NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Here are some of our babies that hatched this weekend. It's amazing how much poop something so little can make!





I've also got 15 doz eggs in the frig plus 4 doz duck eggs with a full basket on the counter waiting to be washed. I'm hoping some customers will want eggs soon. I haven't had this many at one time in months. We usually are just keeping up with the demand.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I can relate! I'm looking, too! Cute photo.

TOB

 

[ChickPrincess]

Second post... I was just finishing writing a post and my computer shut down and updated windows. Lost everything. Grrrrr!
Some of my hens (about half) have bald spots on their heads next to their combs. I guess there's 3 possibilities. 1. Lice. I'm giving them their second treatment on Saturday. I saw a large number of lice on their vent areas. 2. Molting. Some of my girls are looking a bit scraggly. 3. (and this is my guess) The roos are too rough when they mate. I have naughty boys who grab the hen's heads, and while they're mating, the other roo will often run over and peck the poor hen on the head. I have 27 hens and 2 roos.
Suggestions? Anything I can do about it? There's no blood, but it doesn't look very nice. I'm sure the girls are not happy being bald either.

 

[stonykill]

Second post... I was just finishing writing a post and my computer shut down and updated windows. Lost everything. Grrrrr!
Some of my hens (about half) have bald spots on their heads next to their combs. I guess there's 3 possibilities. 1. Lice. I'm giving them their second treatment on Saturday. I saw a large number of lice on their vent areas. 2. Molting. Some of my girls are looking a bit scraggly. 3. (and this is my guess) The roos are too rough when they mate. I have naughty boys who grab the hen's heads, and while they're mating, the other roo will often run over and peck the poor hen on the head. I have 27 hens and 2 roos.
Suggestions? Anything I can do about it? There's no blood, but it doesn't look very nice. I'm sure the girls are not happy being bald either.

it's 3. It happens. Mating season is in full swing. The grabbing of the head during mating is completely normal. It's how the boys hang on. Nothing to be concerned about in the least.

 

[ChickPrincess]

it's 3. It happens. Mating season is in full swing. The grabbing of the head during mating is completely normal. It's how the boys hang on. Nothing to be concerned about in the least.

Thanks for the reassurance. Nothing like a little romance, huh? Geesh! Good to know it's normal.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Thanks for the reassurance. Nothing like a little romance, huh? Geesh! Good to know it's normal.

Mine are beginning to look this way as well, especially the favorite hens. Poor things.

 

[rancher hicks]

Looks as though I have an EE hen broody too.

I may give her some marans eggs seeing as they are so hard to hatch. I've got another in the Del coop on six eggs. She seems unbothered by the other hens. Unlike the del who changes nest to often and most likely won't hatch anything at this rate.

Of all the broodies I've had there is only one chick and that's with Buckwheat.

It's very hard when there is not private place to put them. I really need to have a plan cuz they will go broody.

 

[Adoravachick]

DH built "the condo" for cockerels, also works great as a brooder.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Okay Im back. Everyone had a marvelous time out freeranging and the woods and lawn look like it. My divas ditched the yard and went over to the neighbors woods. Must be some good eats over there because they spent 2 hours over there in the same spot tearing it up. When they came back over, they could hardly walk their crops were so big. The terrorists stuck to the property and the boys spent their time alternately watching for predators and mating. Gotta love spring. They look so raggedy right now as they are half naked from molting. The girls are molting as well but not as bad as these guys. I keep checking them for parasites but find nothing so thats good. Hope they look better once they are dressed!

Adorav---same thing here. My two broody girls had one egg each to start with when they went broody. Suddenly they ended up with 8 between them. When did that happen??? I decided to let them have at it. Those girls are sitting so tight that I hope the eggs get a chance to hatch!!! I dont think a bomb could even dislodge them.

My other incubator goes on lockdown tomorrow. I will probably take ranchers advice and remove the hatched chicks from their incubator tomorrow and leave the unhatched eggs in for a few more days. Those babys are playing some egg football like crazy when I go in to see them. My cat is sleeping on the bed next to the incubator. She wants to mommy them. She does this with every batch of chicks. I have even found her in the brooder box with the chicks sometimes, not hurting them but trying to mommy them. I told her they dont like being groomed.

Chicken therapy went well despite the cold wind that was blowing. When it wasnt blowing, it was nice in the sun. I mostly froze sitting there watching them but they like when I sit in the yard with them. The terrorists kept coming by, just to hang out and graze by my chair. Best way to unwind ever!

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

DH built "the condo" for cockerels, also works great as a brooder.

I will swap you some chicks for it! I need one!