-
If you enjoy the forum please consider supporting it by signing up for a NES Membership The benefits pay for the membership many times over.
Chickens 2023/2024/2025
- Thread starter Knob Creek
- Start date
How does her abdomen feel? Any bloat or firmness or is she very thin since she hasn't been eating? I've noticed chicken in pain will sometimes not eat.
Did she have a lot of poop stuck to her? If so how did it look? white or yellow and slimy is bad and usually some kind of reproductive infection. That happens a lot in the spring when they are older and starting to lay for the season. Did you feel the leg to see if you could find an injury?
I have also had some that for whatever reason stop eating. And then when you find something they like then they bounce back and I never could figure out what caused it. Did you try giving her something she really likes? Scrambled egg usually works.
She is pretty skinny and no bloat. Everything's stuck to her could be from the winter but it's mostly white. She hasn't been me pooping much. I don't see or feel any leg injuries. I haven't tried any scrambled eggs yet because she wouldn't eat mealy worms which are her favorite.
The white dropping could just be urates since she isn't eating. I've had success with egg, grapes, deli meat, rice and pasta. I had one that was a favorite chicken. She stopped eating and her face, comb and wattles turned gray. It went on for about 5 weeks and I wanted to put her down. As a last ditch I tried some chopped up steak tips we cooked. And that did the trick and she bounced back. I think that also worked for @Tallahassee here.
xtry51
NES Member
Started with 50 eggs, of which 39 glassed as fertilized with veins visible at 6 days.
26 of 39 fertilized eggs hatched.
24 of the 26 survived to full mobility.
Not bad for the 10-16 eggs we just go pickup outside each day.
Starting 30 more today.
26 of 39 fertilized eggs hatched.
24 of the 26 survived to full mobility.
Not bad for the 10-16 eggs we just go pickup outside each day.
Starting 30 more today.
xtry51
NES Member
Usually I get about 1/3 roosters when hatching. So if I want 30 new laying hens, I have to get at least 45 to hatch and survive.
Depending on how this second set goes, I might do a third set. Trying to get back up to 50 laying hens. We have 23 now, but some of them are older. We lose at least 10 to predators every year.
Depending on how this second set goes, I might do a third set. Trying to get back up to 50 laying hens. We have 23 now, but some of them are older. We lose at least 10 to predators every year.
I’ve had good luck with my silkie eggs hatching. Usually go 6/6. Those hens are always so broody. I label the eggs with a sharpie and check in every few days with the flashlight method. The ratios of roosters however I feel I always end up over 50%
Romokid
NES Member
Yeah my wife lost her favorite silky a few months back, we are now down to 3 hens and 1 rooster and now this little fuzzball. She said she was going to do it again when someone starts laying but right now all 3 are broody. She didn't candle them until the date passed on when they should start cracking out and saw the other 4 were a no go.I’ve had good luck with my silkie eggs hatching. Usually go 6/6. Those hens are always so broody. I label the eggs with a sharpie and check in every few days with the flashlight method. The ratios of roosters however I feel I always end up over 50%
NHCraigT
NES Member
"Take Control Of Their Food Supply": Tractor Supply CEO Says Backyard Chicken Demand Skyrockets | ZeroHedge
ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com
Last edited:
xtry51
NES Member
Everyone here in S NH keep selling out of chicks. Runnings was full stocked with a deliver 7 days ago. 3 days later they had ZERO.
Tractor Suppply in Rindge and Hinsdale both getting stock and selling out right away.
Tractor Suppply in Rindge and Hinsdale both getting stock and selling out right away.
kiver
NES Member
My girl leghorn "Legg's" was doing the penguin walk this morning. Her waddle was purple and she was hanging out alone in the corner. Soaked her and got the egg out but she was still not good and suffering. I put her down using the rake handle cervical detachment method for the first time, and I must say I think that is the most humane way of doing it.
Runnings only had 2 sexed left yesterday at 6pm in Claremont and they had a delivery that morning! I popped over to Tractor supply and was able to 5 later chicks.
By the way, I have rat problem for the past few months. They seem tough to get rid of but I got a trap and caught two alive now
NHCraigT
NES Member
We added a large outdoor pen location, to our coop and enclosed run areas.
It's taken several days to do it. We got it finished today, just before the heavy rains came in, late afternoon.
It's about 7' height x 30' x 20' in size, with hardware cloth and a heavy netting material over the top.
We did this because we have let our chickens free range (while we are at home) for the last 13 years. But last year, things got much worse (predator wise).
We lost some newer hens last fall, within a 1 month span, (while both of us were home, well armed, with perimeter sensors on, and multiple cctv cams on, also with audio) = due to broad daylight, very sneaky, stealth attacks by -- coyote, fisher cat and fox attacks.
Now the flock can at least get out more, but with better protection.
It's taken several days to do it. We got it finished today, just before the heavy rains came in, late afternoon.
It's about 7' height x 30' x 20' in size, with hardware cloth and a heavy netting material over the top.
We did this because we have let our chickens free range (while we are at home) for the last 13 years. But last year, things got much worse (predator wise).
We lost some newer hens last fall, within a 1 month span, (while both of us were home, well armed, with perimeter sensors on, and multiple cctv cams on, also with audio) = due to broad daylight, very sneaky, stealth attacks by -- coyote, fisher cat and fox attacks.
Now the flock can at least get out more, but with better protection.
Attachments
Last edited:
My rats have taken up underneath the wood shed which is next to my coop. They moved in during the winter and we're making tunnels all over the place so I put wire on the bottom in the walls of the coop. They've been climbing the walls and dropping in from the less secure chicken wire on the roof so I decided a new strategy. Using the Ratinator trap inside the coop which is zip tied to the coop. They get access to it by a hole in the bottom of the wire. So far I've caught one each night. Friend of mine gave me the idea and he is caught seven in one night!
lancecolonel
NES Member
My buff orp seems to be broody. I’ve had to move her off the nest box and down to the run to eat/drink the last few days. While I’m not concerned I am wondering what’s the best way to break this new habit of hers.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2021
- Messages
- 133
- Likes
- 206
once upon a time, I cared that much as to make a seperate cage, place broody hen in it, blast the hen with a fan set to high, aimed right at her of course. while also providing proper food and water.
not any more, I now just pull the hen off the nest and toss her back in with the flock ... repeat, repeat, repeat. eventually they get over it.
The cold water bath people suggest never worked for me. Putting them in a bare cage with a lot of light and no nesting materials has worked for most. I have one that is broody all summer and in general a PITA. Nothing works for her. And she's a lousy mother so she's not allowed to have babies. My Australorp went broody yesterday. Raven will be a great mom. I'm trying to decide if I want to find some fertile eggs for her and risk getting a bunch of roo's. Or just get some chicks for her in 3 weeks and sneak them under her.
Saw this idea for a snack holder using an inverted tomato cage.
View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJksRTMN6cI/?igsh=MzR4cTlvZ3NyM3Z4
View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJksRTMN6cI/?igsh=MzR4cTlvZ3NyM3Z4
Anyone need chickens?
apnews.com
Shipment of thousands of chicks found abandoned in USPS truck now overwhelming an animal shelter
More than 12,000 chicks at a Delaware distribution center were found left in a USPS truck for more than three days.
apnews.com
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2018
- Messages
- 3,145
- Likes
- 5,545
Once again, another F*** UP by the USPS dealing with birds. Whomever was responsible for the supervising and tracking of that shipment needs to be fired.Anyone need chickens?
Shipment of thousands of chicks found abandoned in USPS truck now overwhelming an animal shelter
More than 12,000 chicks at a Delaware distribution center were found left in a USPS truck for more than three days.
The article doesn't tell you that those that "Adopted" the birds are not allowed to slaughter them. Freedom Rangers are mostly used as a "Meat Bird".
Last edited:
NHCraigT
NES Member
