Pecking injury...

[tripletfeb]

Is adding some straw on top of the snow an option? They may go out if they have a barrier/protection for their feet.

I would have to go buy a bale but that would work. Never thought of it, duh!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would have to go buy a bale but that would work. Never thought of it, duh!

LOL I use quite a bit of straw. If you have a Home Depot check with them and see if they have wheat straw bales. If your run is approx 5x12 you likely won't need a whole bale, so if there's a way to store some of it where it doesn't get wet that would be a good idea. That way you can "freshen" the straw as the snow melts or if you get more snow.

I have one run that's similar in size to yours and it doesn't take a lot of straw, BUT it's covered too, so stays relatively dry. My larger runs, I place whole bales for later use and the birds enjoy getting on top of them and lounging, etc.
I haven't found a way to re-tie or keep straw in good quarters, so I save feed bags and shove any excess/extra "loose" straw in those, then store it.

 

[tripletfeb]

LOL I use quite a bit of straw. If you have a Home Depot check with them and see if they have wheat straw bales. If your run is approx 5x12 you likely won't need a whole bale, so if there's a way to store some of it where it doesn't get wet that would be a good idea. That way you can "freshen" the straw as the snow melts or if you get more snow.

I have one run that's similar in size to yours and it doesn't take a lot of straw, BUT it's covered too, so stays relatively dry. My larger runs, I place whole bales for later use and the birds enjoy getting on top of them and lounging, etc.
I haven't found a way to re-tie or keep straw in good quarters, so I save feed bags and shove any excess/extra "loose" straw in those, then store it.

Storing the straw in old feed bags is another good idea, thanks! And my run is covered but the snow tends to blow sideways here. Lake effect, ya know. And I actually have to go to Home Depot tomorrow so I will look for wheat bales. If they don't have it there, there are a lot of farms around where I can ask, even a coworker of mine who has a farm

 

[tripletfeb]

Here is a far away picture of my coop, just as an fyi

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Storing the straw in old feed bags is another good idea, thanks! And my run is covered but the snow tends to blow sideways here. Lake effect, ya know. And I actually have to go to Home Depot tomorrow so I will look for wheat bales. If they don't have it there, there are a lot of farms around where I can ask, even a coworker of mine who has a farm

You may have to ask for the straw if your garden center is "closed". It's usually stored in tractor trailers around the side or back of the store.
I do have sections that get rain/snow, etc. but usually it's not too bad. (LOTS of rain)
I have a few birds that really work on the whole bales and sometimes get those loose, I'll go out and there's straw everywhere. I put extra bales in my GF run a few weeks back, I use those as wind blocks/hiding places, etc. They had a bale kicked loose and I had to dig out their water station, their feed cups were buried too. When I walk in there it's like walking on a mattress. It's o.k. I'll leave it - that section is dry, so as the winter progresses, I'll just rake that drier straw to the uncovered sections...eh...they were having fun

 

[tripletfeb]

Well, update on the chickens. They are back outside. For multiple reasons. There was way too much poop, I couldn't take it anymore. The basement stinks. And Cinnamon(brown one) was pecking at her own wounds. So, she might have done it to herself. And Popcorn(white) had a new wound on her other side, same spot. So either Cinnamon is the culprit or they are doing it to themselves. And Cinnamon was escaping. When I went to check on them this morning, she was on top of the plastic fencing, which was almost six feet high. I have no idea how long she was there. I put blu kote on them, to hide the wounds. As well as more neosporin. I will continue to put the neosporin on twice a day and flush the wounds out. They were both eating and drinking good so I feel ok putting them back in the coop. But do chickens normally peck themselves until they cause wounds? I see no evidence of lice or mites. I'm really confused! And if they are doing it to themselves, what is the point of seperating them if I don't have a bully?

 

[tripletfeb]

And I will be going to the store today to get more things for them to occupy themselves. We have two winter storms heading our way, tonight into Tuesday, then Thursday into Friday. I don't want them to feel stuck in their coop when they have 24 hour access to their secure run

 

[aart]

But do chickens normally peck themselves until they cause wounds?

Haven't heard much of that here. I know parrots can do that.
I suppose it's possible.
I have had a cockerel peck at the blukote I put on it's bleeding pin feathers.

 

[tripletfeb]

Haven't heard much of that here. I know parrots can do that.
I suppose it's possible.
I have had a cockerel peck at the blukote I put on it's bleeding pin feathers.

I know many here are not fans of blu kote and I understand why. It's a pain to see the wound and I got so much on my fingers, it looks like I was fingerprinted for a crime! But I was desperate to get them back outside. In my opinion, chickens are farm animals and should not be in the house, even the basement. I still have the camera up to check on them and will keep treating the wounds

 

[Byrd gal]

I don't feel stupid shoveling my run and yard all day saturday. My family thought i needed a mental exam shoveling in 20 degree weather. I ran out of money on my coop. this spring I am covering the run. I only have netting up now. Thanks for the straw tip storing it in bags they really love making a mess with it. I will keep an eye out on my gals too for pecking we are getting the same storms and they will be in when it gets below zero.