Michigan

[deekay04]

The other pullets of her age looked the same. She's not laying eggs yet however, so im not sure on the roo pulling at her. She's still young.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
I have several hens that look like that thanks to the roosters having too much "fun" with them lol. Could be a molt too. I wouldn't worry, it'll work itself out soon!

I was worried about molting the last couple of days too. Almost all of my ducks look like they've been through a tornado! I worried because it seemed like they were all fine one day, the very next almost all of them looked horrible. I've seen molting plenty of times, but not where everyone goes through it at once so I worried they were sick. They're not fortunately. Now my chickens are starting to go through the same thing.

 

[Opa]

Deekay04, I would like to add my "howdy" to the list and welcome you to the Michigan thread. As you will continue to post you will discover as I have that this is a bunch of super nice folks. We recently had our 3rd annual "Chickenstock" and I for one can't wait for next year's to come. Great opportunity to put faces with the people you come to know from their posts.

The bare spots on your hen is nothing to be concerned about. It is most commonly referred to as "rooster wear" and is a result of an overly amorous rooster breeding the hen. If you watch you will observe the rooster grasp the hen's neck at the base of the skull and the position himself on her back. His constant jostling for position while trying to hold her with him feet causes the problem. With some roosters their talons will literally shred the hen's back. When the happens she needs to be removed from the rooster, an antibotic applied to the damaged area and allowed to heal. Many people resort to outfitting the hen with a protective shield called a hen apron. I usually use a Dremel tool with a sanding drum to blunt the rooster's talons and minimize the risk.

 

[deekay04]

I understand that and all, but do the roosters still attempt to breed even if its a younger pullet who hasn't even started laying yet? I don't think she's mature enough, poor thing

I just hope the other pullets become nicer because they tend to nip at her bare back :'( they nipped at my smallest silkies for a few days, then stopped so im sure theyll adjust to her also. Its kind of weird that they seem to leave the other 3 newbies alone that were also introduced at the same time, and mainly pick on her. I was sure it would be more even, like it was when I introdwuced my smallest ones last weekend.

 

[Opa]

If a pullet is in the pen with a rooster he will try to breed it regardless of age or size. Any new bird is going to capture his attentions. Also rooster are know to have favorites that they will breed with more frequency than the others.

 

[deekay04]

Aha! Thanks for the clarification

 

[keyt1969]

I have roosters that try to breed with my ducks and vice versa!

 

[Opa]

Another morning has arrived and I as always am thankful to be able to sit here drinking coffee and await the arrival of the sun. Nutritionists tell us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day,
so I thought it would be a good idea to start mine with the "breakfast of champions" CAKE.

More specifically, coconut pound cake. So the coffee is hot, the cake is on the counter, come on over, pour yourself a cup, grab a slice of cake, lets sit and watch the sun come up.

DK, a little additinal clarification on the feather stubs that you are seeing. It is pretty rare for feathers to be broken. Usually the feather will pull out before it breaks. The little black feather stubs you see are newly forming feathers. When a feather first erupts from the skin it is encased in a translucent sheath. If you examine it closely you will see that the end is open and you will be able to see the ends of the individual filiments that make up a feather. This would appear to look as if it were the stub of a broken feather shaft.

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
Ahhhhh.....I LIKE your healthy breakfast Opa! I enjoy cake, pie, cookie early in the day also....I figure it has the entire day to be "burned" off then and I usually pair it up with something like oatmeal. Always makes me think of the old Bill Cosby album where he justifies giving the kids cake for breakfast!

Anyone remember that album?? It was a good one!

 

[babigyrl22]

Quote:
Ahhhhh.....I LIKE your healthy breakfast Opa! I enjoy cake, pie, cookie early in the day also....I figu here it has the entire day to be "burned" off then and I usually pair it up with something like oatmeal. Always makes me think of the old Bill Cosby album where he justifies giving the kids cake for breakfast!

Anyone remember that album?? It was a good one!

Good Morning!

LOL Fife I remember that album. My parents had them all and I remember listening to them over and over again as kids. I prefer pie for breakfast. I figure I can justify a fruit or sweet potato pie as ligitimate breakfast food. Around the holidays my dad and I would always be the first up and we would sneak in the kitchen and have a piece of pie.

Crayon - I live on the Western side of the state just south of Grand Rapids. Here is a great listing of u-pick farms in michigan http://www.pickyourown.org/MI.htm (call before going and they will tell you how good the picking is). Of course, craigslist is always a great source to find people that have blueberry patches. I live near alot of farms and if I drive around a bit there is always a sign or two posted for picking something or fresh veggies. We happened upon the place I hit yesterday and their bushes had looked really mature....they were like 9 feet high and HUGE blueberries. You had to wade a little into the bushes and pull down branches but it was good pickin.

Opa...that graphic, lol, gives me the heebie jeebies.