What did you do with your flock today?

[Shetland lover]

My friend wants my chickens to carve a pumpkin. I saw a video, looks like an easy way to do this instead of fiddling with a knife and all. Please show pics!

I tried to get my lot to carve one last year. The little buggers were too idle, couple of pecks and they lost interest

 

[Shetland lover]

How are your egg counts? All my girls are hens, so down to 2 or 3 a day, now. Just looking at Velma on my avatar is making me tear up.

I'm sending big hugs your way. Any loss is terrible to deal with but I think it's worse when you've invested extra care and love because they've had a poor start and you've watched them blossom into a beautiful, personality filled creature ❤❤❤

My egg count is now a big, fat zero!

 

[Shetland lover]

Yeah i wish I got more fall leaves to use, the chickens would love it!

Mine are obsessed with the fallen fig leaves, they eat them!

 

[Shetland lover]

Penelope has now shaken off her chest infection (hurrah!) but now has another problem!
The feathers moulted off the back of her neck and have revealed a patch of thickened, scaly-looking skin. The new feathers coming through in that spot are slightly poorer than normal. When I gave her a thorough exam, I noticed a couple of feathers that made me think de-pluming mites. There's no sign of egg clusters on the feather shafts though. I also found one red mite running about in her feathers, highly unusual to find one on the bird and the coops are being treated for mites each week.
I'm unsure if the skin issue is down to mites or a fungal infection. She's getting treated with micronazole cream in case it's fungal and I'm going to have to find something I can use safely whilst she's moulting.

 

[Nomadicus]

When I went out to the coops this morning much to my dismay I found out I didn't close the coop door on my Dark Cornish kids. By now they are scattered and I won't be able to count them until evening when they start thinking about roosting. They finally have given up the idea of roosting on the log pile. So have the White Giants. I started with 20 Dark Cornish chicks and now am down to 10 thanks to things I don't even know about.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Penelope has now shaken off her chest infection (hurrah!) but now has another problem!
The feathers moulted off the back of her neck and have revealed a patch of thickened, scaly-looking skin. The new feathers coming through in that spot are slightly poorer than normal. When I gave her a thorough exam, I noticed a couple of feathers that made me think de-pluming mites. There's no sign of egg clusters on the feather shafts though. I also found one red mite running about in her feathers, highly unusual to find one on the bird and the coops are being treated for mites each week.
I'm unsure if the skin issue is down to mites or a fungal infection. She's getting treated with micronazole cream in case it's fungal and I'm going to have to find something I can use safely whilst she's moulting.

I'm sure you'll have her better quickly

 

[ChicksnMore]

When I went out to the coops this morning much to my dismay I found out I didn't close the coop door on my Dark Cornish kids. By now they are scattered and I won't be able to count them until evening when they start thinking about roosting. They finally have given up the idea of roosting on the log pile. So have the White Giants. I started with 20 Dark Cornish chicks and now am down to 10 thanks to things I don't even know about.

Hope tonights head count is right. I've had times I forgot to close up a coop at night too. I've been lucky and never had to pay a price for it though. Do you have dogs to help keep predators away?

 

[PopoMyers]

I never add wet material to the run. Not ever!

Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[PopoMyers]

Hope tonights head count is right. I've had times I forgot to close up a coop at night too. I've been lucky and never had to pay a price for it though. Do you have dogs to help keep predators away?

Guilty as well.

 

[PopoMyers]

I tried to get my lot to carve one last year. The little buggers were too idle, couple of pecks and they lost interest

She hasn't brought one over, yet.