New birds are here... pics added

Rhonda · Post by **Rhonda** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 3:19 pm

That's a good point OC. Will get some in stock. I gave them some sunflower seeds yesterday. Still some in their feed hopper so not sure if they are eating them or not. My old birds would devour them immediately! Got four eggs today so they cant be suffering too badly. Still not roosting even though they are going up to the nest boxes. Just one of the red sex links was off the ground last night and she was just roosted in front of the nest boxes...level with my lowest roost. They are drinking lots. Still not forcing myself on them, just quietly feeding and watering.

ross · Post by **ross** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 3:34 pm

Lower the roost Rhonda . Maybe lack of feathers has messed up their aerodynamics , if a chicken has any . Was there a roost in pen they came from ? As long as deep litter on floor they'll do fine . Luck

Rhonda · Post by **Rhonda** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 3:50 pm

Good point Ross I never thought that they cant get up there. Figured since they had found the nest boxes they were good but maybe not. Where they came from had a strange set up. Nest boxes and a bar about a foot off the floor. About two feet of head room and then wire cages mounted along the right side. The door was open so they would go in there but no place to truly perch.

ross · Post by **ross** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 5:00 pm

There's your reason right there Rhonda

2' up is perching just not high as your used to . As I've said before watch your birds & listen & they will tell you . Yours came from a low perch environment , start um low & work up if you want . Your choice . Luck

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 6:39 pm

Ross! The chicken whisperer!

Post by **thejonesboy** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:08 pm

Good for you that's a great story. I bet they turn out to be beauties :)

ross · Post by **ross** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:36 pm

baronrenfrew wrote:QR_BBPOST Ross! The chicken whisperer!

I prefer "observer & learner of & from all living things"

Luck , keep a tight line .

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:01 pm

Ross, i'm with you there. If we relax and pay attention, animals will tell us what they want. It should be common sense but its not. Especially as a hunter & tracker, you have to walk even softer and pay more attention. I have never worked on those skills but I certainly respect it in others.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:53 pm

They don't look nearly as bad as I thought they would from your description! Just looks like a winter moult/feather picking for protein and out of stress or boredom. They're clean and look like they are proper weight, bright-eyed and alert. They'll be right as rain in no time. I don't doubt that now they've got someone who pays attention to what they need, the picking will stop and those feathers will grow right back.
I once rescued some elderly hens that were living in a tiny TSC coop with big sharp gravel in the run. They stayed crowded in the tiny house (maybe it hurt their feet?), half naked and nails grown so long they were twisted around. Owner told me they hadn't laid in a couple years and practically threw them at me. Within 6 weeks they looked like young healthy birds and began to lay. My avatar is one of those hens, she has hatched me many chicks over the years!

Post by **thejonesboy** » Sun Mar 06, 2016 3:00 pm

How are they doing now Rhonda? Pics would be nice :)