Chicken/egg question

[user 7704]

Dang, feathers everywhere. Followed trail and found Buff with breast ripped out. I'm thinking hawk. Since last year, I have lost half my flock.

I hate leaving them locked up, but have no choice.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

Sorry to hear that Robin!! You don’t want to make a protected run for them? I only let mine free range when I am down there beside them. We have far too many hawks around here to let them out otherwise. Their automatic door opens to their run every morning. They run right out and enjoy the day. Some days I hang cabbage and such in those hanging rope type feeders.

Was at the pharmacy earlier for my son and the head pharmacist (whom I really like) told me a bear and 5 cubs took out his entire flock!! They got in the coop somehow. Our dogs have run off bears before…thankfully. Never heard of a bear having 5 cubs!

 

[user 7704]

I have a protected coop, netting cover and all. I just hate that they aren't free. Actually, I have lost quite a few by raccoons and possums getting into the coop while they slept. I have so much protection over the vents, it's hard to believe they can get in.

 

[Survivor_316]

I have a protected coop, netting cover and all. I just hate that they aren't free. Actually, I have lost quite a few by raccoons and possums getting into the coop while they slept. I have so much protection over the vents, it's hard to believe they can get in.

We had a coon open one of our coops once. They are awful.

 

[EastenerWesterner]

@Robinjopo1 look towards grey fox. They have retractable claws like a cat. Greys can climb. Red’s claws are like a dog.
My experience has been with reds. Maps show I live in grey range. My trail cams show me another species, nasty little beggars, but they are on the federal protected list.

 

[Mountain trapper]

In the old days homesteaders used to set traps on top of poles to catch hawks. Of course they always kept a gun handy too. Both are pretty effective tools.

 

[user 7704]

Just got a text from neighbor who was out walking in woods by me. He saw a coyote chasing a bobcat or vice versa. Not good either way.

He also said something about the bobcat having babies. Not good.

 

[user 7704]

@Robinjopo1 look towards grey fox. They have retractable claws like a cat. Greys can climb. Red’s claws are like a dog.
My experience has been with reds. Maps show I live in grey range. My trail cams show me another species, nasty little beggars, but they are on the federal protected list.

I killed a red fox about 3 or 4 years ago. Caught it in trap then shot it.

 

[GaRp58]

I picked up some oats, wheat, barley and buckwheat seeds to plant for chicken feed. I'll try and get it planted today.

To everybody: beware of feeding your chickens oats! They will dry your chickens out from the inside if they do not get enough water, especially if the oats are in the whole germ condition. Soak the whole germ oats in water for at least 2 days and then it will not give your ladies any problems. Besides that, those few seeds which they did not find and eat will germinate and sprout some day and give your girls a bit of green sprouts to eat.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

We had a coon open one of our coops once. They are awful.

I recently lost a hen to a possum. Silly bird didn’t go inside the chicken house before the door shut and somehow a possum got into the run that night. Hubby went to the trouble of replacing the existing wire with 1” wire all around the run What a pain! We changed the timing on the auto door to close later.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

I killed a red fox about 3 or 4 years ago. Caught it in trap then shot it.

Nice furs. Used to hunt fox with my ex ages ago. He had a tape with fox sounds that would bring them in. My son in Ohio traps them and preserves the pelts.

 

[user 7704]

I recently lost a hen to a possum. Silly bird didn’t go inside the chicken house before the door shut and somehow a possum got into the run that night. Hubby went to the trouble of replacing the existing wire with 1” wire all around the run What a pain! We changed the timing on the auto door to close later.

I couldn't sleep without a head count. I do one about 5 times before I am sure. Lol. They move around and it hard to count.

 

[GaRp58]

ME TOO ROBIN...all 4 of them... we would have more, but the space is limited still. Maybe soon tho.

 

[rachaelk]

I need help! I hatched a baby olive egger chicken on day 26...i had to help it a little but it made it. It is weak and has a large bald spot on its back. The other chicks are a couple days older and want to peck the spot. My husband suggests I put makeup on it but im not sure. I separated it for now. Can you put Neosporin on a chick? Or does anyone know of a solution or medication? Thanks

 

[Mountain trapper]

I need help! I hatched a baby olive egger chicken on day 26...i had to help it a little but it made it. It is weak and has a large bald spot on its back. The other chicks are a couple days older and want to peck the spot. My husband suggests I put makeup on it but im not sure. I separated it for now. Can you put Neosporin on a chick? Or does anyone know of a solution or medication? Thanks

Just keep it separated. The feathers will fill in. You could try some Vetericyn Poltry Care spray, it might help.
If it's too weak it may not survive.

 

[rachaelk]

Thanks. I will try the spray...i think I have some in storage. The baby was too weak to walk or hold up its head the first 24 hrs. I left it in the incubator and used a dropper to hydrate with electrolytes. This morning it looks more like a normal chick...can eat drink and walk on its own. It was not a good hatch. Out of twenty eggs only three piqued and two hatched. I think the incubator sensors were off. Live and learn.

 

[user 7704]

Just keep it separated. The feathers will fill in. You could try some Vetericyn Poltry Care spray, it might help.
If it's too weak it may not survive.

I love Vetercyn

 

[user 7704]

Thanks. I will try the spray...i think I have some in storage. The baby was too weak to walk or hold up its head the first 24 hrs. I left it in the incubator and used a dropper to hydrate with electrolytes. This morning it looks more like a normal chick...can eat drink and walk on its own. It was not a good hatch. Out of twenty eggs only three piqued and two hatched. I think the incubator sensors were off. Live and learn.

Also, do keep it separated. There is truth to the pecking order and the others will go after the weakest. Sad, but true.

 

[Survivor_316]

Tried feeding my favorite girl a tick and she wouldn't eat it. She takes the fat grubs and worms. She will even peck at spiders. No tick, though.

Good thing she's cute and lays great eggs.

 

[user 7704]

I have noticed my egg shells aren't as thick as normal. I just took them a bucket of oyster shells. I thought by free ranging they would get what they need.

I was wrong.

 

[Survivor_316]

@Arcticdude
I was going through my grain seed and trying to figure out what I am planting this year and I thought of you. Have you considered millet for your chickens? It is finicky but some kinds flower within a couple months and it is really nutritionally dense. You can also feed to cattle, so maybe if you could harvest the seeds, it would be dual purpose with some silage?

I found this on its nutrients. I don't know which kind you would grow there, but it has good info on all of them.

https://bitchinchickens.com/2021/08/30/superfood-for-chickens-millets/

 

[Mountain trapper]

@Arcticdude
I was going through my grain seed and trying to figure out what I am planting this year and I thought of you. Have you considered millet for your chickens? It is finicky but some kinds flower within a couple months and it is really nutritionally dense. You can also feed to cattle, so maybe if you could harvest the seeds, it would be dual purpose with some silage?

I found this on its nutrients. I don't know which kind you would grow there, but it has good info on all of them.

https://bitchinchickens.com/2021/08/30/superfood-for-chickens-millets/

It's worth looking in to. Finger millet might be a good choice in our area. Just need to see if we get enough moisture for it. I may buy a few pounds and try it out.

 

[user 7704]

I gave my ladies some millet that my neighbor gave me. They liked it.

 

[GaRp58]

I gave my ladies some millet that my neighbor gave me. They liked it.

Millet is a bit expensive here, but we still buy it for an extra happy feedstuff. One of the ladies will actually chase the other two away till she gets her fill, even tho she is the smaller of the three. The rooster will stand by and wait till the hens are finished and only then take some, but again he is twice their size.

 

[Survivor_316]

We grew foxtail at our old place. I don't know much about the other kinds or when why we selected foxtail.

 

[user 7704]

One one store still has chick's. They are expecting delivery today and even though I don't want to, I am buying 6 to replace my lost hens.

Better buy them while you still can. I was hoping for a broody hen, so that I didn't have to go through the acclimation mess of the cage.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

You are doing the right thing to replace your hens. My new ones I bought the first of March are going in with the others next week. I’m dreading it.

 

[Survivor_316]

My new ones have been in a "holding pen" in the big hen house. We let them free range during the days while we are out and yesterday I saw the old hen wasn't chasing off the new ones. Hopefully that means they're all getting along OK.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

My routine is similar to yours. I put a hutch in the main run for the new ones. They get closed in at night, but during the day I open the door only wide enough for the small hens to get through. Gives them a place to retreat safely to.

 

[Mountain trapper]

We're expecting our order of new chick's and ducks in a few weeks. I'll probably move the brooder house over by the coop so they can all see each other. Tomorrow I'll start digging post holes for the new run.