figure I could use a submersible water heater to keep the water in the pail warm but would that keep the water in the hose and pipe from freezing? What do all of you do for water in winter?

Last year someone told me to insulate the pipe. I didn't do it. I took the fountain out when the pipe froze. But I live in SC so it was only a few days.

 

[NanaLynn]

I think we may have our first broody! Our cochin has been in the nest box every time I check it starting yesterday afternoon. I took her out yesterday and this morning and she goes right back in there. She slept in there last night too. What's funny is this means we have a broody bunny too. That chicken is our rabbit's best friend. She follows her everywhere and cuddles up to sleep with her, even if it's on the roost! This morning I went to check for eggs and found the cochin in the nest box surrounded by rabbit hair! I don't know if she was plucking it from the rabbit for her nest or if the rabbit was plucking it herself. It was obvious the two of them slept together in there.
Too bad we'll be gone this week and already have a million chicks or I'd go get her some more cream legbar eggs!

You have to get a picture of that bunny and chicken in the nest box together, that'd so neat to see. I love how they're friends, I have never heard of that before.

I am just loving the speckled eggs that some of our chickens lay, adds to the variety. Eggs are so
pretty no Easter decoration needed.

 

[christine9]

Ooh...I love your speckled eggs too. I wish I had some. Is that breed specific or chicken specific?

 

[MamaShell]

You have to get a picture of that bunny and chicken in the nest box together, that'd so neat to see. I love how they're friends, I have never heard of that before. I am just loving the speckled eggs that some of our chickens lay, adds to the variety. Eggs are so pretty no Easter decoration needed.

Gorgeous colors!!!

 

[NotableNancy]

Nancy - There are others with the same problem that are posting about lost feathers with no signs of bugs. Here is the link below. It starts at post 30577, I thought it was you posting when I was reading it at first. Not sure it will help you, but so far from what I've been reading they say it's feather pecking at night.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/729605/the-natural-chicken-keeping-thread-ots-welcome/30570

Thanks for this. I'm thinking they are just doing it to themselves for some reason. feather loss is only on their undersides, not on their backs. Except for the one BA has some loss on her head and I'm going to keep watching to see if the spot stays the same size or gets bigger. Stays the same size then it was the mean RIR, gets bigger then it is another one doing it. I have the camera in the coop and I'm going to start watching them more at night to see if I see anything going on. But like the others, I am thinking it's not lice/mites. Thank you for sending the link and if you come across anything else feel free to pass it to me. I saw a few threads with pics of people having the same exact issues, in fact I thought one of the pics was my own! But there was never any resolution to the threads. People posting concerns/questions about 'what is this' and never a resolution.

I think we may have our first broody! Our cochin has been in the nest box every time I check it starting yesterday afternoon. I took her out yesterday and this morning and she goes right back in there. She slept in there last night too. What's funny is this means we have a broody bunny too. That chicken is our rabbit's best friend. She follows her everywhere and cuddles up to sleep with her, even if it's on the roost! This morning I went to check for eggs and found the cochin in the nest box surrounded by rabbit hair! I don't know if she was plucking it from the rabbit for her nest or if the rabbit was plucking it herself. It was obvious the two of them slept together in there.
Too bad we'll be gone this week and already have a million chicks or I'd go get her some more cream legbar eggs!

That's so cute... I'd love to see a pic of a broody hen and rabbit together.

I still have the chicks in the garage, so, I have it set up with a 5 gallon pail. I plan to make a second one for when we transfer them out to the coop. I think I will just fill it with the hose in summer and bring gallon jugs out in winter, rather than hook it up to a hose. I think that would be too hard to keep a garden hose from freezing in the winter.

Does anyone else have a nipple watering system? I figure I could use a submersible water heater to keep the water in the pail warm but would that keep the water in the hose and pipe from freezing? What do all of you do for water in winter?

We don't have a nipple system but we collect the rainwater off the run roof into a large trashcan that I can then access from inside the run. To keep it from freezing all winter DH put a submersible water heater typically used for horses or ponds and it worked perfectly. I think it automatically comes on when it goes below 40 degrees.

You have to get a picture of that bunny and chicken in the nest box together, that'd so neat to see. I love how they're friends, I have never heard of that before.

I am just loving the speckled eggs that some of our chickens lay, adds to the variety. Eggs are so
pretty no Easter decoration needed.

Pretty!! Love the speckled ones too.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

My speckled eggs are chicken specific but welsummers are known for having spotted eggs. I have about 90 hens and only get five-six speckled eggs a day. One of my EE hens used to consistently lay a spotted green egg but now they are mostly plain.