The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[galefrances]

That's what I'm afraid of. I'll give it the two weeks as oldhenlikesdogs suggested and then I'll do what needs to be done. Sooner if I feel he's suffering. I definitely don't want that.

I have a secure coop and run with buried 1/4 inch hardware cloth that I too had to fight my DH for. But when I got the roo and new hens I started free ranging because I have always felt strongly that animals should live free as they were meant to. Now my DH blames me for the attack. My heart hurts as I feel so badly for what happened, but I don't regret my decision. Although now my DH like your sisters husband realizes I was right about the hardware cloth, as he never did truly think there was any threat other than Hawks.

BTW does anyone know how to quote without repeating the entire previous quote?

My large breed flock is 100% free range. I believe for their mental well being it is worth the risk. Predators happen even for the most secure set ups. Folks have posted about bears ripping open coops and fences, nothing ever is 100%. I have chosen a more natural way for my birds to live and occasionally lose some to predators. We try to be proactive in our set up and reactive to the situation. You don't need people saying you did something to cause it, life caused it.

Thank you for saying that. I haven't let the remaining three hens out yet, I think they're too few and it's too soon after the attack, but I will free range again. I feel the same way you do.

 

[galefrances]

 

 Galefrances,  that is really good news that your hen is eating on her own.  Besides moistening her food, you could offer her watermelon or grapes to help hydrate.  I had a hen survive a dog attack - four serious puncture wounds, deep enough to insert a finger all the way in - and it took about 5 weeks but she made it and even returned to laying after a few months.  She had no interest in eating at all!  only drank.  I had to feed her live meal worms and kale or spinach.  

I think oldhenlikesdogs has it right - give the rooster time, and follow your instincts.  He very well may heal up.   

Thank you, that's very encouraging. And very good suggestions. They've always liked watermelon and grapes when I've given it to them during hot spells. You know there's one positive thing that's come out of all this. My younger hens and roo would never come up to me no matter what goodies I had, they would always keep a polite distance. I didn't spend a lot of time with them like I did with my older hens. Anyway, now that I'm in there so often to care for the injured, the two younger hens have come to look forward to my visits and come running to see me. Love that!

 

[galefrances]

I don't let mine free range that often but I used to more and am starting to again. When i used to I used to let them out in the afternoon for hours but then I didn't like having to watch them all day plus we had an incident with a hawk relatively recently. Maybe march or april? Fortunately it didn't get them but I was inside not paying attention when I saw a hawk in the tree in the backyard and ran out, it flew from tree to tree then finally just left. Anyway, I relaized there were no chickens. I eventually found them all scattered. First one I foumd was in between a fallen pine branch and the woods next to the run, just hunched on the ground, frozen in fear. She let me catch her and bring her home. Then I found 2 more in some bushes on the side of the house. Turns out the others were there too. Some let me catch them while others were bribed back with food. One was still missing and I was really worried, I searched the whole yard, under every bush, and even went in the woods near the run and walked from there to the front yard. Still couldn't find her but I found a huge pile of orange feathers and some in flight/running chicken footprints. I figure the one all alone frozen in fear was the one attacked since the footprints were headed that direction and she's a buff Orpington. Anyways, the one missing eventually came home on her own about an hour later. Running out of the woods. She's a barred rock so couldn't have been the one attacked. I think maybe i posted here about it or another thread. But fortunately they all came home and there were zero injuries or reduction in laying or anything. I know we got lucky. But anyway, after that I kept them locked up for a long time. Now I sometimes let them out for a few hours before bed. For instance, I might go let them out now. It's 6 here and they usually go to bed around 8:30 because it's so light for so long now. I like it because even a few hours makes them so happy and they get exercise too

I certainly can relate. I always watch my flock from the kitchen. (That's where I usually am.) I caught the tail end of the attack and was able to chase the fox away before he finished my roo off. The hens had scattered. Most came home on their own but it was hours before we found the maran. She is the one who was severely injured along with the roo. I will still let them free range once things have settled down. I think only two hens is too much of a risk unless I'm out there with them. (The third hen has gone broody) Maybe I'll try it your way and let them out an hour or so before they go to roost, but I'll stay out there with them. That fox was pretty fast.

 

[galefrances]

galefrances,

I don't know if this will help you at all but I had a rooster with a similar problem. Mine was a Serama. He was fine in the morning and when I went to lock him up that night he was at the bottom of his coop laying there like he was dead. I rushed him inside and gave him heat and syringed water in his beak to hydrate him. I had no idea what happened to him. He was in a coop with his Serama hen Dolly and she would never of hurt him. He slowly got better after a few days but he could not walk or move his wings. If I stood him up he would just fall over. I was feeding him every few hours for the first few days. Then he started to eat and drink on his own. I tried everything, giving him physical therapy, supplements, made him a sling to stand in and on and on.I was on the internet constantly trying to figure out what was wrong with him. I could not find anything that matched his symptoms. I wonder if he was poisoned by something because for the first week his leg was shaking really bad. I still thought he would regain his balance enough to walk again. Just two days ago I went to check on him like I did so many times thru out the day and he had drown in his water dish.

I could not believe it! He was able to move his head fine. I just don't know what happened. Of course I blamed myself for not being there. I moved his water real close to him because I was worried about him getting enough liquid. I was heart broken and crushed. I had worked so hard to help him. So my story didn't turn out so well. Honestly only you can know whats best for your guy. My heart goes out to you. I know what it feels like to see them like that.
I have been working with a chick that was left blind after a attack and then the roo. Its a lot......
Whatever happens just trust there is a bigger picture that we don't see. Everything will work out in the end. You will know what is right to do for him.
Marie

Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry that happened to your roo and your poor little chick. I have to say every time I go out there I prepare myself for finding him dead. You certainly did everything you could of to help him through whatever it was. And I know he felt your love and caring. Thank you for your kind words.

 

[16 paws]

Thanks galefrances,

I appreciate it and yes he did know I was doing my best to help him. We got really close in that special time. He looked forward to seeing me because I brought him so many yummy things. He was my special little man. I dont like the ending of his life but I am glad I got to have him for the short time that I did. His life had meaning to me and Dolly. And I think we learn things about life and ourselves when we take the time to help these guys.

Please let us know how your hen and roo are doing will you? I am pulling for them!!!!
Marie

 

[gevshiba]

I've never had sticky chicks, but I sure have them now. The last 3-4 have been nasty. All the earlier ones were fine. One was totally glued in his shell. I have one weird chick. I'm not sure what's wrong with him. He can stand and I've seen him take a few steps, but he prefers to lay down and curl in the fetal position. He tends to lay in the empty egg shell in the hatcher. I tried putting him in the brooder, but he just laid there and screamed, so I put him back in the hatcher. I have one more pipped egg and 2 that probably won't hatch, then he's got to go to the brooder. Can chicks be autistic? He's much happier by himself, in the brooder.

 

[lazy gardener]

I've never had sticky chicks, but I sure have them now. The last 3-4 have been nasty. All the earlier ones were fine. One was totally glued in his shell. I have one weird chick. I'm not sure what's wrong with him. He can stand and I've seen him take a few steps, but he prefers to lay down and curl in the fetal position. He tends to lay in the empty egg shell in the hatcher. I tried putting him in the brooder, but he just laid there and screamed, so I put him back in the hatcher. I have one more pipped egg and 2 that probably won't hatch, then he's got to go to the brooder. Can chicks be autistic? He's much happier by himself, in the brooder.

It could be that he's not quite ready for the more open air/cooler brooder. He may have trouble with temp self regulating. How many hours old is he? You might want to give him a full 48 hours from hatch time in the bator. Not such a great loss if you leave it plugged in for a few extra hours. Then, if he doesn't settle after a few days, you may have to cull. Some chicks are simply "failure to thrive" for no reason that we can determine. My most important hatching aid is Poultry Nutri-Drench. All of my chicks get it for a few days, especially the ones that seem to have a bit of difficulty entering the real world.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I certainly can relate. I always watch my flock from the kitchen. (That's where I usually am.) I caught the tail end of the attack and was able to chase the fox away before he finished my roo off. The hens had scattered. Most came home on their own but it was hours before we found the maran. She is the one who was severely injured along with the roo. I will still let them free range once things have settled down. I think only two hens is too much of a risk unless I'm out there with them. (The third hen has gone broody) Maybe I'll try it your way and let them out an hour or so before they go to roost, but I'll stay out there with them. That fox was pretty fast.

Aw yeah wow, sounds like your situation is really similar to mine definitely! I too usually watch them from a window. I've decided i should be out there though. And yeah, i let them out usually 2 hours or an hour before bedtime. Today i let them out 4 hours before for sunshine haha its fun anyway

 

[gevshiba]

It could be that he's not quite ready for the more open air/cooler brooder. He may have trouble with temp self regulating. How many hours old is he? You might want to give him a full 48 hours from hatch time in the bator. Not such a great loss if you leave it plugged in for a few extra hours. Then, if he doesn't settle after a few days, you may have to cull. Some chicks are simply "failure to thrive" for no reason that we can determine. My most important hatching aid is Poultry Nutri-Drench. All of my chicks get it for a few days, especially the ones that seem to have a bit of difficulty entering the real world.

Thank you. He does seem to be a bit better, but he has green goo coming from his rear. Not sure if it's poo or not. I cleaned it off since it was sticking there. It wasn't like pasty butt. I put another chick in with him. That one flipped over and was getting picked on, so they can both spend a little extra time in the hatcher. The last chick drowned in the shell, even with the big pip he had chiseled out. The other chick had rolled him and I didn't see the membrane was still over his nostrils. Nice big, pretty chick

. The other 2 died without pipping. Still, not a bad hatch. 21 out of 24 hatched with one cull. So, 20 chicks and 5 poults (poults were broody incubated but the chicken wasn't playing nice).

 

[armorfirelady]

Thought I'd share the mint growing outside my hoop coop. It was planted last year. Friends & family gave it to me when they dug it up from their yards. Apparently it approves of the coop. It's making a great natural weather barrier. I have the sides rolled up high & no longer need to put them down for storms. I'm hoping this year to get enough to put on the other side which is the side that gets most of the weather. I've also planted Lilly's on that side. My goal is to 3 get 3 aides covered naturally. The girls love to lay under the Lily's in front of my compost pile when it's hot out.