The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[Leahs Mom]

Wow. That's a lot of caregiving!

 

[speckledhen]

Wow. That's a lot of caregiving!

Yes, too much. Our first years with chickens, other than the internal laying stuff, were pretty free of issues. I want that back again. We managed them differently and we cannot do it the same way as we did back then, not with different breeding groups. I loved when Isaac ran with his sons and grandsons (at least until he decided they needed to leave) with a large mixed group of hens so they could stay out for hours and hours, not a very limited time so the next group could get out. I had that main group and the Blue Orps and that was all.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have a 5.5yo BR. From her youth, she has always had poop ball up in her petticoat. It's always been an issue. I usually have to cut out the dried poop several times throughout the year.

She had a huge poo ball when I was out there yesterday but mostly fresh. I got it taken care of, but I imagine it will be back soon. I did notice that she has tiny feathers growing almost inside the vent so I'm wondering if that's what's catching it and keeping it getting tangled in feathers.

Anyone else ever have a hen with that issue? She's one of the best layers out there.

Others get a little streak now and then on their petticoat, but it doesn't stay...probably cleans up in the dust bath. But this girl has always had poo accumulation.

In the summer I can cut the feathers back more, but I tried to leave as much as possible so that she doesn't have a bare bottom in winter.

 

[speckledhen]

I have a 5.5yo BR. From her youth, she has always had poop ball up in her petticoat. It's always been an issue. I usually have to cut out the dried poop several times throughout the year.

She had a huge poo ball when I was out there yesterday but mostly fresh. I got it taken care of, but I imagine it will be back soon. I did notice that she has tiny feathers growing almost inside the vent so I'm wondering if that's what's catching it and keeping it getting tangled in feathers.

Anyone else ever have a hen with that issue? She's one of the best layers out there.

Others get a little streak now and then on their petticoat, but it doesn't stay...probably cleans up in the dust bath. But this girl has always had poo accumulation.

In the summer I can cut the feathers back more, but I tried to leave as much as possible so that she doesn't have a bare bottom in winter.View attachment 1196429

Actually, I have several BR hens like that. I call it "Velcro Fluff", as opposed to the hens with "Teflon Fluff". Also, some of the Orp hens were the same way. I thought maybe the oil gland was not doing its job or the hens were not distributing the oil back there well enough and the poop sticks. I just had to cut a humongous poop rock off of Bash's behind! He was trying to reach back there to groom and I could tell something was bugging him and found that huge rock stuck to him. Had to cut it off. Lots of fluff!

Grease up her butt feathers with oil. She'll look like she needs a shampoo, but maybe the poop won't stick so bad.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some hens seem to just be messy. There has been a few poopy bottoms around here through the years.

I'm not good at individual care giving either. I could never work at a rest home. @speckledhen , I understand your frustrations, and have gone through similar experiences with various critters. It is emotionally and physically taxing.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Interesting. A BR thing? I was thinking of doing some Dominiques and a couple of Buff O's this spring hoping the buffs would be broody. Do I have to do poop duty on those too?

Maybe I'll rethink.

I had SFH for a few years and love varying colors - especially the blacks and blues. I sent my last ones to a new home this spring as they were causing too much havoc in the current flock pecking order. I thought I'd probably get some again this spring (these are breeder - the ones in the hatcheries don't resemble sfh). But not sure if they're just so high energy that the new batch would cause havoc again. I was hoping that if they were all raised together it may make things easier.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Oh...and help my ignorance. I know there is an oil gland but I have never figured out exactly where it is.

 

[speckledhen]

Some hens seem to just be messy. There has been a few poopy bottoms around here through the years.

I'm not good at individual care giving either. I could never work at a rest home. @speckledhen , I understand your frustrations, and have gone through similar experiences with various critters. It is emotionally and physically taxing.

It's just getting worse as they age. I'd rather they die suddenly with no symptoms like my Rita did, though I sure miss her. She was in a hard molt, never gained her weight back and we just found her one morning gone. At least, the day before she was begging for attention, such a wonderful hen she was. No long term suffering, no illness that we could see from the outside, nothing that had her down and miserable.

Interesting. A BR thing? I was thinking of doing some Dominiques and a couple of Buff O's this spring hoping the buffs would be broody. Do I have to do poop duty on those too?

Maybe I'll rethink.

I had SFH for a few years and love varying colors - especially the blacks and blues. I sent my last ones to a new home this spring as they were causing too much havoc in the current flock pecking order. I thought I'd probably get some again this spring (these are breeder - the ones in the hatcheries don't resemble sfh). But not sure if they're just so high energy that the new batch would cause havoc again. I was hoping that if they were all raised together it may make things easier.

It was not all the Orps, just a couple of the blues, mainly. The Buffs seemed to do better on that count, both hatchery and breeder ones. But, I regularly have to cut poop rocks off Wynette and Druscilla.

Oh...and help my ignorance. I know there is an oil gland but I have never figured out exactly where it is.

It's on the back not far from where saddle feathers start. You'll see them rubbing the side of their beaks and faces across it to distribute the oil from time to time. One of my Belgian D'anver hens, my only porcelain, died when she developed an oil gland tumor. It was awful and seemed painful, too. Bizarre stuff happens around here.

 

[1muttsfan]

Cyn, I know how much you dislike the thought, but some of your older hens may be better off if you were able to end their lives. They will likely continue to survive with the excellent care you give them, but that is not the same thing as having a good life. It is the way of all living creatures to endure, with the hope that better times will come. Those old ladies are not ever going to have a better life, just daily pain and lack of normal activity. They do not think logically, can not understand that their quality of life is forever gone, and will continue to struggle to survive without the possibility of going back to a life of running around, chasing, bugs, and scratching in the dirt. I perfectly understand how hard that decision is, but want you to know that no one here would ever think you could do such a thing for your personal benefit - but in the interest of what may be best for your old friends.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Interesting. A BR thing? I was thinking of doing some Dominiques and a couple of Buff O's this spring hoping the buffs would be broody. Do I have to do poop duty on those too?

Maybe I'll rethink.

I had SFH for a few years and love varying colors - especially the blacks and blues. I sent my last ones to a new home this spring as they were causing too much havoc in the current flock pecking order. I thought I'd probably get some again this spring (these are breeder - the ones in the hatcheries don't resemble sfh). But not sure if they're just so high energy that the new batch would cause havoc again. I was hoping that if they were all raised together it may make things easier.

Poopy butt does seem to be a random personal matter. Some hens I don't think squat as much when they poop. Some just poop and it rolls down the feathers, yes, I have watched my chickens poop.