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fuzzi's "Gardens and Chickens...and Goats? Oh My!" Journal and More Thread
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I decided to do some yard work though it was damp and chilly today, as the weather is forecast to be very cold later in the week.
I started raking the leaves and "gum balls" that blew into my yard recently. I used an old plastic tablecloth as a small tarp.
I dumped three loads into each coop.
Here the Sussex were busy with the load I'd dumped under the roost.
Silas and his bevy of beauties!
They're really getting into it!
I raked the north (right) side and between the coops. Looks better, and I'll be less likely to lose my footing now that most the the seed balls are raked up.
Zaccheus (look at his spurs!)
Esther's looking better, her molt is complete.
I started raking the leaves and "gum balls" that blew into my yard recently. I used an old plastic tablecloth as a small tarp.
I dumped three loads into each coop.
Here the Sussex were busy with the load I'd dumped under the roost.
Silas and his bevy of beauties!
They're really getting into it!
I raked the north (right) side and between the coops. Looks better, and I'll be less likely to lose my footing now that most the the seed balls are raked up.
Zaccheus (look at his spurs!)
Esther's looking better, her molt is complete.
They are loving those leaves! 
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Did you watch the video? One of the Dominiques almost disappears in the leaf pile!They are loving those leaves!
I did! They are some happy chooks!
farmerjan
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Do you trim the spurs? We trim all of them so there is no sharp point...
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Nope. He's my oldest surviving rooster so far, and I've not had issues with spurs. Yet.
farmerjan
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It's not for people issues so much as not hurting himself or the hens by accident... all you have to do is have to pick him up and he could catch you with one by accident... when he is mounting the hens they have been known to accidentally stab a hen... No different than trimming the nails on a dog......
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So, Wednesday Esther was happily scratching away at the leaves.
By Friday she seemed a little subdued.
Saturday she was off by herself, I was thinking she was still not quite over her molt. It matched how she'd been acting for a few weeks.
Sunday morning she was hunched, ignoring everything, obviously not feeling well. I offered her some toast crumbs, and she pecked at them, but only ate a couple pieces.
I don't know what's wrong, she won't eat so her crop is empty, her vent is clean, no sign of an impacted egg, no injury. Poor baby. I syringed in her beak some electrolyte water mixed with slippery elm bark. She swallowed about a tablespoon, but didn't fight me, a bad sign.
Corid was recommended, and @drstratton suggested a little honey. I went out to the coop at dusk. All the other chickens were roosting. Esther was still hunched under the wheelbarrow, didn't try to escape when I picked her up. She got .1ml Corid and 2 drops honey. She smacked her beak over the honey.
She didn't seem to care about her surroundings, and it was getting really cold. I put her in an old Pet Taxi, on a bed of clean straw, and she is now in my spare bedroom. The light is off, but I will check on her later. I couldn't leave her huddled under the wheelbarrow, as cold as it's going to be tonight. If she dies at least she'll be warm.
By Friday she seemed a little subdued.
Saturday she was off by herself, I was thinking she was still not quite over her molt. It matched how she'd been acting for a few weeks.
Sunday morning she was hunched, ignoring everything, obviously not feeling well. I offered her some toast crumbs, and she pecked at them, but only ate a couple pieces.
I don't know what's wrong, she won't eat so her crop is empty, her vent is clean, no sign of an impacted egg, no injury. Poor baby. I syringed in her beak some electrolyte water mixed with slippery elm bark. She swallowed about a tablespoon, but didn't fight me, a bad sign.
Corid was recommended, and @drstratton suggested a little honey. I went out to the coop at dusk. All the other chickens were roosting. Esther was still hunched under the wheelbarrow, didn't try to escape when I picked her up. She got .1ml Corid and 2 drops honey. She smacked her beak over the honey.
She didn't seem to care about her surroundings, and it was getting really cold. I put her in an old Pet Taxi, on a bed of clean straw, and she is now in my spare bedroom. The light is off, but I will check on her later. I couldn't leave her huddled under the wheelbarrow, as cold as it's going to be tonight. If she dies at least she'll be warm.
So, Wednesday Esther was happily scratching away at the leaves.
By Friday she seemed a little subdued.
Saturday she was off by herself, I was thinking she was still not quite over her molt. It matched how she'd been acting for a few weeks.
Sunday morning she was hunched, ignoring everything, obviously not feeling well. I offered her some toast crumbs, and she pecked at them, but only ate a couple pieces.
I don't know what's wrong, she won't eat so her crop is empty, her vent is clean, no sign of an impacted egg, no injury. Poor baby. I syringed in her beak some electrolyte water mixed with slippery elm bark. She swallowed about a tablespoon, but didn't fight me, a bad sign.
Corid was recommended, and @drstratton suggested a little honey. I went out to the coop at dusk. All the other chickens were roosting. Esther was still hunched under the wheelbarrow, didn't try to escape when I picked her up. She got .1ml Corid and 2 drops honey. She smacked her beak over the honey.
She didn't seem to care about her surroundings, and it was getting really cold. I put her in an old Pet Taxi, on a bed of clean straw, and she is now in my spare bedroom. The light is off, but I will check on her later. I couldn't leave her huddled under the wheelbarrow, as cold as it's going to be tonight. If she dies at least she'll be warm.
