The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Officialish Chicken Photo Thread!

186K views 2K replies 114 participants last post by  ChieTheRider 
#1 · (Edited)
Show your girls and guys!

Here are my RIR's (19)! Hatched September 25th, 2011. Today I got my first two eggs! I've had chickens since I was 20, even had two laying hens in my historic downtown apartment when I was in college! Spring 2010 I was out of town for two days and there was a horrible uncommon gnat outbreak. I lost my three laying hens. So now with an improved coop, and yard we are BACK in business! Please post your eggers! We just love ours!!





I have a running contest with my Co-op friend Mary to see who can keep their hens laying the longest. So far I'm the winner, hint it's all about fresh clover! Keep it a secret! LOL!
 
See less See more
3
#1,398 ·
we didn't really want these either but Mrs. Hen and Mr. Rooster had other ideas.

All I'm saying is that these better mostly be hens. Our original ones aren't laying well. They're only about 3 years old so they should still be laying something. Like we have to buy eggs again. I've given up. I wouldn't be surprised if they slowed production a bit, but a dead stop? Ugh.
 
#1,401 ·
hey everybody. another question.

Miss Lana was improving and I was letting her out in a 10x10 dog kennel during the day for exercise and then bringing her in during the heat of the day. Well she started getting depressed. Eating little, just laying around instead of scratching and looking around like she used to. She was doing so much better so we decided to let her out in the coop.

I let her out there yesterday afternoon and all seemed well. All seemed ok this morning when I left for work. I had to work 2 hours later than usual and came home to let the girls out. Well poor Miss Lana has been getting pecked at! Her head wound is messy again. Not wide open, but open. I discovered which one was doing the bullying when I was changing water and feeding.

I got Lana caught and brought her back inside to the chicken infirmary and gave her treats.

Now, I guess I should have asked this before but i really didn't think it would be an issue. Are there steps I should have taken before re-introducing Lana to the flock? She's been separated for about 2 weeks.

Any input is helpful.
 
#1,406 ·
I have found only 2 cures and one of them is only mostly successful. When I have an injured bird, especially one with a wound, they don't go back in until they are totally healed and starting to get feathers over the wounded area. That MOSTLY works to keep them from being bullied. I also have a small run within my run so that I can keep them separated but able to see and be seen while they're healing. That way they can be reintroduced without too much kerfluffle. The 2nd measure works 100% of the time IF you get the right bird. I send the bully to freezer camp if I can be sure I've caught the right one.
 
#1,402 ·
Bluekote over the wound does help with pecking. Do you have a gentle or smaller friend she could be penned up with. I think they do get depressed alone too long. You could also start leaving her out in proximity to the others but in the dog crate so she can be near the others but not touched. Not sure if that will fit in your coop, but maybe at least in the run? Or section off a small area in the run for her with some other fencing so they can see each other but they can't attack her.

Another trick is to put out on the roost at night when the others are in bed so she wakes up as part of the group.

Poor Miss Lana can't catch a break!!
 
#1,403 ·
I blue koted her head already believing that would keep them from pecking. Not sure how it got started.

I will keep her in for another day. I work tomorrow and then have 4 days off. At that time, I can wrangle one of the more timid girls and put her in the kennel with Lana. Maybe that will help.

Now her head needs more healing time. She still has a limp but gets around pretty good. I will blue kote again before trying this avenue

Thanks! I never thought chickens could be so infuriating!
 
#1,407 ·
Ok Dream, this method will definitely work when we get out new building to use for a coop. There will be some very minor modifications to make before I can move everyone over to it. In the meantime, I will keep Lana separated and when I can be here put one or two of the more timid girls in with her.

This poor little girl needs something to go her way!
 
#1,411 ·
Well we lost our first chicken today. One of our Ameracuanas. I can't tell my mom yet... My sister passed the night before last and this will be another blow for her. I just can't do it.

I found her in the coop making me think either one of the older ones pecked her to death or maybe she was trampled..
The other young one seems to be doing fine with the others so I think she'll be okay.

Jericho could tell I was wonky this morning. Had to work a bit to make him stand calmly for his morning food. He tried pushing me off he hay but I'm in no mood to be pushed.
 
#1,420 ·
Babies turn 5 months this weekend and we're still pondering the question of whether Roofus is a girl or a boy- opinions?



If he's a girl, does that mean I have to rename him Roofie!?

Otherwise the babies are doing lots of exploring...including places they don't belong!


..and learning about big girl chicken things like sunbathing...

I haven't caught any of them in a nest box nor seen any obvious tiny first eggs, but a couple of them do look like they're ready.

And the big girls are also enjoying these warm fall days.


I never get tired of chicken sunbathing pictures! :grin:
 
#1,423 ·
Easter Egger?
Yes, Easter Egger. Was sold as a day-old chick as a pullet. But then I started reading a bunch of stuff online saying this bronzey-red color on the chest and shoulders was sex-linked to being male for Easter Eggers. The first tail feathers that came in were more dramatic and curvy, then they fell out and the new ones that came in are less roo-looking.

I can't see the neck hackles well enough to be real sure but I think hen. They look rounded rather than sharply pointed to me. Can you get a closer pic of the back of his/her neck?
Not sure if these pictures are any more helpful- they were taken a few days before the ones I posted above (face/comb less red here). Roofus is always on the move and hard to photograph standing still!








They look pointed to me, but when I compare them to my mature hens, they also seem to have pointed feathers on their necks. So I'm not sure if my bar for "pointed" is right, I don't have any roosters to compare to.
 
#1,426 ·
I'm voting for hen. At five months, if nothing else for the Americaunas (or pretty much any breed with a single comb) the wattles should be more developed/bigger plus both wattles and comb should be noticeably red. Also, I've got Americauna birds with that type of colouring and they are all hens (and they also sport that softer looking back that your bird has).
 
#1,428 ·
Just a quick update on Roofus- I was doing chores this morning and found HER nestled in to a straw bale in my garage, happily cooing and tossing pieces of straw up on her back! :grin: No egg yet, but I think my Roofus is a GIRL and I am thrilled!

In other news, big girls started molting this week. Poor Pretty Girl!
 
#1,430 ·
Just a quick update on Roofus- I was doing chores this morning and found HER nestled in to a straw bale in my garage, happily cooing and tossing pieces of straw up on her back!
No egg yet, but I think my Roofus is a GIRL and I am thrilled!

In other news, big girls started molting this week. Poor Pretty Girl!
your birds are just so gorgeous
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top