Washingtonians

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
Bwahahahahaha, yeah he does like to talk huh?! I am finally learning that it's extremely important to listen to everything they say though! Oh my goodness what I've missed out on in the past because I've been too selfish to stop and realize that even what my 2y/o has to say is important...to them at least. If I don't value that now, they'll know it, and they'll never talk to me later. I'm glad someone told me that. Great lesson for me. Lately we've had some super fantastic conversations with the kids because I've been more focused on them

 

[LittleSticks]

Hey Washingtonians!

This is my first year with chickens and I'm grateful for this website and all of the information available. I have five pullets ( 2 BOs, a Partridge Rock, an Australorp and an EE) who have been together since chicks. (They are all four months old.) They all got along well until about 3 weeks ago.

One of the BOs began to look smaller in comparison to the other ladies, noticeably smaller than her sister BO. Recently the other four pullets have decided to ostracize "Slim". She is chased away from food, water, dust baths, etc. Often she is hanging out in the coop while the others are out in the run.

I realize that it could be a result of the pecking order but tonight I looked into the coop and Slim was at one end of the roost and the other four were nestled together at the other end.

Slim appears to be fine - no mites or lice. Comb and eyes look good. She's eating and drinking although I haven't been able to figure out how much food and water she is taking in. When I can sit in the run I hand feed her and make sure food and treats are distributed around the run so that she has a chance to eat.

Is this normal? It seems strange to me but this is my first chicken family. Not surprisingly I am not having much luck finding anything on this topic. Any tips? Ignore it? Isolate Slim? Get more chickens? (Oh no! Not that!

)

TIA

 

[FirewifeJess]

Hey Washingtonians!

This is my first year with chickens and I'm grateful for this website and all of the information available. I have five pullets ( 2 BOs, a Partridge Rock, an Australorp and an EE) who have been together since chicks. (They are all four months old.) They all got along well until about 3 weeks ago.

One of the BOs began to look smaller in comparison to the other ladies, noticeably smaller than her sister BO. Recently the other four pullets have decided to ostracize "Slim". She is chased away from food, water, dust baths, etc. Often she is hanging out in the coop while the others are out in the run.

I realize that it could be a result of the pecking order but tonight I looked into the coop and Slim was at one end of the roost and the other four were nestled together at the other end.

Slim appears to be fine - no mites or lice. Comb and eyes look good. She's eating and drinking although I haven't been able to figure out how much food and water she is taking in. When I can sit in the run I hand feed her and make sure food and treats are distributed around the run so that she has a chance to eat.

Is this normal? It seems strange to me but this is my first chicken family. Not surprisingly I am not having much luck finding anything on this topic. Any tips? Ignore it? Isolate Slim? Get more chickens? (Oh no! Not that!

)

TIA

Bwahahaha! Chicken math...yup, you've got it too! LOL Wondering, how big is your feeder and waterer for your 5 girls? I have noticed that with my 14 (I'm new too, mine are 16ish weeks old) that some get chased away. I solved this by hanging a smaller feeder and having another waterer on the other side of the run. That way the lower pecking order chickens always have access to food and water, regardless of who is around to chase them away. It's working great so far and even my newbies have constant access to one of the feeders and waterers.

What city are you in? And

!!!

 

[justbugged]

Quote:
I really do think they like me. They want me to pet them (well, some of them...others don't want me to touch them with a 10 foot pole!) and they will all eat out of my hand, and you're right; they only peck at me when I'm in the run with them, not when they free-range. Unfortunately, to keep DH happy, they're confined most of the summer. I think in the winter when the weather is bad and we aren't using the yard I'll let them do their thing and free-range if they feel like it, but when we are using the yard DH gets so mad when there's chicken poo all over. Maybe they're just bored and I'm the next fun thing they can peck at

I let mine out even though DH gets grossed out some. The concrete patio washes down with the garden hose very easily, and I will wash the goo poos into the lawn. Some of the big ones I clean up with the dog poos, but then I have 6 dogs in the same yard. So sometime they do the clean up.

 

[TerrorBird]

I let mine out even though DH gets grossed out some. The concrete patio washes down with the garden hose very easily, and I will wash the goo poos into the lawn. Some of the big ones I clean up with the dog poos, but then I have 6 dogs in the same yard. So sometime they do the clean up.

I've noticed something really weird/gross over the past few month with my Belgians. If they find some dog poo in the yard, they will eat it like it's the only edible thing they've seen for days. They are provided with food, (tasty) treats, and clean water constantly but apparently dog poo is irresistible. Is it the nutrient content? Are my Belgians just crazy?

 

[Greg Richardson]

Quote: My bet is that home sickness went away quick!

 

[justbugged]

SOOO...I just made a mistake I will NEVER make again! There were 3 eggs that had not yet hatched under my broody. I decided that after this amount of time they probably won't hatch so I took them out. I, without thinking it thru, decided I was curious to see what was inside so I brought them IN THE HOUSE to open them...carefully...to see what was inside. I had no idea that they were grenades in disguise!!!!!!!!!! I gave one just 1 tiny tap of the butter knife and BOOOM!

Of course I should've known that would happen, but my brain has more and more lapses in thinking power lately! My oh my the smell

It's kind of nice to know that I am not the only one to do this recently. Bleach helped a lot.

 

[justbugged]

Quote: As far as I know it's safe for both dogs and chickens to eat the poo that they do. It does gross me out, but I don't freak out over it. I have simply gotten very good at not letting any of them kiss though.

 

[JNB]

I guess I'm thinking of the Rooster Booster brand of No Pik or something like that-- a similar product to the Blue Kote. It has a styptic, a winter-greeny smell, purple dye and a nasty taste.

I know what you talking about.... It comes in a bottle like a wood glue would come in.. I keep it in my med cabinet for using on my girls when needed. Its a great product to use when you need to add a hen back in the coop. Also I have noticed that when I use it on a scrape or slightly open wound , the wound heals or scabs much faster. Plus its kinda funny /cute when the naughty picker bully get a beak full of the nasty taste. Mine kinda shudder and shakes her head as she runs for the water

 

[JNB]

So Im home from vacation and I have spent 2 hours looking through post... Im sure I dont need to tell you all this.. but YOUR REALLY A GREAT BUNCH OF PEOPLE.. Im sure you all wont mind me gushing on ya all a bit.. I have learned so much just reading through all your post from the past week. I think its cool how ya all help each other out, meet up and all.

Ok Im done gushing

All my critters (except our rabbits) survived our absence. I came home to a broody hen... first time for me So since I have 2 coops one for the youngsters and one that for my aging group.. Im gonna let her sit and see what happens

. Over vacation my hubby and I talked and he agreed that raising our own meat chickens is a good idea..... sooooooo Ill be needing to learn about "processing" some really soon. Im thinking before winter. Im not sure what all breeds I have in my adopted group lol I think I may have some Mutts heehee But Im gonna research and as they thin out maybe try a few heritage breeds.. anyways Im rambling so ... good to be back and looking forward to chatting.

(PS... If anyone here has or knows of anyone that has some meat rabbits

they want to sell or rehome we are looking...breeding pair would be awesome but anything is fine since we are gonna be starting over

here really soon.)