My heart is breaking

[brwneggs]

We feed them corn mesh, shell and cherry pits (i can't remember the name)
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[brwneggs]

I am very afraid of free range. We live at the edge of the woods, and people have left their cats go, and we have a lot of homeless cats around that I am not happy about. And dogs-I ran one off Sunday. I see a cat outside my window right now. I am so afiraid I would lose them. I have friends who have lost 3 of 4 since last summer due to hawks and other critters cause they free range.
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[brwneggs]

I have never heard of anti pick bits or orange colored peepers to prevent pecking. Can someone fill us in on what they are, cost and where to find them?
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[brwneggs]

What is Bluecoat? Where can I get it? Can I spray it around their chutes?
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[carrlr]

I'm curious and maybe I missed it, but when you say bloody eggs, you mean the outside of the shells are bloody, right?

 

[DTRM30]

http://www.eggcartons.com/Pinless-Peepers/productinfo/PINLESS-P/

Pinless peepers - I have some for my girls, just haven't put them on yet. Heard they work good for habitual feather picking or an aggressive hen or two.

If they are picking and eating each others feathers - they may not getting proper nutrition. You need to feed them layer pellets or crumbles as well as the corn mash and treats. You didn't say if you were feeding them pellets/crumbles. If not then they are most definately not getting enough protein and other essential nutrients.

For space needs - they need approx. 10sq. ft per bird of run space and approx. 4-5 sq. ft per bird for coop space. They may not have enough room and are stressed and picking each other. This would equate to a run that would be 6' x 10' (or any combination of that would equal 60 sq.ft.) and a coop of minimum 24 sq. ft. ie. 4' x 6'.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/blue_kote_wound_dressing.html - blue kote helps stop them from picking at red/bloody areas. That attracts them to peck even more - and they can cause serious damage to each other in some cases. You can get it an pretty much any live stock supply store i.e. Tractor Supply Company or etc.

Cabbage is relatively cheap and you can hang it to give them something to occupy their time to pick at other than picking at each other. It may help. some hay or straw to rummage through could help occupy them as well. Just be sure it doesn't get too wet - you'll need to change it out frequently so it doesn't rot or get moldy. But hay is fairly inexpensive as well.

 

[DTRM30]

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

Just for reference - chicken poop can have all sorts of ranges of "normal" - this will help you determine if there is an illness.

Bloody poo or mustard yellowish poo is a sign of possible illness. Greenish poo generally means not eating enough. Watery poo can also mean not eating enough, improper diet, too much fruit/watery foods, drinking a lot of water .....

 

[brwneggs]

Yikes!!!

I dont know if I could get those on my girls.
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[brwneggs]

YEA!! My girls's poo is all normal!!! That makes me happy!!
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