NY chicken lover!!!!

[pharmchickrnmom]

Things must be getting slim pickins out there as we just had a falcon attack and a hawk flyby. The falcon went so far as to perch on my front porch before trying to grab one of my hens. Judging from the barred rock feathers on the ground it was one of them. Dh saw it land on the front porch from his window downstairs and by the time he got out the door to the front the attack had happened, unsuccessfully. The girls are now sticking real close to dh for protection. My one group of silkies had been out in their temporary run but had enough sense to run into their coop/run and hide inside. Legolas was standing guard on the ramp. Our rir group was on the other side of the house with Olaf and Hane looking out for them. No attacks but the big hawk flew over checking things out. The falcon will be a problem and so I will have to be extra vigilante and only let my silkies and the girls out when I am out. The boys are pretty good at looking after their group but Dh will be patroling and protecting as well. I knew it was just a matter of time and I know the falcon will be a problem for a while until it realizes that there will be no free chicken dinners here!

As far as other predators, nothing has shown up on the game cam yet. It goes on every night and is moved around so we can see whats going on where. I am not sure how much things will change now that we dont have a dog any more. He isnt out there leaving his mark on everything and barking so I guess we shall see. Oh--I went out a little bit ago to ask dh something and here are all the big girls sitting on my front porch steps together and dh standing at the bottom. I guess they were hoping for an invite in. I told them to go home to their own house and they will be safe. He just gave them some scratch. He is SO owned by them!

 

[Adoravachick]

I'm glad to see pics of such beautiful birds. It was such a gorgeous day today, I spent it cleaning out my BBS pen. I had used corn cob pellets and it was working out great until we got almost 2 weeks of rain everyday. It was just saturated and about 4 to 5 inches thick. It was so heavy and took forever to completely clean the pen down to the wire. I let the ground dry for a bit while the peeps were out before putting down leaves to act a bedding in the run. I will never use corn cob again for an outdoor run. It would have been great for an indoor pen.

My MIL has a hen with a respitory infection, is there anything natural that she can use to clear it up? She really wanted to avoid using medications or chemicals because they have the hens for eggs.

Also, if anyone is interested I have some blue silkies available.
Cockerel

Pullet

 

[cheeka]

Adora, cranberries are the best natural bronchodilator out there. and they are cheap... if she doesn't seem to like them, cranberry capsules can be purchased anywhere they sell vitamins and stuff, also cheap, store brand is fine, crack open the gel tab and mix in the water. works like a charm for humans too... not only good for urinary tract health... the effect is quick, your MIL should notice quieter breathing within a half hour, and the dilation allows for better oxygen intake and strength to dispel any mucus that builds up...

 

[vmdanielsen]

Things must be getting slim pickins out there as we just had a falcon attack and a hawk flyby. The falcon went so far as to perch on my front porch before trying to grab one of my hens. Judging from the barred rock feathers on the ground it was one of them. Dh saw it land on the front porch from his window downstairs and by the time he got out the door to the front the attack had happened, unsuccessfully. The girls are now sticking real close to dh for protection. My one group of silkies had been out in their temporary run but had enough sense to run into their coop/run and hide inside. Legolas was standing guard on the ramp. Our rir group was on the other side of the house with Olaf and Hane looking out for them. No attacks but the big hawk flew over checking things out. The falcon will be a problem and so I will have to be extra vigilante and only let my silkies and the girls out when I am out. The boys are pretty good at looking after their group but Dh will be patroling and protecting as well. I knew it was just a matter of time and I know the falcon will be a problem for a while until it realizes that there will be no free chicken dinners here!

As far as other predators, nothing has shown up on the game cam yet. It goes on every night and is moved around so we can see whats going on where. I am not sure how much things will change now that we dont have a dog any more. He isnt out there leaving his mark on everything and barking so I guess we shall see. Oh--I went out a little bit ago to ask dh something and here are all the big girls sitting on my front porch steps together and dh standing at the bottom. I guess they were hoping for an invite in. I told them to go home to their own house and they will be safe. He just gave them some scratch. He is SO owned by them!

My son came home at 9:30 and said "there is a huge owl in the apple tree!" Yes the owl on the prowl every night!! Good luck with your predators!!!

 

[Adoravachick]

Adora, cranberries are the best natural bronchodilator out there. and they are cheap... if she doesn't seem to like them, cranberry capsules can be purchased anywhere they sell vitamins and stuff, also cheap, store brand is fine, crack open the gel tab and mix in the water. works like a charm for humans too... not only good for urinary tract health... the effect is quick, your MIL should notice quieter breathing within a half hour, and the dilation allows for better oxygen intake and strength to dispel any mucus that builds up...

Thanks for the info. Will this help with the runny nose that the hen has too? How long should the treatment last and can it be used as a preventative?

 

[cheeka]

it should, but honey and apple cider vinegar are natural decongestants if she's really extra stuffy, cranberry can be used liberally and as a preventative, especially if they like them...
see if she'll take a little tea with honey instead of water... i'm serious, it works for my cat... why not the chicken? and the cranberries with the tea, she'll feel mighty proper that hen... please ask MIL if she'll take pictures if she decides to try it out... could make some great shots...

if the hen takes to the cranberries... probably feel right as rain in a few days...

 

[marquisella]

Has anyone found that they sell eggs better if they feed their hens no soy? I'm wondering if its worth it. I don't sell eggs hardly at all for eating, but was condiering it if the soy free thing was attractive to customers.

 

[cheeka]

if it is... it's a fad... I'm celiac and can eat eggs from chickens that have eaten wheat, barley and rye. eggs are gluten free, so i imagine that they are soy free naturally regardless of whether the hen has eaten soy

 

[marquisella]

if it is... it's a fad... I'm celiac and can eat eggs from chickens that have eaten wheat, barley and rye. eggs are gluten free, so i imagine that they are soy free naturally regardless of whether the hen has eaten soy

I feel the same way. I don't see how the soy would get into the egg in the same chemical make up. But then, people can be weird when they have allergies.

 

[Adoravachick]

it should, but honey and apple cider vinegar are natural decongestants if she's really extra stuffy, cranberry can be used liberally and as a preventative, especially if they like them...
see if she'll take a little tea with honey instead of water... i'm serious, it works for my cat... why not the chicken? and the cranberries with the tea, she'll feel mighty proper that hen... please ask MIL if she'll take pictures if she decides to try it out... could make some great shots...

if the hen takes to the cranberries... probably feel right as rain in a few days...

I'll tell her, she's old school Italian, so she is a firm believer in o'Natural. She doesn't know how to use a camera....or a computer

. I'll see what I can do as far as getting some pics though.