What did you do with your flock today?

[ValerieJ]

We had a couple fire ant hills in the forest when we bought this place. We used plenty of Amdro on the hills themselves and have never seen them since. Our neighbor had a couple hills and we treated theirs too. No more ants here.

 

[PopoMyers]

Last night before bed, Ginger's skin on her face had a yellowish tinge, and while I was gone she had another blow out. Seems meloxicam side effects include jaundice, changes in poop, and appetite. @Shetland lover I decided to stop giving her that. Only a smaller, less watery this morning.
We found a small apple on the grass, and she pecked and ate some of it. Good prebiotic. Her neck strength seems better. Praying she'll have a better appetite.

One of the other girls is laying brittle shelled eggs. If I can figure out which one, ha ha,, will give calcium tablets. Oyster shell box is near the feeders.

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Miss my babies ♡♡♡♡

Awww, you've invested so much in these beautiful babies, and thanks to your love and nurturing, they'll have good homes, just across the water from me.

 

[Shetland lover]

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This mornings drop. Probably too hot? I did not cover her last night. It is about 65 F, 18-19 C in the house. Again, thank you. You have put a lot of time and effort into your replies. You're amazing!

I honestly don't think that looks too bad. Probably just re-adjusting to a more solid diet. She may be too hot too, although when mine do a cooling down poop, more often It's clear liquid with a few dark solids. Poop varies such a lot as you can see from the poop chart.

Than you. You know I'm glad to help if I can

 

[Shetland lover]

A friend and neighbor from a couple miles away came this morning and put out feed and water for all the coops. My wife was about to start when he rang the door bell. I've enjoyed watching some of kids scrounge for bugs and weeds to their liking for dessert after the tanked up on their main course of grains today. Heading to town for a 1000 lbs of 27% starter grower for all the coops base feed. Oyster shell is available free choice in all layer coops. A family member may get over on the weekend to move bags into metal cans being used at each camp for storage. If not we have a good neighbor for that too. Closest neighbor can't help as he is recovering from a surgery himself. I still get to sit outside and have the pets get into my lap for some healthy treats. I usually have a plastic bag of boiled eggs for them as well I toss some into other areas so most all the girls and boys don't get left out.

You're so lucky to have great neighbours

 

[Shetland lover]

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Miss my babies ♡♡♡♡

Such a bittersweet time. I'd be heartbroken to have them leave but so happy to know they're on their way to a forever home❤

 

[Shetland lover]

I had a hen brooding and an egg got broken in the nest. The fire ants came for the egg and attacked the hen too I think. Not sure how long she tried to stay in the nest box...but when I found her she was covered in bites and ants and trying to get away but couldn't because they were all over her. She died from it shortly after I found her.

I'm so upset. Never had anything like this happen before. Not sure why the fire ants are so bad this year... we haven't had them bad here before this year.

Any ant killing tips and tricks? I've never tried to completely rid my property of them but that's my goal now.

I'm so, so sorry.☹ That is an awful thing to have happened. Fingers crossed you manage to get rid of them.

 

[Shetland lover]

Last night before bed, Ginger's skin on her face had a yellowish tinge, and while I was gone she had another blow out. Seems meloxicam side effects include jaundice, changes in poop, and appetite. @Shetland lover I decided to stop giving her that. Only a smaller, less watery this morning.
We found a small apple on the grass, and she pecked and ate some of it. Good prebiotic. Her neck strength seems better. Praying she'll have a better appetite.

One of the other girls is laying brittle shelled eggs. If I can figure out which one, ha ha,, will give calcium tablets. Oyster shell box is near the feeders.


Awww, you've invested so much in these beautiful babies, and thanks to your love and nurturing, they'll have good homes, just across the water from me.

Stopping the meloxicam is the right thing to do. It's not designed for long term use. Some animals tolerate it well and some unfortunately don't. Hopefully she is past needing pain killers but if she still needs them, there are alternatives we can use.

It's brilliant she ate some apple, full of nutrients and like you say, good prebiotic. Wish mine would eat apples! They think they are the devil's spawn. I love apples and it's the one thing I can eat that Ferdy won't steal from my plate. He's on my shoulder right now, waiting for his portion of squash, sage and ricotta tortellini and giving his opinion on shark videos.

Last night before bed, Ginger's skin on her face had a yellowish tinge, and while I was gone she had another blow out. Seems meloxicam side effects include jaundice, changes in poop, and appetite. @Shetland lover I decided to stop giving her that. Only a smaller, less watery this morning.
We found a small apple on the grass, and she pecked and ate some of it. Good prebiotic. Her neck strength seems better. Praying she'll have a better appetite.

One of the other girls is laying brittle shelled eggs. If I can figure out which one, ha ha,, will give calcium tablets. Oyster shell box is near the feeders.


Awww, you've invested so much in these beautiful babies, and thanks to your love and nurturing, they'll have good homes, just across the water from me.

He was pretty upset when I showed him your video of Ginger, btw! Was making his worried noise and pushing his face in the screen then looking round the back of my tablet.

 

[Nomadicus]

I spent a few minutes with the kids that came to the house looking for me. I gave them tibits of soft bread. My two favorite pet pullets led the pack to me. I hope by the weekend I can be out in the coops come. It may be 3 months before I move feed bags and fill feed cans. I'm thankful for having some that keep me company when I get to sit outside now.

 

[MaeM]

My little roos hardly ever intervene in the girls' business either. They've learned that to do so generally leads to them being told to keep their beaks out - followed swiftly by a sharp peck or two. They only tend to get involved if it's really serious and never if Gladys is doing something they don't like. She's twice their size and my most dominant chicken.

Well, in this case, the rooster's intervention seemed to help because Ruby and Bianca are getting along again.

Other than a few pecks for food or a space to dig/dust bathe, I haven't seen Ruby being aggressive with Bianca again.

But it's all about the size. If you have little roos, it is understandable that they do not want to intervene.

I have a rooster that's larger than my torso so I figured he could intervene if he wanted, lol. Glad he finally did.

 

[PopoMyers]

Stopping the meloxicam is the right thing to do. It's not designed for long term use. Some animals tolerate it well and some unfortunately don't. Hopefully she is past needing pain killers but if she still needs them, there are alternatives we can use.

It's brilliant she ate some apple, full of nutrients and like you say, good prebiotic. Wish mine would eat apples! They think they are the devil's spawn. I love apples and it's the one thing I can eat that Ferdy won't steal from my plate. He's on my shoulder right now, waiting for his portion of squash, sage and ricotta tortellini and giving his opinion on shark videos.View attachment 3679834

He was pretty upset when I showed him your video of Ginger, btw! Was making his worried noise and pushing his face in the screen then looking round the back of my tablet.

Awww, such a sweet roo. I was going to take a video for Ferdy, then this happened. Lots of watery poop again. I wonder if her body is trying to wash out the meds? I hope this gets better, soon. She is definitely not too hot.
Picked up Vitamin C, so she had 500 mg last night along with the E. B complex in the morning, which has 100 mg. C. She a medium sized girl that probably weighs about 2 kg.

She was picking out the corn bits from her feed, so I offered her just cracked corn, and she got excited and ate quite a bit, with water to follow. At least I hope this means she is hydrated, and not getting dehydrated.. Now if we can get her digestive tract to slow down.