Michigan

[RBahmer]

Everyone hit the nail on the head.



Yep.


Yep.


And Yep.

Pigs love chicken dinner. Not all will do it, but they do and once they learn they don't unlearn. Had one boar that LOVED fresh chicken. And the chickens are so dumb they make it easy for 'em. He'd just stand there with his mouth open and wait for the chicken to stick a body part in.

Pigs are fabulous animals, but they're smart, STRONG and opportunist eaters. They're like big dogs, but you have to understand their potential and respect what they are capable of. The old saying is that a pig can finish a grown man, bones and all in less than three days. And I don't doubt it. You don't want to fall down in the pig pen. They'll eat anything that doesn't put up a fight they can't win. That's why I always stress to new people that they must demand respect from day one. Yes, it's cute to feed your piglet treats from your hand, not so cute when that piglet weighs 300 lbs and bites your hand off because you never taught it that hands are off limits.

100% agreed. One almost ate my grandfather because he was getting a piglet out of the fence. His Collie stepped in and that was all that saved him. I was little and was watching. I'm scared to death of pigs. Grandpa always told us kids " Stay away from the pig pen. Them pigs will eat you ". I learned well and am scared to death of a pig.

 

[Olive Hill]

100% agreed. One almost ate my grandfather because he was getting a piglet out of the fence. His Collie stepped in and that was all that saved him. I was little and was watching. I'm scared to death of pigs. Grandpa always told us kids " Stay away from the pig pen. Them pigs will eat you ". I learned well and am scared to death of a pig.

Awww, it makes me sad when people are afraid because I love them so much. But they are nothing to play with for sure. Glad your G'pa was okay. I'm sure that was very traumatic. Luckily, so far, our sows have been good. Had a piglet get caught in a fence and mama was going CRAZY this past summer, but when I stepped in the pen she ran to me and then back to the piglet, back and forth as I walked over and then watched, grunting as I freed the pig. She seemed to know I was there to help, but it could have been much messier.

 

[Opa]

Question - my DH is working on the inside of the coop, can he use 2 x 4's for the roosts?

a 2x4 on the flat makes an ideal roost for chickens. When given a flat wide surface to roost on it is much easier for them to regulate their body heat. The lose heat through their bare legs and to stay warm they will lower their bodies down and over their legs. They then can raise their feathers which in turn traps air and helps to hold heat in. When roosting on a round perch they must expend more effort to stay on the perch. They can't lower down as well nor expand their feathers.

 

[RBahmer]

Awww, it makes me sad when people are afraid because I love them so much. But they are nothing to play with for sure. Glad your G'pa was okay. I'm sure that was very traumatic. Luckily, so far, our sows have been good. Had a piglet get caught in a fence and mama was going CRAZY this past summer, but when I stepped in the pen she ran to me and then back to the piglet, back and forth as I walked over and then watched, grunting as I freed the pig. She seemed to know I was there to help, but it could have been much messier.

That's what happened to Grandpa. But only this sow didn't just watch. That piglet was screaming,Grandpa was trying to get it out, and momma came on a dead run with mouth wide open. I am 57 now and I was small when that happened and I still can still see it play out in my mind. Thank God for Laddie, his dog. But I'll tell you what....I took it to heart what he said about them pigs and when hubby got some I just freaked out. He didn't keep them long. I tell you I am scared to death of them things. I would rather face the devil himself instead of a pig. LOL

 

[M.sue]

As Red Green would say "if the women don't find you handsome they better find you handy"


If the area is scar tissue you might need to consider a toupee.

If the chickens are able to get into the pen with the hogs they will get eaten. In fact hogs would eat you given the chance.

I don't think it's scar tissue from what I can see. It's healed nicely, looks fresh & clean minus the few feathers. It wasn't a deep or bad wound.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

On another note, how messy and smelly is it really to raise chickens. Now she says I could keep them maybe up by the house but she doesn't want them free ranging - which means building a large run nest to and refurbishing a dilapidated coop. Now I have to wait for her final decision. talk about a 180°!!!

Mine are in a converted camper. I put them into the goat pen a lot of the time. My camper is maybe 8x16? and i would feel comfortable putting at the most a dozen, but that's because they don't go out in the winter. (Their choice) Right now 1 have 6 full size. During the warm months i clean every day. or you can do like farmerboy and put down a good deep layer of sand. You'll want to put in something called poop boards. Makes a big difference in what gets stepped on by the birds. It's not a total loss, you can still free range them when you are there, and after she is more comfortable. She is probably waiting to see how good you are about cleaning. You will have less worry about predetors this way. Make sure the old coop is not moldy, or you can have respritory issues. If you take good care and don't have a lot they are not too smelly at all.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

M Sue, if the feather is pulled out it shouldn't be long before you see pins coming in. If they are broken, it takes until molt unless you pull them. although my roo had a bald patch on his head from halfway through last winter until this last molt this fall. I was sure he was going to be a baldy forever, but he got them all back! I'm sure they'll get them soon, but if not don't despair. I'm sure they will come back eventually.

 

[NovaAman]

I went out to candle the eggs tonight under Skeeter. I didn't do them at 18 days, just when they were a week along. I decided to check them just for the check of it. I have 5 eggs under her. One had to go bye bye. It looked like it got half way. It was all giggly in there, kinda gross looking thru the shell. NO I did not open it... WELL anyway, when I opened up the coop, there was blood everywhere. Not a little, but ALOT. I couldn't see who it was from. I was checking feet, since that was the problem the last time, I'd run my hand on each of the hens feet, nothing. So, I candled the eggs, then went to the other door of the coop, so I could get a good veiw of them from the front, nothing on the combs or wattles. I took the flashlight that I used to candle the eggs and shined each of the chickens for the red blood. It was Mr. Fluffers. He's wrenched his spur. Poor guy even looked miserable. I got him down, brought him in the house, washed the wound, packed and wrapped it up and brought him back out, set him on the low roost. I have never seen him on the 2 in dowel roost before. I think he might have torn in getting off of his normal roost, which is a plate guard that some people use along the tops of cupboards... Looks like a ladder of sorts... Well anyway, I kinda think he might have got it caught on that while turning around to jump up to the dowel, which is the highest... I am going to leave him confined i think tomorrow so he doesn't injure it more... And to not get infected. I hope it doesn't get infected... Poor boy. I am wondering if I should take him in to see Dr. Bader, see if the spur needs to be removed... It did seem loose, but then again, I have never messed with his spurs before...

 

[M.sue]

M Sue, if the feather is pulled out it shouldn't be long before you see pins coming in. If they are broken, it takes until molt unless you pull them. although my roo had a bald patch on his head from halfway through last winter until this last molt this fall. I was sure he was going to be a baldy forever, but he got them all back! I'm sure they'll get them soon, but if not don't despair. I'm sure they will come back eventually.

That's good to know because the wound is fairly new....only a couple months old. I'll have to look closer tomorrow if I can see pins coming in.

 

[Opa]

I went out to candle the eggs tonight under Skeeter. I didn't do them at 18 days, just when they were a week along. I decided to check them just for the check of it. I have 5 eggs under her. One had to go bye bye. It looked like it got half way. It was all giggly in there, kinda gross looking thru the shell. NO I did not open it... WELL anyway, when I opened up the coop, there was blood everywhere. Not a little, but ALOT. I couldn't see who it was from. I was checking feet, since that was the problem the last time, I'd run my hand on each of the hens feet, nothing. So, I candled the eggs, then went to the other door of the coop, so I could get a good veiw of them from the front, nothing on the combs or wattles. I took the flashlight that I used to candle the eggs and shined each of the chickens for the red blood. It was Mr. Fluffers. He's wrenched his spur. Poor guy even looked miserable. I got him down, brought him in the house, washed the wound, packed and wrapped it up and brought him back out, set him on the low roost. I have never seen him on the 2 in dowel roost before. I think he might have torn in getting off of his normal roost, which is a plate guard that some people use along the tops of cupboards... Looks like a ladder of sorts... Well anyway, I kinda think he might have got it caught on that while turning around to jump up to the dowel, which is the highest... I am going to leave him confined i think tomorrow so he doesn't injure it more... And to not get infected. I hope it doesn't get infected... Poor boy. I am wondering if I should take him in to see Dr. Bader, see if the spur needs to be removed... It did seem loose, but then again, I have never messed with his spurs before...

To some I might come off as sounding callous but I would never spend $100 on a $2 bird. Torn or loose spurs are quite common but you should try to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. A septic powder from the drug store, or Blood Stop from a pet or farm supply, or even corn starch although it isn't as effective. If the spur is loose go ahead and pull it off. He will grow a new one.