NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! It's been a good day, I got a little more money towards my GFF order, and later my brother is taking me to dinner and to see Star Wars again, so that'll be fun.

Akaruby, those chicks are so cute. I love love love silkies.

Don't wait to long the 20% off is only until the 15th I think.

The weather was nice today and I didn't managage to get somethinigs done. Saw some wild turkeys out in the soods. I need to hakg up aone No hunting signs. The Daisies followed me into the garage and went to the back door like I was going to let them in. They are a friend ly breed but like to range.

DD and her boyfriand came for dindner and we wathced Pixiles and Pan. They were okay. Pixiesl is cute for the kids. DW made Roast beef for dinner. there is usually nothng left after DD's boyfriend comes for dinner. Well mainly because DW sends them home with leftovers. We need to order some take out containers.

Now I hope you all can see the humor here. DD gave us her Xmas list and on it was a Crock pot. She gave the same list to her boyfriend. Well she got a Crock pot from us and one from her boyfriend. BUT the funny part is HE got a crock pot too from his family.

 

[shodack]

Now I hope you all can see the humor here. DD gave us her Xmas list and on it was a Crock pot. She gave the same list to her boyfriend. Well she got a Crock pot from us and one from her boyfriend. BUT the funny part is HE got a crock pot too from his family.

You can tell them they need to do all the cooking for the big get-togethers!

 

[BakerzDozen]

Happy Belated Birthday Pyxis, sorry I wasn't on yesterday.

akaruby I hope you are feeling better and your chicks are adorable. I want to get silkies eventually.
I was able to get a couple of pics of the new babies and momma Midget. they are the best I could do with the momma freaking out.

 

[shodack]

Hi everyone, quoting myself here, I just started a thread and thought I'd ask it here too, since you are all super chicken smart!! From my other thread:

"So I just picked up my head chicken for the first time in a couple weeks and discovered that her belly (not her neck or chest at all) is completely bare of feathers. It doesn't look irritated and I see no signs of regrowth. I checked quickly for mites (though will do a more thorough check after I do some reading on it) and found no evidence of any creepy crawlies.
She is the boss lady, so I know she's not getting picked at, and I've never seen her pick at her own feathers or act itchy.
I have been dealing with a poor appetite amongst my four pullets (around 9 months old) over the last two weeks, and realized just in the last few days that one, possibly two are going through a molt (at least that I was aware of!). One has tons of pin feathers popping out around her neck. Is a bare belly a sign of molting too?
I tried to find information and found someplace saying it's a sign of broodiness, but she isn't showing any other signs of broodiness.
They eat fermented layer pellets, and I typically throw in some BOSS once a day. Also veggie scraps as I have them, maybe twice a week this time of year. No free ranging, unfortunately.
I live in upstate NY, and we would typically be below freezing for months with tons of snow, but this year has been weird. Rain and much warmer than usual, with a few freezing days here and there. They have been digging a deep whole under the coop to dust bathe in over the last couple weeks. "

 

[rancher hicks]

Hi everyone, quoting myself here, I just started a thread and thought I'd ask it here too, since you are all super chicken smart!! From my other thread:

"So I just picked up my head chicken for the first time in a couple weeks and discovered that her belly (not her neck or chest at all) is completely bare of feathers. It doesn't look irritated and I see no signs of regrowth. I checked quickly for mites (though will do a more thorough check after I do some reading on it) and found no evidence of any creepy crawlies.
She is the boss lady, so I know she's not getting picked at, and I've never seen her pick at her own feathers or act itchy.
I have been dealing with a poor appetite amongst my four pullets (around 9 months old) over the last two weeks, and realized just in the last few days that one, possibly two are going through a molt (at least that I was aware of!). One has tons of pin feathers popping out around her neck. Is a bare belly a sign of molting too?
I tried to find information and found someplace saying it's a sign of broodiness, but she isn't showing any other signs of broodiness.
They eat fermented layer pellets, and I typically throw in some BOSS once a day. Also veggie scraps as I have them, maybe twice a week this time of year. No free ranging, unfortunately.
I live in upstate NY, and we would typically be below freezing for months with tons of snow, but this year has been weird. Rain and much warmer than usual, with a few freezing days here and there. They have been digging a deep whole under the coop to dust bathe in over the last couple weeks. "

Chickens will tend to eat what they like, not always what is good for them. So if you're tossing boss and scraps they'll fill up on those rather than the FF.

Can't say for you personally but much like dogs and cats some owners love their pets to death.

Chickens like us need a balanced diet. The right feed can give them this. I personally have found a 16% protein feed is not enough.

That said, I would skip the Boss every day and increase the protein level of their food. Some folks feed a high level protein cat food. I prefer a higher protein feed.

Try to keep the stress level to a minimum. Don't make any sudden changes in their coop.

If you suspect mites rub some vaseline on their feet and legs, dust them with some DE. You could also rub some vaseline on their roost. Even if you don't suspect mites these things can't hurt.

I know some folks like to add heat this time of year, but I think it's not necessary. Seems to me the sudden change from going outside where it's cold and back into where it's warm might be more of a shock. Too this weather doesn't help either. It's warm out now but come tomorrow it will be cold.

I wish you well,

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

Happy Belated Birthday Pyxis, sorry I wasn't on yesterday.

akaruby I hope you are feeling better and your chicks are adorable. I want to get silkies eventually.
I was able to get a couple of pics of the new babies and momma Midget. they are the best I could do with the momma freaking out.

Lord give me strength!

They are cute to be sure.

 

[shodack]

Chickens will tend to eat what they like, not always what is good for them. So if you're tossing boss and scraps they'll fill up on those rather than the FF.

Can't say for you personally but much like dogs and cats some owners love their pets to death.

Chickens like us need a balanced diet. The right feed can give them this. I personally have found a 16% protein feed is not enough.

That said, I would skip the Boss every day and increase the protein level of their food. Some folks feed a high level protein cat food. I prefer a higher protein feed.

Try to keep the stress level to a minimum. Don't make any sudden changes in their coop.

If you suspect mites rub some vaseline on their feet and legs, dust them with some DE. You could also rub some vaseline on their roost. Even if you don't suspect mites these things can't hurt.

I know some folks like to add heat this time of year, but I think it's not necessary. Seems to me the sudden change from going outside where it's cold and back into where it's warm might be more of a shock. Too this weather doesn't help either. It's warm out now but come tomorrow it will be cold.

I wish you well,

Rancher

Thanks Rancher. No heat for my chickens, I agree with your reasoning on that.
They only get a cup or so of BOSS around 4 pm- I didn't give it to them for the past week, because I wanted to make sure they were getting real food. Maybe I'll continue to hold it back for now. I was actually thinking of the boss as a high protein treat, which is why I'd been giving it- is that not true? The ff gets get at 7 am. The days they do get kitchen scraps it doesn't amount to much, and it's only a day or two weekly.

 

[Glasshen]

Hi Shodak! The only reason I have ever had a hen with a bare belly is bloodiness. She may be all confused with this weather. i have had Brodie's who were younger than one year old. I have noticed that they become quite unreasonable and tend to growl and shriek more, which makes everyone give them a lot of space. I had a dedicated broody in February once. A cold February. Keep an eye on her, it does sound like increased protein will help the one who is sprouting pin feathers. JjFeeds, near me has a feed I use with 20 percent protein Kalmbach poultry starter grower. The ingredients on the label are almost identical to Purina Flock Raiser. For a bit less $.

 

[shodack]

@Glasshen , thank you! I was wondering about JJ Feeds when I drove past it the other day. I'll have to stop in there this week. Do you use the grower even for your laying hens?

 

[BakerzDozen]

Lord give me strength!  

They are cute to be sure.  

Thank you Rancher. lol funny thing is all chicks are cute. Mine are so special to me because it is my first broody hen and first hatching of any eggs.
And now we have another hen that's gone broody... the staggering thing is it's one of my BSL's that aren't supposed to be broody. Go figure?