The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

. She lost a lot of blood and will not grow back feathers on her neck. It's been at least 6 weeks now. If she was going to grow them back, I'd figure it wouldn't be long after the scar tissue formed before it started.. nothing. She is naked lol. She fits in with the NN girls really well









Some pictures during her recovery.

Hmmmmm looks like she's in charge of the pecking order around there when it comes to dinner time

I'm thinking the feathers wouldn't come back in until molt time. I had one with a bare back and thought they wouldn't come back she was bare for so long. But in the fall at molt time, she grew a new set of beautiful feathers to my surprise. It was months bare.


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Roo was just causing a lot of hassle for the young pullets and especially Miss Gray who is afraid of her shadow. I'm not sure I can re-integrate her to the flock as she was having so much trouble out there normally. And now being apart it will be worse I imagine. She doesn't stand her ground. The other pullets do. Anyone looks at her and she runs.

I've actually seen the rooster go in and grab her and pull her off the roost to get at her when she had gone up to get away from him. He would mate her then attack her. I did separate him by himself for awhile (and a few others got their time outs too). She was doing well when he and the other pullets (2) weren't out there. As soon as they were present (in any combination) it was trouble for her. So I ended up deciding to keep him in until 4 pm so everyone could behave as a flock early, then let him out long enough to run w/everyone else while I would separate out the girls that became trouble when he arrived.

The bad thing is that they're all doing fine with Miss Gray not out there. They're all out today in peace without her.


I've been saying for weeks that she needs a "pet chicken" home. If I bend down and hold out my hands and call her she comes like a puppy. I've also been saying for weeks that she is a hawk target on several counts. I was right.

 

[armorfirelady]

Oh...I guess I should have explained that there are wooded areas over to the left of those photos where they can get under bushes, etc. The hawk hide foot stool thingies are in the open places between the woods and the run where they have to traverse open skies. Here's one of the kiddos standing on top of the hawk hide. It does double duty

Wait did Stella go on a road trip while I was at work today? leave it to the BRs to get into mischief Eta & its plastic lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes...but at least she isn't eating it!

And the BRs are the ones that immediately go and stand in the water pans when I put them out. It was in the 90s today.

 

[aoxa]

Hmmmmm looks like she's in charge of the pecking order around there when it comes to dinner time

I'm thinking the feathers wouldn't come back in until molt time. I had one with a bare back and thought they wouldn't come back she was bare for so long. But in the fall at molt time, she grew a new set of beautiful feathers to my surprise. It was months bare.


****************

Roo was just causing a lot of hassle for the young pullets and especially Miss Gray who is afraid of her shadow. I'm not sure I can re-integrate her to the flock as she was having so much trouble out there normally. And now being apart it will be worse I imagine. She doesn't stand her ground. The other pullets do. Anyone looks at her and she runs.

I've actually seen the rooster go in and grab her and pull her off the roost to get at her when she had gone up to get away from him. He would mate her then attack her. I did separate him by himself for awhile (and a few others got their time outs too). She was doing well when he and the other pullets (2) weren't out there. As soon as they were present (in any combination) it was trouble for her. So I ended up deciding to keep him in until 4 pm so everyone could behave as a flock early, then let him out long enough to run w/everyone else while I would separate out the girls that became trouble when he arrived.

The bad thing is that they're all doing fine with Miss Gray not out there. They're all out today in peace without her.


I've been saying for weeks that she needs a "pet chicken" home. If I bend down and hold out my hands and call her she comes like a puppy. I've also been saying for weeks that she is a hawk target on several counts. I was right.

I am sure you could easily find her a pet home. She is beautiful, and someone with just one or two very submissive chickens would be great for her. ie: Someone with Silkies even. She'd do great in a Silkie flock.

 

[armorfirelady]

Yes...but at least she isn't eating it!

And the BRs are the ones that immediately go and stand in the water pans when I put them out.  It was in the 90s today.

No 90s here today but up to mid 70s. Tomorrow I need to work on those little huts out of branches for them. I am pleased that my water isn't turning green as quick this year. I took so,e of that black weed guard fabric & put it around the lean to where I keep their water. It's funny to watch the hens sit around it during the day.

And I got feeder fish today to put in my rain barrels And my first cold crops are poking thru. Yup,spring is finally here !!!

 

[potagergirl]

No 90s here today but up to mid 70s. Tomorrow I need to work on those little huts out of branches for them. I am pleased that my water isn't turning green as quick this year. I took so,e of that black weed guard fabric & put it around the lean to where I keep their water. It's funny to watch the hens sit around it during the day.

And I got feeder fish today to put in my rain barrels

And my first cold crops are poking thru. Yup,spring is finally here !!!

Boy do I know what you mean about spring.
So thankful we finally got the garden put in and I have my cold crops showing life

.
We put a small fence only 2foot around the whole thing and each day I have gone to
look, my lovely little green leaves are still there. I hope the rabbits don't find my new
garden bed or the deer.
My chicks won't be shipped till later but I plan on working on the chicken coop that is
on the property. Nothing like bringing old back to useful life

good luck with your garden and chicks!

 

[CoopChick719]

A friend got me a chicken tractor this spring.

Very cute chicken on a tractor!!!

Glad to hear Mrs. Grey is on the mend!

I just rehomed 4 RIRs I got last fall from a friend who was getting out of the chicken business. They went to a good home--a friend w/2 roosters. No fighting over the ladies so far...but that's his problem now!

My flock has become peaceful again! The Sizzles' head feathers are coming back in after being pulled out by the RIRs and the other 2 that were part of the gang (EE & BRx).

Put all 16 4 week old chicks in the tractor today so they could enjoy the sun & fresh air while I cleaned out the brooder. Funny thing, one of the meaties gave out the warning call and everyone became a statue. I still have the 1 meatie who isn't standing. However, he is eating & drinking on his own now. He's got his own little bachelor pad with food, water & heat included. I brought him out too and sat on the lawn with him while he dined.

Hoping to get the coop cleaned out this weekend so I can prep for the chicks' Moving Day. Going to be a busy weekend--Mother's Day massages w/Mum & Sis then a College Graduation party for my BFF's son on Sunday!

It's been a loooong 4 years for BFF! She really deserve a party too! She's a single mom who has raised her son all on her own!! I love & admire her so much

 

[chicalot]

pretty upset with one of my Marans today. She decided to eat my fertile silky eggs and took one out from under my broody hen while the broody was up eating. I have her pinned up for now.I wonder why she is only eating the silkies. now I think my silky wants to brood and she only has one egg because the other one got ate yesterday and a couple last week. now I have to figure out how to separate the broody and I guess liver is on the shopping list. Hopefully she just needs some protein. She would keep going back and trying to squeeze the broody out so I guess she has to stay penned for now. I also have an EE who sits on her eggs when she's up but at least she doesn't eat the eggs.

 

[chicalot]

Do you guys mind looking t this pic and saying if they're fertile or not?

Also, is an egg going bad when they start getting darker spots in the yolk like the one on the right?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Do you guys mind looking t this pic and saying if they're fertile or not?



Also, is an egg going bad when they start getting darker spots in the yolk like the one on the right?

Those are hard for me to tell from the photo, but it looks like the one on the right may be fertile. Hopefully someone else will chime in on this. Do you know how old the eggs are?