NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Thanks Miquwid!

I've gone out a few times now to check on her, she has been moving around in there. And the second time I went to check she actually raised her head upon my entering the shed. So I know she's alert at least. I'm going to keep her to herself for a day or two and see how she does. I'm also going to keep that heat lamp over her isolation area so she stays warm. I'll try adding the ACV to her water as well.

I don't have tuna vitamins or oregano oil (I don't think I do at least) but for the leaves, do I just crush them up and add them to her food? If so, how many are a good amount for one bird?

 

[Glasshen]

Thanks for posting the pic of Fawn, TOB! Fawn is one I just shake my head at. I caught her with yolk on her beak maybe in the Spring, then since I couldn't find it in me to process her or find anyone to do it for me, I just returned her to the flock hoping she would have forgotten about those eggs. Now she's wearing spurs, and I caught her misbehaving while Earl was sort of mating with Butter. She and Mama were pecking butters head, then while butter was still down Fawn jumped on her back. She just stood there. Poor Butter is a huge and docile BO, one of the chicks who survived the coyote.

Does anyone know why hens grow spurs? You should see Earl's spurs. Maybe Fawn has spur envy.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have no idea how they get into the shed...that has always boggled my mind. If I can't find any holes from the inside then how on earth are they getting in there? We've used the bait traps before and that helped TONS last year and all summer. We hadn't had any. But of course there hasn't been anything down there for them to come get and bring back to their nests so now new ones have arrived. I'll have the try the bucket approach. I haven't had a problem with those metal garbage cans, I like them because they have the handle that seals the lid down when you bring it up over the can.

Perhaps its a miracle.

I agree those little buggers can walk through walls. I suggest perhaps cover all windows during the day time and see if there are any cracks. OR you could wait til night time and then have someone shine a flash light around the outside up close.

I find that they hide under boards around my place. I've turned over boards or logs and found them hiding. They look up with a look of surprise as my boot comes down on their nasty little heads.

Then it's

Keep in mind they carry disease that can be spread to your birds.

Really it's just easier to set traps. Then you know you've got'em.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have a bit of an emergency and need some advice.

I've been noticing my newest splash silkie just hasn't been looking right in the last two or three days. She's always huddled up by herself in the coop and just looks lonely. Her head is always tucked low instead of ever upright. Yesterday I put the heat lamp next the coop and I noticed she had been laying next to it this morning. She can still walk, she's still eating and drinking. I finally managed to pick her up out of the coop and she felt sooooo light compared to my splash cockerel (who I had to take out of the coop as well for a moment) I was checking her over and noticed her feet and rear were sooo gross and filthy so I decided to bring in her inside to get her washed up. As I was blow drying her legs and rear I happened to lift up on wing and then the other. I noticed that one wing seems so "lifeless" where as when I did it to the other wing she immediately pulled it back. Could it be possible she broke one of her wings? How would one help something like that to heal?!? And could a bird even live with a broken wing?? I feel so bad for her I don't know what to do. But I do not want to put her back in the coop because she just doesn't seem to be doing well in there. I am so upset over this and I really hope there is something I can do for her....

I can't really say except that I've had birds limping and thought perhaps things were broken. Sometimes they get bruised jumping down off the perch or jumped on. This is why you want a heavily padded floor and roost not to high.

I do have two EE's that roost up high in the coop and don't seem to have a problem but EE's are good fliers.

I suggest a rest away from the rooster. It's down right brutal they way they can deal with a hen sometimes.

If her wing is broken it may heal on it's own. In or out of the socket she might just be fine. If you found no dislocation then I'd say it's in it's place and just let her rest.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

I have a bit of an emergency and need some advice.

I've been noticing my newest splash silkie just hasn't been looking right in the last two or three days. She's always huddled up by herself in the coop and just looks lonely. Her head is always tucked low instead of ever upright. Yesterday I put the heat lamp next the coop and I noticed she had been laying next to it this morning. She can still walk, she's still eating and drinking. I finally managed to pick her up out of the coop and she felt sooooo light compared to my splash cockerel (who I had to take out of the coop as well for a moment) I was checking her over and noticed her feet and rear were sooo gross and filthy so I decided to bring in her inside to get her washed up. As I was blow drying her legs and rear I happened to lift up on wing and then the other. I noticed that one wing seems so "lifeless" where as when I did it to the other wing she immediately pulled it back. Could it be possible she broke one of her wings? How would one help something like that to heal?!? And could a bird even live with a broken wing?? I feel so bad for her I don't know what to do. But I do not want to put her back in the coop because she just doesn't seem to be doing well in there. I am so upset over this and I really hope there is something I can do for her....

She could survive a break, if it is broken. It could be a soft tissue injury…in either case a little R&R would be good for her.
Any chance she could be going into a molt? Sometimes mine will become hermits during the first part of their molt and stay on the roost all day except to eat and drink. They also feel lighter, probably because they're not producing eggs.

I hope she's ok. Give her treats with garlic, oregano and other treats to boost her immune system if you're worried about anything else.

Woo-hoo! Shout it from the rooftops! 1 of my Columbian Rocks (Miss Molly) has finally laid an egg!

Almost happy enough to declare it a national holiday! This has made my day.

Now I've got just 1 bird of my older 4 (also a Columbian Rock) that has yet to lay, and 2 of my 3 younger birds left to join the ranks.

Molly is the bird on the right. Ursa, although larger, has not had her comb and wattle redden up very much. This is a pic from earlier in the fall, but she's still not a whole lot redder. C'mon Ursa! Guess she's a "late bloomer!"



TOB

Yea! These girls are finally getting their acts together!

Thanks for posting the pic of Fawn, TOB! Fawn is one I just shake my head at. I caught her with yolk on her beak maybe in the Spring, then since I couldn't find it in me to process her or find anyone to do it for me, I just returned her to the flock hoping she would have forgotten about those eggs. Now she's wearing spurs, and I caught her misbehaving while Earl was sort of mating with Butter. She and Mama were pecking butters head, then while butter was still down Fawn jumped on her back. She just stood there. Poor Butter is a huge and docile BO, one of the chicks who survived the coyote.

Does anyone know why hens grow spurs? You should see Earl's spurs. Maybe Fawn has spur envy.

When I noticed the spurs on my BO, I think I read it was a genetic thing, and that all of her offspring would have spurs. I'm not sure how valid that is, it makes it sound like a dominant trait which would make spurred hens more prevalent? I forget where I found that info, probably on BYC some place.
She's a pretty girl!

 

[Lynzi777]

She could survive a break, if it is broken. It could be a soft tissue injury…in either case a little R&R would be good for her.
Any chance she could be going into a molt? Sometimes mine will become hermits during the first part of their molt and stay on the roost all day except to eat and drink. They also feel lighter, probably because they're not producing eggs.

I hope she's ok. Give her treats with garlic, oregano and other treats to boost her immune system if you're worried about anything else.


Yea! These girls are finally getting their acts together!

I don't know about a molt with this one...she hatched July 8th, would she be going thru one already? I haven't seen a lot of extra feathers in the coop/run. I plan on keeping her away from the others for a little while just to see if she gets better, which she already seems to be happier for some reason. Last I checked on her she was eating and drinking again. I added some oregano flakes to her food. She looks like a different bird now compared to this morning when she was in there with the others. I'm just worried about how light and limp she felt this morning when I took her out of the coop. And that wing does seem to fall lower than the other one. IDK, weird. At least she looks more "alive" now.

I can't really say except that I've had birds limping and thought perhaps things were broken. Sometimes they get bruised jumping down off the perch or jumped on. This is why you want a heavily padded floor and roost not to high.

I do have two EE's that roost up high in the coop and don't seem to have a problem but EE's are good fliers.

I suggest a rest away from the rooster. It's down right brutal they way they can deal with a hen sometimes.

If her wing is broken it may heal on it's own. In or out of the socket she might just be fine. If you found no dislocation then I'd say it's in it's place and just let her rest.

These guys don't roost, they're the aliens from another planet

And as a matter of fact, they hardly ever go up the coop to sleep, they've been staying down in the run part of the coop. Which is fine because they are in the shed anyway so I don't care where they sleep. But yes, I'm definitely giving her time away from the older roo in there. I haven't seen him try mating with anyone yet but you never know what goes on when the farmer is away.

Perhaps its a miracle.

I agree those little buggers can walk through walls. I suggest perhaps cover all windows during the day time and see if there are any cracks. OR you could wait til night time and then have someone shine a flash light around the outside up close.

I find that they hide under boards around my place. I've turned over boards or logs and found them hiding. They look up with a look of surprise as my boot comes down on their nasty little heads.

Then it's

Keep in mind they carry disease that can be spread to your birds.

Really it's just easier to set traps. Then you know you've got'em.

I have lamp on in the shed at dark since I'm seeing if that helps with egg production. When I close up the door I can't see any light anywhere. There is one window in the back of the shed but it has a screen on it and it's high up away from the ground. Haven't seen any holes in the screen or around the window. Just weird, they always manage to get in there.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

She looks like a different bird now compared to this morning when she was in there with the others. I'm just worried about how light and limp she felt this morning when I took her out of the coop. And that wing does seem to fall lower than the other one. IDK, weird. At least she looks more "alive" now.

I have lamp on in the shed at dark since I'm seeing if that helps with egg production. When I close up the door I can't see any light anywhere. There is one window in the back of the shed but it has a screen on it and it's high up away from the ground. Haven't seen any holes in the screen or around the window. Just weird, they always manage to get in there.

Firstly, I'm heartened to hear your ailing hen looks a little better, is eating and acting at least a little more alert. Keeping fingers and toes crossed. We Catholics some times pray to St. Anthony for sick animals, so I have done that on your silkie's behalf!!

Figure we should cover ALL the bases!

Regarding mice.......they can fit into the tiniest of holes and cracks. It is true that to get rid of your mouse problem you will need to figure out where they are getting in. When we found a tiny hole underneath our mudroom entry, our mouse problems went away. Recently, we've seen them squeeze underneath our cedar siding and disappear, and now we've had something making scratching / chewing sounds in our bathroom wall upstairs, but I don't see any signs of mice inside the living space of our house. It freaks me out, though, because who knows what sort of electrical hazards they might cause. When we used poison bait years ago, everyone said "the poisoned mouse will go outside to die, because it goes looking for water." Soooo NOT TRUE! We had them dying inside our walls and it STUNK. So think twice about poison, and also it's still somewhat of a risk with pets and kids even if you're placing it somewhere obscure.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Golly Miss Molly you finally did it ! Cograts

LOL, yes, just when I was about to give up, as Rancher warned was the way with Columbian Rocks.

(Maybe I should pipe in some Little Richard for Miss Molly as inspiration?)

Saw this, this morning and thought that it was co cute needed to share..It seems to be the story of my life!!

Loved it. How silly!

TOB

 

[Lynzi777]

Firstly, I'm heartened to hear your ailing hen looks a little better, is eating and acting at least a little more alert. Keeping fingers and toes crossed. We Catholics some times pray to St. Anthony for sick animals, so I have done that on your silkie's behalf!!

Figure we should cover ALL the bases!

Regarding mice.......they can fit into the tiniest of holes and cracks. It is true that to get rid of your mouse problem you will need to figure out where they are getting in. When we found a tiny hole underneath our mudroom entry, our mouse problems went away. Recently, we've seen them squeeze underneath our cedar siding and disappear, and now we've had something making scratching / chewing sounds in our bathroom wall upstairs, but I don't see any signs of mice inside the living space of our house. It freaks me out, though, because who knows what sort of electrical hazards they might cause. When we used poison bait years ago, everyone said "the poisoned mouse will go outside to die, because it goes looking for water." Soooo NOT TRUE! We had them dying inside our walls and it STUNK. So think twice about poison, and also it's still somewhat of a risk with pets and kids even if you're placing it somewhere obscure.

TOB

Thanks TOB!
I have only heard them in the walls too, mainly our master bedroom. Have never seen any evidence of them being in our living area. We have had two die now inside the walls (or at least two instances) and the smell always shows up in our master bathroom which is off our bedroom. The bathroom is actually located partially under the staircase leading up to the kids bedrooms. But weird how they always end up dying inside the wall that borders those stairs. I'm going to try to leave a bucket in the basement with the some feed/peanut butter at the bottom of it. They shouldn't be able to climb up it if it's smooth on the inside right? I'll place a a board of some sort on the bucket so they have a way to climb up and jump in. Hopefully I can catch them and release them in the next town over. The only reason I do like that bait stuff is because they're supposed to eat it/pack it in their cheeks and bring it back to their nest which is usually outdoors somewhere. But then again, if they are in your house then chances are thats where they are making their nest I guess.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks TOB!
I have only heard them in the walls too, mainly our master bedroom. Have never seen any evidence of them being in our living area. We have had two die now inside the walls (or at least two instances) and the smell always shows up in our master bathroom which is off our bedroom. The bathroom is actually located partially under the staircase leading up to the kids bedrooms. But weird how they always end up dying inside the wall that borders those stairs. I'm going to try to leave a bucket in the basement with the some feed/peanut butter at the bottom of it. They shouldn't be able to climb up it if it's smooth on the inside right? I'll place a a board of some sort on the bucket so they have a way to climb up and jump in. Hopefully I can catch them and release them in the next town over. The only reason I do like that bait stuff is because they're supposed to eat it/pack it in their cheeks and bring it back to their nest which is usually outdoors somewhere. But then again, if they are in your house then chances are thats where they are making their nest I guess.

I have read to open an outlet and stuff into the wall some cotton soaks in mint oil. Not sure if that will work in your walls but that's what I've read.

I went around in our basement and used that foam stuff to fill in all the cracks I could find and still we get mice in the attic. I hate meeces to pieces!