Texas

[ABlackDogRanch]

This happened to my first flock in the late '90s and I learned that it was because of over crowding. I seem to remember someone here telling another member that it was "normal feathering" but it's not, at least not for chickens. Making adjustments in your coop was the right thing to do. If you don't have daytime roosts in your coop, you may consider adding some. It doesn't count as "floor space" but it lets the lower order birds get away.

The chicks face looks a little bald but I have some that look that way. Some chickens have more face feathering than others...she may just be in that "ugly duckling" stage.

Thanks, Tammy. I let them free range for the first time today...I'm a nervous chicken mommy! To compound that, I will be home later than normal - gotta pick up some free chicken wire that someone's giving me after work!

I'm really hoping that more space will help!

Silly question...what's a daytime roost? Is that a lower one?

 

[tiedyemommy]

I'm kind of ashamed to admit today was the first time (in the 3 weeks we've had our flock) that I cleaned out the bedding in their coop. The previous owner said he'd done it a week before we bought the birds, and said he cleaned it once a month...so I thought I'd clean it out today & it was pretty funky. There were duck feathers everywhere (from when the quackers lived with us), and poop and other yuck in there. I don't have a sense of smell, but that didn't make this any less gross.

So, my question to all of you is...how often do you clean out the bedding in your coop?

- TieDyeMommy

 

[ABlackDogRanch]

So, my question to all of you is...how often do you clean out the bedding in your coop?

- TieDyeMommy

I have a sand base and scoop in the morning and at night...and sometimes another time. I'm freakish about poop, though.

 

[magpiesing]

Do chickens "shed" when summer comes? Or is there a certain time of year they molt? No one has any bald spots but seeing lots more feathers.

 

[tiedyemommy]

I have a sand base and scoop in the morning and at night...and sometimes another time. I'm freakish about poop, though.

When we got 'em, their bedding consisted of pine shavings and duck feathers. We no longer have ducks, so now there's just pine shavings. Is the sand base kind of like the "deep litter" method I keep hearing about?

- TieDyeMommy

 

[ABlackDogRanch]

When we got 'em, their bedding consisted of pine shavings and duck feathers. We no longer have ducks, so now there's just pine shavings. Is the sand base kind of like the "deep litter" method I keep hearing about?

- TieDyeMommy

It's not really like the deep litter method (from what I understand about deep litter). Basically, it's just a bunch of construction sand on the floor of the coop. My coop/inside run is 12'x8', and that's all sand. I use a kitty litter scoop to sift the poop from the sand and dump into a trash bag.

Some people say sand is awesome, other's say it's awful.In my limited experience, I like it.

Here are some links:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/07/the-real-scoop-on-using-sand-in-your.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/09/chicken-coop-bedding-sand-litter.html

 

[TherryChicken]

We are splitting the cost to get the pup in and get tested for parvo.. going to be dewormed today.

 

[lisaterrell88]

I have two new additions a fawn old English roo and a hen which I don't know the breed now my little flock of 3 moved up to 5

I have two roo that breed and mine are arkansas blue/grey shufflers. I cant see ur roo to good to tell though but he is pretty from what I see. And so is ur hen.

 

[tiedyemommy]

It's not really like the deep litter method (from what I understand about deep litter). Basically, it's just a bunch of construction sand on the floor of the coop. My coop/inside run is 12'x8', and that's all sand. I use a kitty litter scoop to sift the poop from the sand and dump into a trash bag.

Some people say sand is awesome, other's say it's awful.In my limited experience, I like it.

Here are some links:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/using-sand-in-your-chicken-coop
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/07/the-real-scoop-on-using-sand-in-your.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/09/chicken-coop-bedding-sand-litter.html

Thanks.

- TieDyeMommy

 

[Starfire669]

Praying for quick relief, Starfire!

Thanks, the hot pad really helps. The down side is sometimes I can't get off it because the pain flails up as soon as I do. Guess I am about to find out how bad today is going to be. Need to go check on everyone, and see if the ducks laid yet.


Holy crap, today is gonna be a bad bad day. Don't ever get back surgery if you can avoid it, the pain is excruciating.