Backyard Chickens

Comment

Comment by rachel whetzel on November 21, 2011 at 11:51pm

Yes Judy, they can molt that young. I have some spring chicks that molted and they are about the same age. What are the dimensions of your area?

Comment by Nancy on November 21, 2011 at 9:14pm

If your chickens are pecking each other, we use an antiseptic pump spray that stains  purple.  The chickens are given a spray of antiseptic and the purple disguises their skin from the other chickens so they will stop being pecked.  I can't remember the name but we picked it up at Tractor Supply.  I'm sure you can get it at your local Agway or farm supply.  Came in handy many times.

Comment by Judy Hendricks on November 20, 2011 at 9:30am

Thank You Rachel for commenting~Could they be molting at this age?

I'd say they're 9 mths old.   They aren't free range,  they are backyard chickens in a small town, and I'm afraid of dogs that might get them.  We have a small coop with a fenced area for them.  Maybe they do need more room, I'll have to watch them.  (I'd post a picture if I knew how)

Comment by rachel whetzel on November 20, 2011 at 2:55am

Judy, it could be that your hens are molting. They look pretty terible when they are, and usually it shows in the lower back/tail area. If there's picking going on, and you've not noticed it before, I'd say it's because they started molting, and then your hens noticed, and started picking at the molt area. If this is the case, and your hens aren't free range, it might be that they need more space. Otherwise, I'd place my money on  molting.

Comment by Judy Hendricks on November 19, 2011 at 8:03pm

I have eight red hens that have been together since the beginning.

We've had them since early spring.   Why is it now that I'm noticing that most of them have been pecked badly on their lower back, clost to their tail?

Advice anyone?

 

Comment by Judy Hendricks on November 19, 2011 at 8:01pm

I have 8 red hens that have been together since the beginning.

Why is it now I'm noticing that their lower back is being pecked at? 

What causes them to do this; What should I do?

Comment by Meredith Cope on November 16, 2011 at 8:30am

That's great Nancy!  Hope today is another good egg day.  :)

Comment by Nancy on November 15, 2011 at 10:42pm

"Someone" must have been reading my comments on this page because my husband got 9 eggs today! One from one of my old hens. I am calling this an early Christmas miracle. Now I can bake again. I just refused to buy those yucky store bought eggs! And, thank you Rachel, I had read somewhere about the warm oatmeal and was going to try it this cold cold winter. They may make me feel guilty enough to repeat it over and over again. thanks. Nancy... wow, I can't believe it. I am having eggs for breakfast!

Comment by rachel whetzel on November 15, 2011 at 1:18am

Well I've not heard of hens that never lay, so I think you're good there. :) Hang in there! Sounds like things should pick up... I've also heard from old timers that chickens need to feel warm to lay, and swore that feeding warm oatmeal was the ticket. Might be worth a try!

Comment by Nancy on November 14, 2011 at 11:05pm

They can feed whenever and I have had the light in there for the past couple weeks anyway.  I wouldn't butcher them.  I only butcher the meat birds I ordered with them and they were wonderful.  They grew huge and I cooked our first one this past week.  Wonderful! Just can't figure these girls out.  They are stubborn, I tell ya!  They even have a rooster so, I hope, they will have some babies next yr, if they ever lay to begin with. Meredith, I am jealous of your hens productivity right now. Thank you both for your info. Very informative!

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