Rain and chickens??

[donrae]

People bathe their animals way too much. My dogs don't have itchy skin because I don't bathe them all of the time. When I had horses, I was often complimented on how great their coats looked. People always wanted to know what fly spray I used as well because they didn't have so many flies like the others. All I did was hose them off if they got salt deposits from sweat or muddy. I never used soap. People get horrified by that, but they aren't horrified by some of the chemicals they put on them to do what that their natural oils already do. Animals have spent thousands of years developing mechanisms so why screw with it? Just because they smell like vanilla mango breeze, doesn't mean they're healthy or taken care of.

I've had my mare almost 20 years....I think she'd have a stroke if I gave her a bath

She was just rolling in the puddle in part of their pen--I guess that's her version of a bath.

 

[bobbi-j]

I have a gelding who bathes himself in the summer. He'll take the hose out of the water tank when I'm filling it, fling it around and get himself wet, then go roll in the dirt. He does this when the flies are especially bad. Now, if I could only get him to put the hose back in the tank when he's done...

 

[Cheyen]

The only problem I've had with rain is with my silkies. But that's just for show quality reasons. Their feathers are a lot different from other breeds, so I usually lock them up in the coop when it's raining. Poor things look like fraggle rock characters in the rain, and don't get me started on the mud stains!

 

[DarleneE]

Awwww poor babies! They're gorgeous though!

 

[Cheyen]

They're a great breed, one of my favorites!

My other chickens love the rain. They're able to stay nice and dry unlike the silkies.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

People bathe their animals way too much. My dogs don't have itchy skin because I don't bathe them all of the time. When I had horses, I was often complimented on how great their coats looked. People always wanted to know what fly spray I used as well because they didn't have so many flies like the others. All I did was hose them off if they got salt deposits from sweat or muddy. I never used soap. People get horrified by that, but they aren't horrified by some of the chemicals they put on them to do what that their natural oils already do. Animals have spent thousands of years developing mechanisms so why screw with it? Just because they smell like vanilla mango breeze, doesn't mean they're healthy or taken care of.

Agreed - we bathe/rinse/whatever ONLY as needed - which means when someone has gotten into something particularly nasty that I don't want brought into the house (for the dogs) or once a year for fair/show for the horses (and even that is only spot wash as needed as we, too, have naturally beautiful shiny horses - good diet and natural care)....and there is NOTHING better than the smell of HORSE!!! Why would you cover that up?

 

[DarleneE]

CHEYEN... I have only two hens as pets!! A Barred Rock named Daisy and an Ameraucana named Olivia. They're just SO sweet!!

 

[Cheyen]

I had a barred rock for a while. She was mixed in with a bunch of other chicks we picked up at discounted prices. We sold her at a swap, but she was so sweet for the time we had her. I'd love to get an Ameraucana! Our eggs are so boring compared to those pretty blue ones.

 

[DarleneE]

I'm actually not sure if that's really an Ameraucana or and Easter Egger or WHAT the difference is between the two?? My Barred Rock is a bit tamer than the other.. but they each have their days!! Today my Barred Rock didn't wanna come out and play.. but my "Ameraucana" (if that's actually WHAT she is??) DID come right out and jump up on my arm!,

 

[Cheyen]

Ameraucanas are pure bred chickens with breed standards. They have tails, muffs (cheek fluff), and beards. They only lay blue and sometimes green eggs. Easter eggers are mutt birds that lay multi-colored eggs. Easter eggers can have the tail, muff, and beard of an ameraucana, and even be the same color standard. But if it lays an egg any color other than blue/green, it's an easter egger.

There's a similar breed called an araucana. They have no tail feathers, and have only tufts- not muffs or beards. They're a rare breed, and have specific standards like the ameraucana. They only lay blue eggs. Neither the ameraucana or araucana are sold by hatcheries. You can only get them from breeders. If you got your cutie from a hatchery, there's a good chance she's an easter egger.