***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[lonnyandrinda]

I have my first "illness" related question. My rooster appears to be "sneezing" but I see no discharge around his nose or eyes. A few days ago his crow started sounding noticeably different. He is a naked-neck, and when I picked him up this morning to give him a once-over his skin felt hot. He is otherwise acting normal - eating, drinking, breeding. He is with 4 hens and they all seem fine. Any ideas? Is there something I should do for him?

I would isolate him ASAP. Might start with something low dose, like tetracycline or tylan, and see if it clears right up or continues.

 

[ChickenChump]

OK, I'm sorry if I am hijacking this thread, forum, post or whatever its called but I can't figure out the organization of the site or where/how to post a question and I have been on here a while. So i am very sorry for stepping on anyones toes for this but here is my question... I have 2 chickens about 4 months old(silver sea bright rooster and a welsummer hen) funny combo I know!! We recently(last nightadded 4 mature egg laying hens of a still undetermined breed. They are sweet birds and already let us pet them. I put wire up between the girls and guy because trying to get them use to each other before physical contact could be made. Well for the sake of a social experiment I brought "Dyno' the rooster in with them and everything went well!! In fact the older hens became more interested in meeting the young hen and started trying to fly over my "gate" well expecting to have to break up a brawl I went ahead and introduced them and everything went great!! The question is, the dang pint sized rooster is pecking the mature hens!!! I mean he stays between "Itchy" the young hen and the older hens. They don't even realize she is in there it seems but every now and then he wigs out on the mature girls and attacks them. I checked on them this morning and actually had to swat him with my hat because he latched on and the hen went running dragging him behind!! I'm not too worried about their safety because they tend to escape him fairly well by jumping up on the roosts. I think its because their maturity makes them more nimble on the roost. Anyone know why he is being SO aggressive or if its just him getting them lined out till he establishes himself?

 

[Jeansrie]

I would isolate him ASAP.  Might start with something low dose, like tetracycline or tylan, and see if it clears right up or continues.

Thank you!

 

[jrjoplin]

OK, I'm sorry if I am hijacking this thread, forum, post or whatever its called but I can't figure out the organization of the site or where/how to post a question and I have been on here a while. So i am very sorry for stepping on anyones toes for this but here is my question... I have 2 chickens about 4 months old(silver sea bright rooster and a welsummer hen) funny combo I know!! We recently(last nightadded 4 mature egg laying hens of a still undetermined breed. They are sweet birds and already let us pet them. I put wire up between the girls and guy because trying to get them use to each other before physical contact could be made. Well for the sake of a social experiment I brought "Dyno' the rooster in with them and everything went well!! In fact the older hens became more interested in meeting the young hen and started trying to fly over my "gate" well expecting to have to break up a brawl I went ahead and introduced them and everything went great!! The question is, the dang pint sized rooster is pecking the mature hens!!! I mean he stays between "Itchy" the young hen and the older hens. They don't even realize she is in there it seems but every now and then he wigs out on the mature girls and attacks them. I checked on them this morning and actually had to swat him with my hat because he latched on and the hen went running dragging him behind!! I'm not too worried about their safety because they tend to escape him fairly well by jumping up on the roosts. I think its because their maturity makes them more nimble on the roost. Anyone know why he is being SO aggressive or if its just him getting them lined out till he establishes himself?

This is a social thread so the worry of hijacking isn't as big an issue here as in the topic specific areas. The okies, at least where I have witnessed, welcome questions and comments from the other okies and will do their best to help.

I would guess that your rooster is just reiterating his place to the newcomers. If he isn't harming them I'd let it play out and see if it settles.

Jerry

 

[lonnyandrinda]

This is a social thread so the worry of hijacking isn't as big an issue here as in the topic specific areas. The okies, at least where I have witnessed, welcome questions and comments from the other okies and will do their best to help.

I would guess that your rooster is just reiterating his place to the newcomers. If he isn't harming them I'd let it play out and see if it settles.

Jerry

x2. Sounds like he's trying to show the girls who's boss, and maybe get some "action" in as well.

 

[Kassaundra]

@ChickenChump I agree w/ the answers already given, but just wanted to say

and the Okie thread.

 

[ChickenChump]

Thanks for the response and confirming what we thought was going on. Its funny cause my grand father-in-law has 20-25 chickens and he said these 4 jumped them 1 by 1. Haha this half pound bantam is keeping them in check!!

 

[NanaKat]

NanaKat, there's never a dull moment at your house, and nothing slows you down!  What excitement with a full-grown, predatory owl!!

I've been working 3-3 1/2 hours each day with very heavy cleaning out of flower-beds-to-be.  The saplings, poke, poison ivy, etc. was much higher than my head and required a LOT of work.  Finally got it all done, except for adding composted chicken poop to the newest part, and am working on cleaning out chicken pens.  I use the "deep litter method" and had gotten very behind.  I'm digging out 6 - 8" of partially composted chicken litter, then putting down a layer of Diatomaceous Earth and then pine chips.  Am also reconstructing the dividers between four of my pens in the larger compound.  I can't work longer than that--and that's splitting the time up with a rest and cool-of period, because I just get too hot.  But, I'm making progress and losing some weight. 

I've cleaned out part of the bottom part of an extensive rock garden, so that's my next project.  7 - 8 years makes for a LOT of catch-up work.

Doctor visit and blood work yesterday showed improvement in all areas, so I think this hard work is paying off in many ways. 

My silkies are finally hatching chicks, fortunately only a few at a time.  They are so steadfast!  Am planning to be at the Norman show in early October, and should have a nice selection of half-grown silkies, including several paints and paint showgirls.  Hope to see some of you there!

Glad to hear you received such a good doctor report...especially with all that garden bed work in this heat!

NanaKat I don't know if you have solved my mystery or deepened it. Over the past couple years I've lost a bunch of full grown turkeys in broad daylight. They were in an uncovered pen, but were too big to have been carried out by a hawk, and there was no obvious 4 legged evidence, i.e. tracks, or feather trails, or digging under fences. I know 4 legged ones can climb but there is usually a feather trail where they kill. I could sometimes find would find feather piles (with some bones) fifty yards or so out in pasture grass An owl that size could have easily been the culprit, but I've never observed owls hunting in the day time here. I know we have them, you can hear them at night.

We have Hooker's Hawks and huge Red-tailed Hawks that hunt during the day. The Hooker's Hawks have a six foot wingspan and can carry off a 15 pound baby goat according to our neighbor.

Thanks for the response and confirming what we thought was going on. Its funny cause my grand father-in-law has 20-25 chickens and he said these 4 jumped them 1 by 1. Haha this half pound bantam is keeping them in check!!

and your Bantam rooster will figure out the proper breeding etiquette and position soon. The older hens will either discourage him and he will quit trying....or....they will allow him to breed.

 

[Ironsights]

Hello

Hi! Welcome to the coop

 

[artsyrobin]

hi everyone- lost my beautiful porthos yesterday to pox- so now am looking into pox vaccine for the flock- it only comes in doses for 1000??? so once i order it, i only have 50 birds, if anyone will want the remainder?


this was porthos- RIP