Recent content by GonzoTheGreat

Similarly, I bought a small dog kennel (like the smallest they offer) and put a couple mouse snap traps in there. Hens can't interact with the traps, but the mice did.

I have a similar issue. I know foxes come by and check out my coop. There are at least 2, and the one has come through my yard for years because it has a unique tail. I also have a rabbit that is usually in my yard at night, so they might be coming around making a run at the rabbit as well...

Thanks for the suggestion.

It isn't well water. City tap water from the hose bib. It is just rusting in those notches. Used it in a plastic waterer. Took it out in the spring, tried cleaning it up, and it has been hanging in my shed since then.

Wondering if anyone has tips for using the Farm Innovators Model C-250 or a similar model metal water tank de-icer. I used it last year and it got some deposits on it, I tried cleaning it off but could never get it "clean". I went to go put it back in this year, and there is rust on it in the...

Unfortunately I have no idea how old they are. I bought a house and they offered me the chickens. When I asked for breeds/ages they never responded. I've had them for about a year and a half now. There was a brief period of smashing before, but it stopped. Maybe this run will stop too, but...

I'm pretty certain one of my Welsummers is smashing eggs in the coop. Only 3 of my 6 are laying right now, and each one of their eggs has ended up smashed in the nest at times over the past few weeks. Despite the Welsummers not laying (they are molting, so I guess they have an excuse), I'll...

Well I came to the forum tonight to look for suggestions for new run material because I can't find river sand. I was planning to clean it all out and start fresh. Guess I don't need to do that. Probably just need to add some more wood shavings. Maybe some top soil and leaves? I know the...

I have three hens that look just like that one. Think they are Welsummers. Two of them are in the same shape your hen is, but I can see the feathers growing back in. One of them oddly looses all its neck feathers in the summer. When I first took over this flock, I thought she had a...

Maybe I'll that next time. Thanks.

No. I just read about how it is used for horses with wounds/abscesses in their hoof. Is the idea the same for a chicken with bumblefoot? Would you put it on the open wound after removing the scab and trying to clean it out?

Three out of six today. They are the only three laying over the past month or so. My Welsummers seem to have started their winter vacation.

Sorry about that hen. I hope we can treat it eventually. There was no stringy white stuff this time, but it felt hard around the outside of the swollen pad and we wondered if there was more "kernal" in there. We didn't want to be too aggressive cutting though. We took off the scab, cleaned...

Yes, I think we've struggled with trying to figure out how "invasive" to get vs. the expectations of the pictures we've seen on the internet. Seems like every blog post pulls out the scab and the "kernel" just pops out. One time we just had stringy white stuff, last time we had chunks. I...

Thanks. She actually appeared to be walking fine despite that bumblefoot, so I'm not sure. Now she is bandaged up as the foot heals so can't see much in terms of gait. I have a vet nearby that is apparently an avian vet and they said they treat chickens when I called to ask in case I need...