Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

View attachment 3462949
Here is Widget (Jubilee Orpington) preening Snowbird's backside. She did it for at least a minute, that I saw. I got a couple pictures, and then she stopped. This is the better of the two. Not great, through the fence.

I would give his a rear end a check over. One of the ways I know chickens, mainly hens, have lice is the other hens start picking at the rear ends. It's usually lice rather than mites that seem to attract them ime. Normal, whatever that is when it comes to chickens is hens groom around the roosters eyes, wattles, comb and back of head. These are the places he cant reach with his beak. Also, because roosters don't lay eggs, they usually have a cleaner rear end.

 

[Sally PB]

Thank you! That didn't occur to me.

 

[ManueB]

Thank you! That didn't occur to me.

That is why he has the educator badge

 

[Ladies-Eight]

All well I hope.

Just dealing with sciatic back pain.

 

[Perris]

Just dealing with sciatic back pain.

poor you; I understand it can be very painful.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I saw something I've never seen before. And, it explained why my Chantecler rooster, Snowbird, always has a clean, fluffy rear.

One of the hens was grooming his posterior. I got a picture, but it seems... kind of personal... so I won't post it.

Ah post it.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

poor you; I understand it can be very painful.

You are right.

I was beginning to this I was going to be paralyzed.

Thank God I'm not.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

Temperature is in the 60s.

Have a great day!

 

[Perris]

Going to the coops this morning to open up and then poo-pick, I first found a blood puddle and spatters on the roof of one, and then found a few blood-stained shavings scattered around inside all three. I don't know what went on yesterday - I was out most of the day. The flock is not unusually nervous or tight-knit so I don't think it was a predator, which is one obvious explanation for the blood drawn, so I assume with the season the sap is rising in the boys, and they fought more strongly than usual; somebody drew blood, and whoever was on the receiving end was attempting to find refuge in a coop, and presumably failing in all three sequentially. Normally they don't try to hide inside, but run off into the bushes and stop as soon as their pursuer stops giving chase.

I got photos of them all just now and there's nothing conspicuous to explain who did what to whom; all are working together as one flock, Chirk is clearly still the dom and the other 3 the subs. Anyone with any other suggestions to unravel the mystery?

 

[Shadrach]

Going to the coops this morning to open up and then poo-pick, I first found a blood puddle and spatters on the roof of one, and then found a few blood-stained shavings scattered around inside all three. I don't know what went on yesterday - I was out most of the day. The flock is not unusually nervous or tight-knit so I don't think it was a predator, which is one obvious explanation for the blood drawn, so I assume with the season the sap is rising in the boys, and they fought more strongly than usual; somebody drew blood, and whoever was on the receiving end was attempting to find refuge in a coop, and presumably failing in all three sequentially. Normally they don't try to hide inside, but run off into the bushes and stop as soon as their pursuer stops giving chase.

I got photos of them all just now and there's nothing conspicuous to explain who did what to whom; all are working together as one flock, Chirk is clearly still the dom and the other 3 the subs. Anyone with any other suggestions to unravel the mystery?

I assume you've checked combs and wattles but have you checked their feet, particluarly the soles of their feet? Sometimes if they've been fighting a foot strike catches the sole of the opponants defending foot.