Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kim Beall on February 27, 2011 at 11:15am

Compost!  My chickens are endlessly entertained by compost.  I just dump a couple of pitchforkfulls on the ground for them to dig through and argue over.  I got the idea from a guy who actually built a little fence inside their pen to dump it into.  That way they wouldn't scatter it too far, and he could retrieve it after they were done with it,.  It would be much more broken-down and also full of chicken droppings - I am definitely going to have to build that little fence sometime.

Permalink Reply by Mickalyn Crawford Zone 5 on February 27, 2011 at 12:38pm

Give them potato and carrot peelings.  I've also gave them straw or hay to scratch around in.  compost would work good too

Permalink Reply by dale learn bayda on February 27, 2011 at 3:57pm

my chickens compost everything I have to offer already, I do not have the right climet for composting..not hot enough to cook...

I think I can get a moldy bail of straw from the rancher...I know you shouldn't use moldy straw for bedding but would it be ok for them to have out side to kick around??

I think I will also stop by the butcher and see if they have a bone.

Permalink Reply by Mickalyn Crawford Zone 5 on February 27, 2011 at 4:39pm

How many chickens and Guinia do you have and how big is the pen and house they are in?

Permalink Reply by dale learn bayda on February 28, 2011 at 8:47am

only two guinias and my pens are 2 12x12 areas conected plus coop is 10x10

Permalink Reply by diana Z9 Houston, Texas on February 28, 2011 at 8:51am

yes, compose.  when my chickens get bored, compose.  Its endless time for them

Permalink Reply by Mickalyn Crawford Zone 5 on February 28, 2011 at 9:54am

How many chickens do you have in the pen?

Permalink Reply by dale learn bayda on February 28, 2011 at 3:46pm

20 chicken, they can get out into a 1/4 acre but won't cross the snow this time of year.

Permalink Reply by dale learn bayda on February 28, 2011 at 4:14pm

I should mention the 1/4 acre has 5 feet of snow in it now.

out of the 20 there are 4 nice roosters (two are bantom cross....cute story)

Permalink Reply by Jon S. Parker (Z 4/5 Maine) on February 28, 2011 at 11:08am

Good morning. Sorry to hear about your situation. As I repied earlier, chickens are cannibals. Should they find that one is weak or hurt they will all join in on the bullying and eventually cull the flock on their own.

It isn't uncommon to have birds, out of bordom or being cooped up, to peck at themselves. It esp. becomes a problem when there is bare skin and the color red. It isn't that they can control the urge to peck at this color.

Being in the North East and having raised chickens year round for some time, I find that some hay, straw, cracked corn, oyster shell or old potting soil will entertain them. I've also had success with mirrors. Yes, they like to look at themselves. Not having teeth they need the rough stuff to help digest everything they injest.

Best of luck...

Permalink Reply by dale learn bayda on February 28, 2011 at 4:00pm

I had to give my turkey a mirror as I had to put the others down before their time; It helped his lonesome feeling but gave him complex! :P

I totally understand the cannibalism.. not the first time.

I just need to get them some entertainment and get rid of the guineas as they stir things up and get the roosters riled up.

can they use slightly moldy straw for entertainment? we do not have feed stores and it is hard to get the ranchers up here to sell feed hay (nobody uses barns so not much straw is available).

My easteregger is responsible I'm sure and everyone else joined in i had just saw the victim and she was fine just taking up space in the nest is all (We have 3 nest boxes and they choose to nest on the ground in 3 other places.) I already have one in a cage as she is the injured one I spoke of earlyer in the month.

 

Permalink Reply by Jon S. Parker (Z 4/5 Maine) on March 3, 2011 at 7:33am

They are a challange when things go wrong. This season, in the North East, hasn't been very user friendly either. Although I cleared area inside my chicken run that is more then big enough space for my flock, they still fussed about everything the season has to offer. I finally decided to let them run about. I too am secluded and so far, dispite the weather, they look forward to me turn'n them loose in the morning. Another option for you to try.

I've found that the hens like to hot bunk. As much as the hatcherys have tried to breed out the hens brooding you'll often have some that like to set. There are two out of six nests that my hens prefer. And I have 20 of them. A combination of early sun, no draft, height and size make them more to their liking. You can get dummy eggs to set in vacant nest to encourage them to spred out a bit. Best of luck...

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