The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

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Wowza, Bee - that was one fat hen! The photos and "play-by-play" were fascinating to me! Thank you so much for posting these photos! I learn so much here!
 
What about fewer bugs on range in cold temps? I find I have an impulse to up the feed protein to 18% in the winter. But I give a homemade suet with layer rations, handful of BOSS, and a pinch of scratch added. I don't know if that protein impulse should be ignored or not... What do you guys think?

About the brinsea warmers- I have one for 20 chicks and I love it. 14 watts is great for me, as I run on batteries and anything above 25 watts is inefficient in my house. I know that they have to be used in a place with ambient temps above a certain point. 55 degrees maybe, I could be wrong. So it shouldn't be used in outside situations in most cases, unless it's in a garage or barn heated to 55.
 
I've always lowered overall feed nutrients in the winter time due to their not needing it to maintain egg production and for their decreased activity levels. It's been for economic reasons and knowing that they do not need high pro feeds when they are not producing or exercising but are merely maintaining.

A slender(not skinny)chicken is always the best layer. I'm not talking a good layer, I'm talking about the BEST layer. Ever see a fat leghorn? Genetics plays into it but also lean, fit health. Even in us humans, fat girls have trouble with their girl parts...heavy bleeding, infertility issues, ovarian and uterine cysts, PMS, abnormal hormone levels, etc.

After December, the chickens all start building up to laying season. I usually have a much leaner flock going into that season due to cutting nutrition levels for the winter to keep their diet consistent with their activity levels so that they don't get too fat. This year I was feeling sorry for them because they were so ill treated and skinny but it's time to stop feeling sorry and see that they are recovered, they have too much fat and they will never lay well unless I get some of it off them.

Time to put the Gnarly Bunch on a diet.
 
Had a dog visit the yard this morning, though it showed no interest in the chooks. It was easily caught, the number on the collar called and the owners came to collect it. The chickens did not like this stranger and were wary. I'm glad I didn't have to shoot it.

Jake didn't like the culling of Miss Ruby, per usual. He watched anxiously, whimpered often and paced as he always does. That dog is some weird pup!
 
Thanks, I wasn't sure about decreased exercise vs needing to stay warm in -10 temps.
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Their feathers are sufficient for staying warm and some fat, but not excessive. I don't believe that types of feed(more corn) can keep a chicken warm, though being too underfed can certainly compromise their ability to keep warm and to stay healthy. Wild birds survive those temps and they are burning fuel due to having to find food, so I think the chickens have a big advantage in that regard. Their foods and water are provided, they have good shelter and they do not have to evade predators...life is good as a chicken in the winter months.
 
Now...the question is, what to make of it?

  • Either I am feeding too many carbs and proteins, which is a possibility because both culls had WAY too much fat around their vents~ OR~
  • These two birds were prone to overeat and accumulate fat, which is also a possibility due to their fat stores and the placement of them~ OR~
  • It's the time of year when they are supposed to be accumulating fat of this nature and I don't get to see this level of fat because I never cull at this time of the year~ OR~
  • A combination of all these factors~which I'm inclined to believe is the logical answer.

Sounds plausible and logical to me. I'm wondering if their prior circumstances - lack of food and near starvation - may have played a part in their overeating? I've seen that type of overeating in rescue cats and dogs that have been on lean times but have no clue if a chicken would respond in the same fashion.
 
Could be...my personal birds have never been this fat before but Toby and the three White Ladies are ton buns right now. It's either that or I don't know the power of the FF and need to tone down my feed rations accordingly.
 
Just gonna brag for a minute...

The hubbs and I processed the 4 guineas today!

Well... I caught them, held them, put the flailing bodies in a tub, scalded them, plucked them, gutted them, washed them and got them ready to roast.

The hubbs felt very "Manly" because he helped by chopping off their heads with a machete. (No sissy axe or sharp knife for this guy! Had to be this big, ridiculous ninja-style machete!) -
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The things we women allow just so we can get a dude to help!

Huh... suddenly it's so quiet around here!

Buh-bye!
I've always found that those fence running loud mouths were much improved if you shot the points off their little ugly heads. Oh, the peace and quiet....
 
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