The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

ok. so here's a strange chicken behavior. I have two naked neck girls, both of them jost molted and lost ALL their tailfeathers (very silly did they look indeed) anyway, one of them has started holding her tail cocked down all the time. at first Idon't think I noticed it, I thought it was just her general rumplessness from moulting, but now her new tail is definitely coming in and it's pointing down at almost a 45 degree angle instead of the normal perky upward angle. Otherwise, she seems fine, scratching, pecking, dustbathing, hanging with the rest of the flock. Do you think anything is wrong with her? She's flighty but I could nab her off the roost to inspect for injury, I can't see anything with just her normal activities for sure.

has she started laying again yet?

 

[lalaland]

I think I won the war against the groundhog. I just kept harassing him by sticking sticks or fence posts down his two exit holes from under the shed, and blocking the entrance by the shed. I figured it was pointless to fill the holes as he can dig like anything, so I used old sunflower stalks, milkweed, etc. and since I've read they are fastidious creatures, I did toss used kittly litter down the hole followed by water so it would be both stinky and slimy.

Am pretty sure he has moved on, as the holes haven't been disturbed for two days now.... keeping my fingers crossed. Now if I could only deal with the rat under the porch.

 

[BlueMouse]

I'm not sure if she has started laying again. she and her sister lay almost identical eggs, and i'm never entirely sure who exactly is laying. but I would think if egg bound she would be acting off? Maybe I should go grab her off the roost tonight and see what's what.

 

[armorfirelady]

I think I won the war against the groundhog. I just kept harassing him by sticking sticks or fence posts down his two exit holes from under the shed, and blocking the entrance by the shed. I figured it was pointless to fill the holes as he can dig like anything, so I used old sunflower stalks, milkweed, etc. and since I've read they are fastidious creatures, I did toss used kittly litter down the hole followed by water so it would be both stinky and slimy.

Am pretty sure he has moved on, as the holes haven't been disturbed for two days now.... keeping my fingers crossed. Now if I could only deal with the rat under the porch.

That's great news

I'm not sure if she has started laying again. she and her sister lay almost identical eggs, and i'm never entirely sure who exactly is laying. but I would think if egg bound she would be acting off? Maybe I should go grab her off the roost tonight and see what's what.

Are the new feathers growing in that way? Is it all the time her tail feathers are pointed down? Or just when she is roosting? You could always check her vent tonight after she is roosting. Palpate her abdomen/vent area to see if you can feel anything hard or unsual in there.

My Stella who is having laying problems has her tail pointed down when she roosts. But I have a few others who do the same thing so I figure it must be something that helps them balance when they are sleeping on the roost?

 

[armorfirelady]

test test test

 

[hoosiercheetah]

test test test

Alpha Foxtrot Lima,

Five By Five,

Hotel Charlie.

 

[BlueMouse]

no she carries her tail down all the time. I don't know how long she's been doing it, it's only noticeable because she now has tailfeathers again. I'll make a trip out oafter they're roosting tonight and see how she feels. Wish I could catch her in the yard because it's going to be rough telling them apart at night. I should really BAND one of them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

It's actually not metal. It's a composite material. Very light weight and this will be its 3rd winter. They have held up well. Pricey but they holding up well.

@armorfirelady
I'm thinking you got that at Lowes or Menards? Could you post a link to the material? I'm wanting to use it, or something similar, for roofing for the winter over part of the dog kennel. I need it to span about15-16 feet so I was wondering how long the panels are and if they would sag across that long of a spanse without any additional bracing in the center.

https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/...ability/seed_viability_myths.htm#.VAYEyNJdWSo

@hoosiercheetah
Thanks for that link!


Things are still hectic around here....not spending a lot of time on the forum.

 

[mlowen]

[quote name="Leahs Mom"
Things are still hectic around here....not spending a lot of time on the forum.
[/quote]

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[armorfirelady]

@Leahs Mom
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1