Chicken keepers

Add a Comment

Comment by Lynn Rodemann on December 2, 2009 at 4:34pm

that is actually what I am using.. LOL.. I had a puppy 3 years ago. so I still have it around.. thanks gor the tips... Lynn

Comment by Debra on December 2, 2009 at 3:43pm

instead of investing bucks in a second house, consider the dog crate idea... plus you can cozy it up next to the other birds' run and they can get some "order" establishing done there. If its small enough you can even put it inside the big house at night without worry. They're great to have. I have a $20 small one that I use to transport nirds all the time.
Here's a few from Craig's list: I have 4 dog crates from large, that holds up to a 110 pound dog to small up to 20 pounds. Large crate is under a year old and used for less than a month. All are in excellent condition. Largest crate measures 37"Wx 54"Dx45"H. On Petsmart website for $159.99 which is what I paid for it. $100. Smaller cages prices to be discussed.

Email me or text me 440-263-0000

Comment by Lynn Rodemann on December 2, 2009 at 3:20pm

Well.. I got the bloody bird from a friend who's flock is wrecking thease 2 birds.. I am slowly introducing them to my flock... but want to make sure that a. the one bird gets better before I let them at each tother... and B. they have a chance to "establish" the pecking order threw the runs before I let them at each other.. LOL

Comment by Debra on December 2, 2009 at 3:04pm

I understand honey makes a great balm.

I've always tried to use multiple housing enclosures for newbies, with runs that are side by side. Right now though, we have one who is being attacked and we have an extra-large dog pen, enclosed with wool blankets and stuffed with straw to keep him at night. In the day, the "bullies" just chase him out of the yard, over the hill (he's moving to Ms. Laura's farm this weekend with his best girl - thank you Laura!).

I think you just have to let them establish their pecking order, but that depends on how rough its getting.

Comment by Lynn Rodemann on December 2, 2009 at 2:55pm

what is the best way to tend to a open wound due to pecking on a chicken? and what is the best way to introduce a new flock.. to an old one?

Comment by Laura Weldon on November 25, 2009 at 3:46pm

Chickens don't need a whole lot of help staying warm, in fact overheating may be more stressful. We learned this the hard way our first year. We have a large coop with about 50 birds. We bought a small heater to hang from the ceiling and some of the chickens promptly got serious respiratory disorders. After we took it out, no more such problems. Chickens are, after all, birds and the birds we see out our windows all winter long don't have heaters either.
The Amish don't clean out the coop through the winter to let the slowly decomposing straw and chicken poo help heat the enclosure. In our coop, we cut a small door in the larger door it so the birds have outdoor access but can preserve shared body heat. Interestingly, most of the older birds go out in the snow on and off all day so it surely doesn't bother them too much.
I also read recently that natural sunlight is much better for a chicken's immune system than artificial light.

Comment by John Campanelli on November 25, 2009 at 2:31pm

Jill:

Last winter, even when it went down to minus-13, my birds did well without an outside heat source. They grew a nice thick down and roosted tightly together in the coop. I make sure to put a wind barrier around the coop, too, because I think a frigid draft would certainly spell doom.

Comment by Jill Davis on November 21, 2009 at 6:26pm

What's the best way to keep chickens warm? I thought a nice strong light, but we're also thinking about a non-fire hazard type heater.

Comment by Jill Davis on September 4, 2009 at 5:00pm

My Margo is definitely a rooster. I really need help finding a home for her - I mean him. Please let me know if you know of an appropriate home in the country or elsewhere. As far as I can tell he (I hate saying that) has a very good disposition - was always the easiest to pick up and handle and has been the tamest of the lot. You can email me at jilliansdavis@yahoo.com.

Comment by Wendy Bednar on September 3, 2009 at 10:00pm

The method my parents used to use was to soak a hand towel in warm water, and my mother had one of us girls hold the hen gently as possible while she "Cleaned" the hen to the best of her ability. I also remeber she would keep the Hen in the dog kennel in the house for a few days to ensure that we all could keep an eye on her and we "Cleaned" her at least three / four times a day. I never remember my mother ever putting anything medicinal on the hen. She used on always just say "And we think child birth sucks don't we honey" as she'd sooth the poor hen. She would feed the hen scratch with Castor Oil in it...now that I think of it. Not sure why now that I'm gorwn with chickens of my own...maybe purposely giving them the poops is relieveing or soothing? I'd call my mother but she's away in Sweden on business...I wish I could help further, but my childhood memories is all I have for you at the moment. I wouldn't use Preparation H on her...her "parts" will heal just fine..if anything maybe some desitin baby balm to sooth her little bottom at best. Oh I feel so bad for you little lady. I hope she gets well soon....tell her me and my ladies wish her a fast recovery!!!

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last