Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[drstratton]

This is looking great!

Thank you so much! It will get a fresh coat of paint! We are working on the other hutch right now!

 

[drstratton]

My husband finalized the plans he drew for the 2nd rabbit hutch. We spent a couple of hours working on it tonight. We finished the 2 end panels & we got the front & back put together, then my husband realized that we need to take it apart to add the enclosed section of the hutch! He needs to dado the 2x4's, so we can insert the hardie panel that he decided to use. It is actually a cement product! This is going to be a bigger hutch than the other ones. It will be perfect for a mama and her babies! This is going to be an awesome hutch!

One of the end panels!

The front & back!

 

[drstratton]

I just noticed the chicks picking at the new feathers of one particular chick. they have made it bleed! any way to stop this without separation? Poor baby!

 

[N F C]

I just noticed the chicks picking at the new feathers of one particular chick. they have made it bleed! any way to stop this without separation? Poor baby!

Do you have any BluKote? It's an antiseptic that helps with the healing and it's dark blue which seems to deter the pecking (red is a color chickens are attracted to, so blood gets their attention). Plus I guess it tastes bad (not that I've personally tried it).

 

[drstratton]

Do you have any BluKote? It's an antiseptic that helps with the healing and it's dark blue which seems to deter the pecking (red is a color chickens are attracted to, so blood gets their attention). Plus I guess it tastes bad (not that I've personally tried it).

Hi Debby! No I don't have any and I just looked the soonest I can get it delivered will be Saturday! I might be driving to town today, if any of the feed stores carry it! We are switching gears from the rabbit hutch, back to the coop! We thought we had more time, but they are growing so fast! I have the wounded ones in a tote for the moment, hopefully they won't peck at each other! I actually have two, now possibly 3 that are being pecked at! I've been intending to get medical supplies, but things have been so crazy! Believe it or not, I've never had this happen with my Banty's! I will get some as soon as I can! Thank you Debby!

 

[drstratton]

I just can't get the BluKote fast enough, it's an hour to the closest feed store! So, I tried something! I found a page where they use a homemade remedy for blukote! It is made with honey, blue food coloring & essential oils. I assume the essential oils make it not taste good, but they still seemed to be going after it, even though it is blue! I might try to mix up some with aloe vera, blue coloring & essential oils! That way there won't be a sweet taste to it & I'm pretty sure the essential oils will shine through just a bit more! Worth a try!

 

[N F C]

I just can't get the BluKote fast enough, it's an hour to the closest feed store! So, I tried something! I found a page where they use a homemade remedy for blukote! It is made with honey, blue food coloring & essential oils. I assume the essential oils make it not taste good, but they still seemed to be going after it, even though it is blue! I might try to mix up some with aloe vera, blue coloring & essential oils! That way there won't be a sweet taste to it & I'm pretty sure the essential oils will shine through just a bit more! Worth a try!

Yep, worth a try! Hope it works for you.

 

[drstratton]

Yep, worth a try! Hope it works for you.

Thank you for your advice Debby! I kept them in a separate space for most of the day! They are now back in with the rest of the chicks, there is some pecking at the blue, but not to the extent of what it was earlier! I'm keeping a close eye on them and I might pull them out tonight and place them back in the tote! I don't want to wake up to them having been bloodied all over again! I placed a mirror in with them and hung some cabbage on a string, so far they are still afraid of it lol! I don't have any chick grit, but I will place some sand in there for them. It's the best I can do right now!

 

[drstratton]

@NFC Just after I wrote my last post, I heard a chick in distress and they were at it again! So, I have 2 back in the hospital ward! I will just have to keep them separate until they heal! I really didn't want to put them in the coop until they were 4-5 weeks, but we have no choice! I will put up some wire to keep them separate once they are in there, so still part of the flock!

 

[N F C]

@NFC Just after I wrote my last post, I heard a chick in distress and they were at it again! So, I have 2 back in the hospital ward! I will just have to keep them separate until they heal! I really didn't want to put them in the coop until they were 4-5 weeks, but we have no choice! I will put up some wire to keep them separate once they are in there, so still part of the flock!

I guess they aren't going to make it easy on you, ornery kids!

Good idea to keep them together but separated.