Only a single hen left, and mites issue!

[aart]

What helps against the wet poops? We're putting ACV in her water (fresh every day) and give yogurt 1-2 times a week. We also used to give a handful of mealworms every day - is that too much?

A balanced diet consisting of a good chicken ration, plain fresh water....
...and a very few treats depending on which feed you use.

I do not recommend ACV at all, if you must have it also have plain water available at all times. No reason for that or the yogurt.
Most feeds already have pro-biotics in them.

So, my husband went out and bought a radiant heater for Zaza's coop, since we're panicking about her being cold at night.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[ZazasMom]

A balanced diet consisting of a good chicken ration, plain fresh water....
...and a very few treats depending on which feed you use.

I do not recommend ACV at all, if you must have it also have plain water available at all times. No reason for that or the yogurt.
Most feeds already have pro-biotics in them.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2496941

Oh sorry, and thanks for the help on where to add my location! I’m in Northern RI, and we’ll be having night temps in the teens in a few days.

We started adding the ACV and yogurt about a month ago when I thought some of them had vent gleet (because of poopy butts). Great to hear we don’t need to do that - a little less work in the morning! We’re feeding the Purina Layer Crumbles. We also offer grit with probiotics but they didn’t even touch it. I’m interested in what you would recommend for snacks?

 

[aart]

I’m interested in what you would recommend for snacks?

I don't do 'snacks' for the birds, they don't need them...
...that's more for the keepers than the birds.

I feed a 20% all flock crumble, oyster shells in separate feeders for the active layers.
I give some scratch grains each morning in the run while I clean,
that takes them to about 18% protein.
Every once in while I'll toss out a 'snack', maybe once a month.....
....some BOSS....
....or a flake of compressed alfalfa....
...or some wheat grass.

And nothing but plain water...
....except for electrolytes/vitamin solution in an extra waterer during heat waves,
and soaked into rolled oats during extreme cold.

 

[ZazasMom]

I don't do 'snacks' for the birds, they don't need them...
...that's more for the keepers than the birds.

I feed a 20% all flock crumble, oyster shells in separate feeders for the active layers.
I give some scratch grains each morning in the run while I clean,
that takes them to about 18% protein.
Every once in while I'll toss out a 'snack', maybe once a month.....
....some BOSS....
....or a flake of compressed alfalfa....
...or some wheat grass.

And nothing but plain water...
....except for electrolytes/vitamin solution in an extra waterer during heat waves,
and soaked into rolled oats during extreme cold.

Thank you! You're correct, the snacks were great for our daughter to interact with them, and I have to admit that it was always so cute to see them running/wobbling towards us whenever we were around, expecting a snack

Our crumbles (Purina Layena Crumbles) have an "Oyster Strong System" - should we still have oyster shell in a separate bowl?

 

[ZazasMom]

So, my husband went out and bought a radiant heater for Zaza's coop, since we're panicking about her being cold at night. I know that many hens together would be fine in the cold, but since she's alone in a 4'x4' coop, we don't know if she's producing enough body heat. What are your opinions?
Ventilation could be improved. There are 2 openings on opposite sides (each maybe 2 x 8 inches), but they could be bigger - this is one improvement I wanted to make before starting a new flock. Zaza did get minor frostbite once after getting soaked from running around in the rain all day, and night temps were 30-ish.

This is the heater: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-brooder-and-coop-heater#

Does anyone have thoughts on whether we should heat the coop at night, or not? Night temps will be 16 tomorrow night

 

[aart]

"Oyster Strong System"
should we still have oyster shell in a separate bowl?

I don't know just what this is......other than a marketing ploy(I'm a jaded skeptic).
Never hurts to have a feeder with Oyster Shell available.

 

[ZazasMom]

Hi again! I thought I’d post an update to our chicken journey!

After our lone survivor Zaza was rehomed to our friends’ chicken flock, we visited her a few times and it was amazing to see that she remembered us and came running! My 4 year old was talking to her through the fence and she never moved away. Our plan is to hatch new chicks (today is day 6 of incubating) to re-establish a new flock, with Zaza. It just so happened that we were given a little 8-week old pullet when we picked up our hatching eggs from a farm. So, we decided to bring Zaza home and the two of them are getting along fairly okay. I was quite anxious because Zaza was pecking the little one, and she was so scared and hiding behind my legs But they’ve gotten better. I hope introducing the new chicks in May/June will go as smoothly. Just wanted to share this and please wish us luck for our hatch

 

[ZazasMom]

This is Peachy, a Peach Lavender Orpington (I believe). She’s a sweety and so friendly!

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is Peachy, a Peach Lavender Orpington (I believe). She’s a sweety and so friendly!

That... might be a boy, with that red comb.

 

[ZazasMom]

That... might be a boy, with that red comb.

Oh boy! The farmer said they regularly have a professional chick sexer come to determine what they are... I wouldn’t know how to tell. Here’s another close up: