Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[xoxocammyxoxo]

Here's a whole basket full of them

I'm pretty new to the rarer breeds of chickens and stumbled upon this breed on the Facebook group in the typical OMG what breed is this? type post. I can't wait until I can get some of these. It's on my "You know you made it when...." list

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:
You can get the human stuff and use it on them if it makes you feel better. http://www.amazon.com/GENTIAN-VIOLE...qid=1427313119&sr=8-3&keywords=gentian+violet

It's not expensive. It's used for oral thrush in people even. It helps prevent infection and stains the skin indigo. That skin staining really helps on the chickens to prevent a lot of picking. I don't know if it will help on the feather eating. I have to keep my birds at 20% protein to prevent them from feather eating. It sounds like yours have turned into habit. Friend of mine was having a feather eating issue (saddle area for her). Because of location she made extra big hen saddles to help the young girls. She did end up having to cull the whole lot and start over to fully stop it. If you only have one doing it, removal before the others start is best.

 

[Chickielady]

I grow on you after a while... kinda like slime mold.

 

[Chickielady]

It must be the ayam cemani then. Silkies are Chinese. Do I need to come down there and get the boys this weekend?

No !
They are not worth the gas !
Someone will buy them, don't worry !

 

[Chickielady]

Strange. I've never heard of Ommona. I breed Ayam Cemani and they are Indonesian. I sell a lot of culls for meat to asian people and I've never found a single one who's heard of a Cemani before.

Me neither, but trying to understand these people can be a challenge !

 

[Chickielady]

This is a long post, but I need help with a feather eating pullet!

About two or three weeks ago my 9 month old Barred Rock, Roxanne (my avatar), started pulling and eating the downy feathers on the other girls' fuzzy butts. From what I've read, this problem can be caused by a need for more protein, close confinement, and/or boredom. My five pullets (all brooder mates) live in my Seattle backyard. They have a 5 x 7 coop and a total of 165 square feet of run area -- It's actually two runs with the coop in the middle. I don't think they are bored; they are very active and busy most of the time. They are all great layers.

Before this started I was feeding them Organic Scratch & Peck 16% layer and/or In Season Farms 16% layer. I was giving BOSS, scratch and fresh greens as treats. I have now switched to Scratch and Peck 18% layer and am giving meal worms and BOSS as treats. I also bought Baxter Barns 22% protein Poultry Boost -- which they don't like plain -- but I've been mixing it with yogurt, hard boiled eggs, and canned mackerel and giving them some of that as a supplement every day. I also set up a tractor to let them out on the fresh grass when I'm home and the weather is decent. I also put Peck-No-More on the first two girls that were pecked, but that was a goopy mess and just led her to start on the other girls.

Unfortunately, the problem seems to be getting worse, rather than better. This doesn't look like aggressive pecking, or dominance behavior. Other than this, the girls all get along well. I think it may have started as a need for more protein because she lays a beautiful egg almost every day, and that takes a lot of protein! However, now I think when she sees a fluffy butt in front of her it just looks like a tasty snack, so she goes for it, even though she's now getting plenty of protein.

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Has anyone tried pinless peepers?

If I can't solve this I will try to rehome her to a rural place where she can free range and the other girls would be able to stay away from her more easily. Although I don't know if I will find anyone willing to take a feather eater! I raised her from a day old chick and she is super friendly and sweet, so this is very sad for me.

Thank you for any suggestions!

get peeppers, sounds like she is bored & has begun a really bad habit.

 

[Chickielady]

I use blu kote on mine if they really need it. It's just mostly genetian violet. You can buy it for human use as well.

X2

 

[OverEggstended]

Omona is a Korean exclamation. Like "Oh my gosh!". I think the chickens your visitors were looking for would be these:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...reeds-of-chickens-their-discussion-and-photos

 

[catface]

Omona is a Korean exclamation. Like "Oh my gosh!". I think the chickens your visitors were looking for would be these:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...reeds-of-chickens-their-discussion-and-photos

I think you're right! Thanks so much for clearing that up.

 

[Chickielady]

“ What do you call a cow
that has just given birth?
DECAFFEIENATED. ”



“ Two horses got married. They stayed in The Bridle Suite ”



“ What happens if ducks fly upside down? They quack up, ”




“ A vulture is boarding an airplane carrying a dead racoon under each wing. "I'm sorry," says the stewardess, "you can't board the flight. Only one carrion per passenger is allowed." ”

AND MY FAVORITE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


“ Why did the cowboy get a dachshund?

He wanted to get a long, little doggie. ”