Recent content by Possum-Pie

  1. Possum-Pie

    Anyone else worried about microplastics in their chickens?

    On that note, I'll leave this thread. I'm NOT opposed to living a healthier life and providing one for my animals, I'm a doctor. I just advocate for getting evidenced-based information, weighing the risk/rewards and making a reasonable decision. The modern age has given us SO many things our...
  2. Possum-Pie

    Anyone else worried about microplastics in their chickens?

    Ok, I challenge all those who are worried about microplastics. Don't purchase anything packaged in plastic. Don't purchase anything manufactured using plastic in the process. Don't store food/drink in any plastic container. Don't ride in vehicles with plastic components, don't enter any dwelling...
  3. Possum-Pie

    Anyone else worried about microplastics in their chickens?

    Technically, you are correct, humans (and birds) DO excrete small amounts of heavy metals, but only extremely slowly over decades. Chelation therapy helps with acute ingestion or as a long-term therapy for folks (like your friend) with a defective MTHFR gene. I would worry much more about heavy...
  4. Possum-Pie

    Anyone else worried about microplastics in their chickens?

    Animals/humans ingestion of macroplastic or microplastic can and will happen just like we ingest insect parts, animal feces, sand, etc. The human digestive system absorbs water and nutrients (and yes-toxins) through the entire system. Some microplastic will be absorbed. Yet we worry about that...
  5. Possum-Pie

    Recommendation for large waterers

    Thanks, When we first got the chickens, I bought nipples and cups and drilled out a 5 gallon bucket. I must have gotten poor quality b/c the cups leaked despite the gaskets and the chickens couldn't get the hang of the nipples- they just played with the shiny part and watched the water drip to...
  6. Possum-Pie

    Recommendation for large waterers

    I have had a 4 gallon waterer for 4 years. it is of the "locking base" variety similar to this but larger. The trouble is, after many refills with well water, the calcium deposits on the base make it more difficult to twist off. This winter, when twisting it off, it cracked. I sealed it with...
  7. Possum-Pie

    Anyone else worried about microplastics in their chickens?

    You as a human are eating exponentially more micro/macro plastic than a hen. They ingest 99% less potential toxins than we humans do, yet we manage to survive...
  8. Possum-Pie

    Hens/Rooster getting more vocal

    Update: The constant irritating cries have lessened considerably. Not sure what caused it. It has always concerned me that when the Rooster sees a threat and cries in alarm, most of my hens ignore him and continue scratching for insects. Even 4 years ago when we had a different Rooster, the...
  9. Possum-Pie

    Chicken moving eggs from one raised nesting box to another???

    One of chicken's mysteries. I think chickens pick some aspect of a nesting box they like (near a window/in the shadows/on the end/in the middle/etc.) and adopt it. Funny story but when I was in college, in the dorm bathroom were 4 stalls. Most guys ALWAYS used the same particular stall that they...
  10. Possum-Pie

    Hens/Rooster getting more vocal

    Thanks for the response Sam. I have a fully enclosed 150ft long "run" for them with bird netting over the top. I have had a few unfortunate attacks over the years, one dug underneath, then grabbed a hen who strolled too close to the fence. I'm not very worried that they can get in today b/c I've...
  11. Possum-Pie

    Hens/Rooster getting more vocal

    I've had chickens for 5 years. I've learned to distinguish between the "yay! one of my friends just laid an egg!" call, the "I just saw a hawk!" scream, and the other normal noises. I just introduced four new 11-wk pullets to the old flock, and they all adapted well after some normal pecking...
  12. Possum-Pie

    Is this (mild) frostbite?

    I live in Southern Pennsylvania and this past week it was below 0 F. many days. My rooster got the back spike of his comb frostbitten, and my coop has great ventilation. Chickens can survive cold, but -8F is too cold. After the first several days, I put a heat lamp there before bed to get it...
  13. Possum-Pie

    Garden scraps

    Even with the cracked corn I give as a treat each day, they spend energy and time eating 4-5 kernals then moving to a different area to eat 4-5 more. If they stayed in one spot, they could eat all they wanted without moving so much...The only explanation I can come up with is that perhaps they...
  14. Possum-Pie

    Molting?

    I also live in PA. I've always wondered why they don't drop feathers in a molt in the summer when it's 100F rather than wait until it gets cold. We've had a few mornings around freezing and they are all still missing some feathers. As for temps, we get a few days every winter where temps are in...
  15. Possum-Pie

    1 chicken refuses to roost at night

    Couple of thoughts/suggestions. I also have a 2x4 as a roost but I have it up on its thin side. I was under the impression that hens prefer a roost that they can "lock" their toes around. Too wide or too narrow may cause one/some to avoid it. Also, my hens often jump up on the roost early and...
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