What did you do with your flock today?

[TeresaW]

I candled 20 or so eggs, very disappointed

 

[Nomadicus]

We made the usual run of the coops and gather a few more eggs than normal. Pullets are getting older and laying more and larger eggs finally. Another 6-8 weeks we should be getting our first blue eggs from the CCLB's. 2 roos and 8 pullets running together so we should be able to expand that flock a little. They are very skidish but are getting the hang of taking bread from Ma's hand finally. The 5 Sapphire Gems are the most docile and are around 8 weeks now so another 4 months give or take some before we see those big brown eggs from them.

 

[kurby22]

We are battling mites and end of summer ailments right now Spent a lot of time deep cleaning coops and dousing them in mite killers…dousing all the birds…checking them for other issues.

Ariana Sushi appears to be battling cancer and I’m certain we will lose him soon :-( His foot has a giant tumor on it that has tons of necrotic tissue I had to clean and disinfect, and he’s now inside in chicken ICU. We also have had several birds show signs of canker, so I am treating them for that as well. I always hate the end of summer as it seems all the stressors from the miserable summer heat come to a head. I know that I will end up with a hardier flock when I lose the ones that are sensitive to stress but it hurts my heart just the same. :-(

 

[ValerieJ]

We are battling mites and end of summer ailments right now Spent a lot of time deep cleaning coops and dousing them in mite killers…dousing all the birds…checking them for other issues.

Ariana Sushi appears to be battling cancer and I’m certain we will lose him soon :-( His foot has a giant tumor on it that has tons of necrotic tissue I had to clean and disinfect, and he’s now inside in chicken ICU. We also have had several birds show signs of canker, so I am treating them for that as well. I always hate the end of summer as it seems all the stressors from the miserable summer heat come to a head. I know that I will end up with a hardier flock when I lose the ones that are sensitive to stress but it hurts my heart just the same. :-(

So sorry to hear of all the ailments in your flock. It must be harder to keep a flock in the sunny state of California. Up here in Washington, I don't deal with any of those issues. We just have to worry about a little congestion in the long wet winter, but that is easily handled with Vet RX in their water.

And we are molting right now. Got one hen that has lost a lot of tail feathers and is hanging out in the coop because they have picked on her. She's okay though, there is plenty of food, water and space in there.

 

[Shetland lover]

We are battling mites and end of summer ailments right now Spent a lot of time deep cleaning coops and dousing them in mite killers…dousing all the birds…checking them for other issues.

Ariana Sushi appears to be battling cancer and I’m certain we will lose him soon :-( His foot has a giant tumor on it that has tons of necrotic tissue I had to clean and disinfect, and he’s now inside in chicken ICU. We also have had several birds show signs of canker, so I am treating them for that as well. I always hate the end of summer as it seems all the stressors from the miserable summer heat come to a head. I know that I will end up with a hardier flock when I lose the ones that are sensitive to stress but it hurts my heart just the same. :-(

Oh, I'm so sorry. Chickening can be so hard.
Poor Ariana Sushi. That's just awful. But I know he is in the best possible hands and that you will make his remaining days as painless and comfortable as possible. How is Aria coping?
And why is it we always lose the special ones too soon?
Sending huge hugs and all my good thoughts and prayers.

 

[Shetland lover]

So sorry to hear of all the ailments in your flock. It must be harder to keep a flock in the sunny state of California. Up here in Washington, I don't deal with any of those issues. We just have to worry about a little congestion in the long wet winter, but that is easily handled with Vet RX in their water.

And we are molting right now. Got one hen that has lost a lot of tail feathers and is hanging out in the coop because they have picked on her. She's okay though, there is plenty of food, water and space in there.

My lot are having what feels like the slowest moult ever! They started at the end of August and are still dropping feathers. Pru lost every single feather on her head and neck, apart from a scruffy ring of them just above her body. She looked like a turkey vulture for a couple of weeks. Gladys has no tail feathers either and she looks so strange without one. Luckily, she's my top bird (she outranks both my boys!) so she doesn't get picked on like your girl.
Even my tame blackbird is moulting!

I'm doing everything I normally do to speed things up - biotin supplement, multivitamins, extra protein...
Just wish it was over for them all.

 

[MaeM]

So, I only have one hen left, who cannot be rehomed because she's a carrier of Marek's and IBV.

IBV left her infertile. Or that's what the vet said.

Today, one year later, she laid a f***ing egg. I don't know if these are good news or not.

I mean, one of the other hens died of a reproductive issue, and another one had complications.

Knowing that Callia laid an egg again takes me by surprise and triggers my anxiety.

It's a good, healthy-looking egg, though.

 

[Smokerbill]

Got both waterers cleaned and refilled with fresh water, filled up the feed bin and topped off the oyster/eggshell calcium box. I could leave home for a week and the girls would have all they need.

 

[Jenbirdee]

i slightly carved leaves into a pumpkin to see if anyone would start pecking
and maybe i can get some pics
first the chickens turn-
i had to tempt them with meal worms-
but all they did was eat the meal worms.
ducks turn-
enticed them with lettuce and meal worms-
they ate the lettuce and meal worms but at least looked at the pumpkin
now the geese turn-
tempted with lettuce-
goose ate the lettuce-
gander protected goose from the camera
sigh

 

[Rebechenson75]

So sorry to hear of all the ailments in your flock. It must be harder to keep a flock in the sunny state of California. Up here in Washington, I don't deal with any of those issues. We just have to worry about a little congestion in the long wet winter, but that is easily handled with Vet RX in their water.

And we are molting right now. Got one hen that has lost a lot of tail feathers and is hanging out in the coop because they have picked on her. She's okay though, there is plenty of food, water and space in tthere

View attachment 3968682View attachment 3968684View attachment 3968683i slightly carved leaves into a pumpkin to see if anyone would start pecking
and maybe i can get some pics
first the chickens turn-
i had to tempt them with meal worms-
but all they did was eat the meal worms.
ducks turn-
enticed them with lettuce and meal worms-
they ate the lettuce and meal worms but at least looked at the pumpkin
now the geese turn-
tempted with lettuce-
goose ate the lettuce-
gander protected goose from the camera
sigh

We had to put a couple small rouges in our pumpkin. Then they went for it