I don't have quail but came upon this article and read it. I love the advice about prevention.
That was neat about using the leg bands and a rubber band too. We've only used Vet Wrap to bind chicks when needed, but next time we will have to try that.
You could try putting a light on just inside the chicken door. We have a rechargeable lantern we use for this. It helps younger ones go into the coop, and maybe it'll entice her.
Is this a walk-in coop? If so, what if you were inside and called her, then leave.
Pullets, their first year, will usually lay all winter when the older hens aren't, or are laying way fewer as they're taking a break.
Most of us don't use any extra lighting, and they just lay when the time comes for them to lay.
It's hard because at that age of under a year, some cockerels' hormones are going crazy. If you could fast-forward to them being a year old, you might find favor with the one you didn't before. What they are like now isn't indicative of what they'll be like several months from now.
If you...
Hi!
New layers or those coming off of a long molt or broody spell sometimes lay those little ones. Even those laying for a long time will pop one out for no reason, but that's rare. Yes, some call them fairy eggs.
I wouldn't worry as she should straighten out in a few days.
Just be sure...
I don't often see mine eating it either, but was shocked to see my old rooster eating it. I figured his old bones must've been telling him he needed some. They're on an all-flock feed and that's lower calcium. There's a dish in each of the breeding pens and I have to fill it up about once...
Hiya, Cyndi, and wow, hugely belated welcome to BYC! :frow
When my silkies molt, they just look skinny for a few months as they aren't all fluffy. I just feed every chick, chicken, or duck here, Kalmbach's Flock Maker, which is 20% protein. The high protein helps with feather growth, among...
Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow
We do love pictures so if you have any you'd not mind sharing, we'd love to see your "pets," or even artwork. We have art contests now and then, which you can find in the Forums, in case you'd be interested.
We're glad you're here!
Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow
You've been given some great links above! Be sure to take lots of pictures as you go, keep track of what you purchase, barter, or repurpose, and you could wind up making an article like those @N F C shared, which would help others.
We're glad you're here!
The principle of this is getting rodents to climb a ramp to get to the top of the bucket for bait, but then the board gives way, and the rodent falls into the bucket and can't escape.
You could find lots of DIY ones, but here's one you can buy that gives the idea.
If you want to read a great start-to-finish story of a hen with sour crop and tapeworms, read this thread. It's old, but it'll make you feel better. :) FYI, tapeworms are rarer so what you're using is fine...
Yes, some dewormers you're not supposed to give while they're molting, but while they're getting Monistat, there's no conflict.
Does she get oyster shell in a separate dish from the feed?
This year, with hatching over 500 silkies, about 100 of those were shipped. I had three curled toes, five or six splayed legs, and one with a disjointed hip. The splayed legs and hip chicks came from the same pen of mine, so genetic. Zero wry neck.
The toes and splayed legs took one to two...