***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Matt in Okla]

You don't WANT your hens laying when they are molting.  Molting takes a lot of protein and energy.  You want them to molt quickly and completely, then get back to laying.  If they lay through their molt they tend to take longer to molt AND it's harder on their bodies.  Molting takes 6-10 weeks usually.  Sometimes longer though.

Chickens do NOT need heat.  They need a draft-free coop with roofline ventilation, and a good layer of bedding litter.  That's it.  Especially here in Oklahoma where we tend to have mild winters.  Even if we had an unusually hard winter, you would not want them to have heat because if an ice storm knocked out your electric and they were used to heat, they would freeze to death.

Give them time, give them good feed.  No more than 5-10% of their diet shouldbe treats (bread, scratch, etc).  If you want to give them a light on a timer, a 60 watt bulb is fine.  Mine is a Christmas light timer that turns on at dusk and off 4 or 6 hours later (depending on what setting I use).

Ok cool thanks. Only my "runt" the best layer I have, henryetta, is still laying but she isn't molting. They seem to be happy otherwise.

 

[Matt in Okla]

Calling for 40-60mph winds wed.
Might have to tie down hanging plants, chickens n small elephants lol

 

[i-love-my-honey]

We had a bad attack today. 5 out of 7 dead or missing. My poor daughters are just heartbroken! We had two Sikes that were my babies, an Americauna, and a Barred Rock that are missing (I assume swallowed whole as there is no remnant but a few feathers). There was one sexlink lying with its neck broken, but otherwise undisturbed. My honey gave me some refresher shotgun training for when they come back (thinking it was two dogs that I saw yesterday). If and when they return they will not live long.

One of the two left is just missing some tail feathers and one with a large wound on her backside. I used betaine and Veterycin before putting antibiotic ointment on it. She is in the house in a small box. She is eating and drinking well. Do I use Tyan or Sulmet? I cannot remember which is for what...

 

[lonnyandrinda]

We had a bad attack today. 5 out of 7 dead or missing. My poor daughters are just heartbroken! We had two Sikes that were my babies, an Americauna, and a Barred Rock that are missing (I assume swallowed whole as there is no remnant but a few feathers). There was one sexlink lying with its neck broken, but otherwise undisturbed. My honey gave me some refresher shotgun training for when they come back (thinking it was two dogs that I saw yesterday). If and when they return they will not live long.

One of the two left is just missing some tail feathers and one with a large wound on her backside. I used betaine and Veterycin before putting antibiotic ointment on it. She is in the house in a small box. She is eating and drinking well. Do I use Tyan or Sulmet? I cannot remember which is for what...

Oh I am SO sorry, how heartbreaking! Hopefully some of the missing will show up in the morning after they've had the night to calm down.

Don't use either. Tylan is an antibiotic for respiratory infections, Sulmet is a coccidiostat to treat coccidia outbreaks. Keeping the wound clean is good enough. If she is eating and drinking well that's a GREAT sign.

Get those critters. I don't feel sorry for dogs getting shot because of owners that let their dogs roam. Once they kill chickens, they will be back. Promise.

 

[i-love-my-honey]

Oh I am SO sorry, how heartbreaking!  Hopefully some of the missing will show up in the morning after they've had the night to calm down.

Don't use either.  Tylan is an antibiotic for respiratory infections, Sulmet is a coccidiostat to treat coccidia outbreaks.  Keeping the wound clean is good enough.  If she is eating and drinking well that's a GREAT sign.

Get those critters.  I don't feel sorry for dogs getting shot because of owners that let their dogs roam.  Once they kill chickens, they will be back.  Promise.

Thank you, Rinda. The one body we did find was the sexlink we got from you. She is the one in my profile pic and that is my daughter snuggling her. She named her Phoenix - Nixie for short. The dogs broke her neck and then just left her for my daughter to find. I am so angry - and so unexpressibly sad. One of my silkies got so scared she laid an egg in the run. I am mad at the dogs, but more angry at the owners for not containing their dogs.

Do I need to keep the injured one inside? I have her treated and antibiotic ointment on the wound. I had to put a gauze pad and vet wrap around it because she was eating the gel. (She was inside last night.) I was planning to change her dressing morning and night. Is that enough? The birds are just so lonely separated and the Legbar is not picking at the wrap.

 

[Kassaundra]

We had a bad attack today. 5 out of 7 dead or missing. My poor daughters are just heartbroken! We had two Sikes that were my babies, an Americauna, and a Barred Rock that are missing (I assume swallowed whole as there is no remnant but a few feathers). There was one sexlink lying with its neck broken, but otherwise undisturbed. My honey gave me some refresher shotgun training for when they come back (thinking it was two dogs that I saw yesterday). If and when they return they will not live long.

One of the two left is just missing some tail feathers and one with a large wound on her backside. I used betaine and Veterycin before putting antibiotic ointment on it. She is in the house in a small box. She is eating and drinking well. Do I use Tyan or Sulmet? I cannot remember which is for what...

So sorry for your loss and trauma.

I hope you are able to take care of the preditors.

 

[artsyrobin]

Old age caught up with my Galahad last night, couldn't have asked for a sweeter bird, and am thankful Coral shared him with me! @Poco Pollo

 

[artsyrobin]

We had a bad attack today. 5 out of 7 dead or missing. My poor daughters are just heartbroken! We had two Sikes that were my babies, an Americauna, and a Barred Rock that are missing (I assume swallowed whole as there is no remnant but a few feathers). There was one sexlink lying with its neck broken, but otherwise undisturbed. My honey gave me some refresher shotgun training for when they come back (thinking it was two dogs that I saw yesterday). If and when they return they will not live long.

One of the two left is just missing some tail feathers and one with a large wound on her backside. I used betaine and Veterycin before putting antibiotic ointment on it. She is in the house in a small box. She is eating and drinking well. Do I use Tyan or Sulmet? I cannot remember which is for what...

I am so sorry! I would get the injured on penicillin as a precaution-

 

[Poco Pollo]

Old age caught up with my Galahad last night, couldn't have asked for a sweeter bird, and am thankful Coral shared him with me! @Poco Pollo

Oh Robin, I'm so sorry. I'm sitting here crying my eyes out. Galahad was a special roo. Stripes (who acts like a capon every second; no aggression and his best pals are hens) and Oreo (who has mellowed considerably) are doing great. Shasta hangs out with the piggies most of the day. She's laying better than many of my younger hens.

 

[Kassaundra]

Old age caught up with my Galahad last night, couldn't have asked for a sweeter bird, and am thankful Coral shared him with me! @Poco Pollo

Oh Robin, I'm soooo sorry

He had a long and loved life.