What did you do with your flock today?

[pennyJo1960]

Have not had the pure white silkies till now..
All of the 4 I had where dark colours. This is old photo of the girls on a nice day.

 

[629864]

Had snow today. Only a light dusting in the end, but quite a bit was coming down at one point. The chickens and guineas weren't exactly impressed, but they didnt seem bothered either. The production reds (the older half of my flock) were very excited about the chopped apple I brought them and dive bombed the first dish I put down. I put another dish down further away from the reds ... the younger EE and BL pullets and cockerells were suspicious of the apple and those brave enough to approach would attack-take a piece before flinging themselves backward away from the dish....ya know, in case the apple attacked in return. It was pretty hilarious.

I was planning on trying to capture the three BL cockerells to put vaseline on their combs and wattles. I dont have a net, so I thought I'd try using a light lap blanket. OMG...the moment I stepped outside just casually holding the blanket over one arm...every chicken in my flock went ballistic as if the end of days had arrived. So I wadded up the blanket under one arm and scrapped that idea. No sense terrifying the troop. I then went to buy more chicken feed. While there I asked the locals if they ever need to treat combs/wattles to prevent frostbite. Everyone there said it's just not an issue in our neck of the woods. So, hopefully my little guys will be fine.

When I got back home, I did sit and talk to one of the BL cockerells who seemed sort of interested in what I was doing (until now they've all been very cautious with me as if I'm super dangerous). He eventually came right up and ate grass within less than a foot of me. I think he was letting me know that he's getting used to me and doesnt think I'm the devil incarnate anymore. Unfortunately though, while he was visiting me, I noticed he had a cut on his leg. He wasn't limping at all nor showing any signs he was even aware of the cut. I kept an eye on him off and on the rest of the day and he seems fine.

I wonder how he came by the cut. I'd love to put some iodine or neosporin on the cut, but I doubt I'd be able to catch him. We'll see. If it looks better tomorrow, I'll leave him be. If not, I may try to treat him after they've gone to roost in the evening....that is, if I can figure out which one he is in the dark coop (three BL cockerells that all pretty much look the same).

I also got a second teeny egg from one of the BL pullets. She laid them both in the same nesting box that three of the reds prefer. I wonder how she knew to use the nesting boxes. Do you think she watched the reds and figured it out that way?

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Ohhh is that a white Silkie like my Betty White?? Sooo cute! I think you need them! The EE looks like a sweet and inquisitive chicken so you obviously need her too! And the black girl is a definite black beauty! She’s so sleek and sophisticated looking with a touch of darkness that adds to her flair! She looks tiny! Would barely take up any room at all! I’m impressed there are so many choices at your HS!! There are two roosters at ours, no others! A LOT of bunnies though :-( It would be hard to say no to those cute chicken faces!!

Me too! I would’ve thought the girls would get snatched up in a heartbeat, but I guess not. My HS has about 17 chickens, give or take, and maybe about 13 of them are roos. Poor boys. : (

She really is tiny! They say she’s 1lbs and 1yo, so she won’t be getting any bigger.

I am marking today as a good day in the chicken department…and after my last two months, the good days feel pretty great. I think both Puff and Newbell are making good progress although Newbell seems to have gotten it a bit worse than Puff and is taking longer to get well and act normal. I’m also keeping an eye on Fluff since he’s had a couple of nose bubbles. I’m starting them on a different antibiotic tomorrow and I’m hoping it helps finish off this round of viruses. I’m so over needles and injections and eye ointments and iodine treatments…

Speaking of Fluff I am fascinated by his lack of obvious gender at 6 months old! Especially since he is the bigger of the two and got feathers in before Puff. Puff (last picture) has caught up and surpassed Fluff, and I’m not sure it it’s due to Fluff feeling sick or if maybe he will always be a bit ungendered (is that even a word haha). I honestly don’t care at this point other than hoping whatever he is it mixes well with the other two boys so I can keep him. He’s a sweet boy, not as cuddly as Puff, but he likes to visit and sit with me too. He has all the boy feathers but his comb is small, pink and sort of girlish and he does not crow—yet anyway. And on top of that Puff tried to mount him yesterday It’s interesting and I’m wondering if he’s just a super slow developing boy? I sure love him regardless! He’s free to be whatever he is

I’m glad you’re finally having a good day with your birds!
What meds have you been giving them? Have you noticed if some work better than others?

Aww, the last two look so fluffy!

Have not had the pure white silkies till now..
All of the 4 I had where dark colours. This is old photo of the girls on a nice day.View attachment 2951729

I love your silkies so much!

 

[FrankieDoodle]

When I was letting everyone out this morning, I discovered I somehow reset the lock on the SFs run. Thankfully I can access that coop from two different sides, one in the run, the other not, so they weren’t trapped. They got to play out in the grass while we tried to get the lock open. After about an hour or two, my dad decided to just cut it. XD
They seemed pretty happy down there, so they spent most of the day in the playpen in the grass.
Nikki:

Santa:

While they were down there, I raked out most of the feathers and rocks in their run, and installed a rope in there so I can hang the feeder in the run. I’ve wanted to do that for a few months now, so it was nice to finally do it.


On a different note, the EE chick from the HS is no longer an option. She’s still available, but I can’t reasonably make it work. I’m still trying to figure out how to get the other two, and I’d get the EE if I could, but all the others are bantams so it makes things difficult.
Nothings been confirmed yet, but I’ve been working on making the spare coop inhabitable. I cleaned out the old bedding, hosed it down, remove and replaced most of the dirt, washed out the food and waterers, and cleaned out an old nest and perch. I’ll still need to put sand in there tomorrow, but otherwise it’s pretty much ready to go, just in case. ;P

 

[kurby22]

Me too! I would’ve thought the girls would get snatched up in a heartbeat, but I guess not. My HS has about 17 chickens, give or take, and maybe about 13 of them are roos. Poor boys. : (

She really is tiny! They say she’s 1lbs and 1yo, so she won’t be getting any bigger.

I’m glad you’re finally having a good day with your birds!
What meds have you been giving them? Have you noticed if some work better than others?

Aww, the last two look so fluffy!

I love your silkies so much!

Poor boys is right! I always feel bad for the roosters! So many are just good boys that are unappreciated

I have used the top three best antibiotics for CRD…Baytril I used in November, Tylan is what they’ve been on the past week and a half, and now they are getting Denagard. I read that Denagard is the only antibiotic that CRD does not build a resistance to, even after many years of use. It’s not always the strongest, but sounds like it’s decently effective. I have found Tylan to be the least effective, but the best for direct injection. The bubble eyes I’m treating with alcohol wipes followed by Terramycin. I’m a regular chicken pharmacy!! Newbell still looks under the weather, but she ate today and drank water so that makes me content for the day anyway!

 

[kurby22]

When I was letting everyone out this morning, I discovered I somehow reset the lock on the SFs run. Thankfully I can access that coop from two different sides, one in the run, the other not, so they weren’t trapped. They got to play out in the grass while we tried to get the lock open. After about an hour or two, my dad decided to just cut it. XD
They seemed pretty happy down there, so they spent most of the day in the playpen in the grass.
Nikki:
View attachment 2952051
Santa:
View attachment 2952050
While they were down there, I raked out most of the feathers and rocks in their run, and installed a rope in there so I can hang the feeder in the run. I’ve wanted to do that for a few months now, so it was nice to finally do it.


On a different note, the EE chick from the HS is no longer an option. She’s still available, but I can’t reasonably make it work. I’m still trying to figure out how to get the other two, and I’d get the EE if I could, but all the others are bantams so it makes things difficult.
Nothings been confirmed yet, but I’ve been working on making the spare coop inhabitable. I cleaned out the old bedding, hosed it down, remove and replaced most of the dirt, washed out the food and waterers, and cleaned out an old nest and perch. I’ll still need to put sand in there tomorrow, but otherwise it’s pretty much ready to go, just in case. ;P

See! You even have a spare coop!! Silkies and a teeny tiny girl would fit great in a spare coop hehe!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Had snow today. Only a light dusting in the end, but quite a bit was coming down at one point. The chickens and guineas weren't exactly impressed, but they didnt seem bothered either. The production reds (the older half of my flock) were very excited about the chopped apple I brought them and dive bombed the first dish I put down. I put another dish down further away from the reds ... the younger EE and BL pullets and cockerells were suspicious of the apple and those brave enough to approach would attack-take a piece before flinging themselves backward away from the dish....ya know, in case the apple attacked in return. It was pretty hilarious.

I was planning on trying to capture the three BL cockerells to put vaseline on their combs and wattles. I dont have a net, so I thought I'd try using a light lap blanket. OMG...the moment I stepped outside just casually holding the blanket over one arm...every chicken in my flock went ballistic as if the end of days had arrived. So I wadded up the blanket under one arm and scrapped that idea. No sense terrifying the troop. I then went to buy more chicken feed. While there I asked the locals if they ever need to treat combs/wattles to prevent frostbite. Everyone there said it's just not an issue in our neck of the woods. So, hopefully my little guys will be fine.

When I got back home, I did sit and talk to one of the BL cockerells who seemed sort of interested in what I was doing (until now they've all been very cautious with me as if I'm super dangerous). He eventually came right up and ate grass within less than a foot of me. I think he was letting me know that he's getting used to me and doesnt think I'm the devil incarnate anymore. Unfortunately though, while he was visiting me, I noticed he had a cut on his leg. He wasn't limping at all nor showing any signs he was even aware of the cut. I kept an eye on him off and on the rest of the day and he seems fine.

View attachment 2951987

I wonder how he came by the cut. I'd love to put some iodine or neosporin on the cut, but I doubt I'd be able to catch him. We'll see. If it looks better tomorrow, I'll leave him be. If not, I may try to treat him after they've gone to roost in the evening....that is, if I can figure out which one he is in the dark coop (three BL cockerells that all pretty much look the same).

I also got a second teeny egg from one of the BL pullets. She laid them both in the same nesting box that three of the reds prefer. I wonder how she knew to use the nesting boxes. Do you think she watched the reds and figured it out that way?

View attachment 2951988

Take some fingernail polish or marker make a few slashes on other than the color of the bird

 

[pennyJo1960]

Funny part I was a veterinarian.. Forced to retire .. I still have most of my crap .. If you have birds you need that stock local folks know I have it.

 

[629864]

Take some fingernail polish or marker make a few slashes on other than the color of the bird

Hey @pennyJo1960
What did you mean by using fingernail polish or marker?

 

[kurby22]

Hey @pennyJo1960
What did you mean by using fingernail polish or marker?

I’m thinking to mark the boy with the cut so you can find him easier ? He’d probably like some hot pink toenail polish