Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Mrs MIA]

Any chance you might be able to cover his wattles and comb so they can't get to it? Like swaddle him like a head-trauma patient?

 

[halo]

Cyn, you said you saw "one of the girls".....why not put him back, when he's healed a bit, and see who the girl is who's chewing on him and remove HER, not him?

 

[kathyinmo]

Oh, poor Ike! I know this is terribly frustrating for you!

It sounds like they got a taste for it, and just aren't gonna stop. I have no suggestions, but know you will make the right decision.

You have talked of the possibility of getting out of the Delawares, so maybe now is the time. Maybe this is just a sign for ya.

Good timing, now that LadyHawk is moving soon. You would know he would have a wonderful home, and live his life in luxury!

 

[speckledhen]

It's not just one girl, it's all of them. I just happened to catch Maxie doing it today, but it's not just her. At one time or another, I've caught each of the six picking at him. I've tried the bandage on the wattles and they just pick and pick till they pull that off, too. If I were to remove all the culprits, there would be no Delaware girls for Isaac. To be fair, even Dutch in the main coop is being picked at, but I know who is doing it over there and it's just a few, but Dutch does a better job of defending his comb and wattles--I've seen him thunk girls on the head when they go after him, LOL. I did sell off the worst offenders in that bunch already. Maybe I should have a "Protect My Rooster" sale of laying hens and start over with fresh ones who haven't formed a bad habit yet. They're giving me headaches, bad girls!

 

[Cetawin]

dammmmmmmmmm mean women!

They do not listen do they? Didn't I yell at them with the slow cooker? Did I not tell them about removing their heads, legs and innards? Didn't I?

I've got an idea...before Ike comes to live with me (you know he is welcome to live with me and you could visit him anytime you wanted)...heal him up and soak his wattles in three alarm tobasco sauce or something. Let the wenches get a taste of that! Drip habanero juice on his wattles. Think that would work? But if they break the skin with that on it, it would hurt Ike. dammmmmmmm those women double dammmmmmmmmmm em.

Toss those white wenches in Suede's coop for the day! That'll learn em.

Dang it I am so sorry Cyn. we must think of something to try...we have time before I am out there and can come pick him up...I am going to call Dr. Robbinson tomorrow (the vet that was great enough to do a house call when Lilly was so sick) and see if he has any ideas that have not been tried already.

 

[halo]

I just had an idea. When the horses get an abcess in their foot, I rub ichthammol ointment on it; its a drawing salve and works great. But man is it nasty stuff. I wonder if you rubbed just a smidge on his comb, if theyd taste it and go yuck and leave him alone?

 

[kathyinmo]

Hey, Halo ... that made me think of something too!
I read where some people use a product called, "bitter apple," when they have chickens who eat eggs. The put it inside of a blown out egg, and when the chickens eat it ... well, they don't! And, I read it works to stop egg eaters! Maybe rub some of that on his waddles?

 

[Bassleg]

speckledhen How about trimming there beaks?

 

[speckledhen]

I have ichthammol and I have Bitter Apple, but when I had an issue with Dutch after he and his brother were keeping each other bloody and the hens were making it worse, neither one worked. I haven't tried those on the Dels (black ichthammol in his white feathers was the main reason). Could trim the sharp beak tips, though. The no pick stuff with coal tar doesn't work at all. Tough women.

 

[Laney]

I have just been informed that my daughter couldn't collect the eggs this morning because Helen has gone broody and attacked her when she tried to take the eggs. She was apparently given a vicious stink eye after being nipped on the finger, and my dog Brodie got a nip on the tail.

So now I'll have to go get the eggs from this morning and see if there are more...

Laney...who has a broody Delaware.