Recent content by DerSchoeneBahnhof

Never mind, she is gone. ⚰️

She is drinking if I put some water on her beak, but still refuses to eat. Should I mash some pellets with water into a paste and insert into her beak?

Well, luckily I still have a box for raising chicks so I used that and put her in the garage for now, the temps are expected to be mild in the next few days (and there are coyotes roaming outside). Cross fingers she starts eating again. If she recovers, moving her outside the flock is not...

Ugh, in the winter the situation had improved but Tuesday looks like the others injured her feet by plucking some feathers and she has been sitting all day long Wednesday inside the nesting area. Yesterday evening she refused to eat or drink, she is weak and can stand a bit but eventually goes...

The other coop right next to it has 3/4" plywood floor (with wood chips on top) treated with Preserva Wood and has done well so far (it has a roof). I would definitely treat thinner plywood too. For now looks like oilcloth is the simplest solution, with wood chips on top.

Got it, so we are looking at something like this...

Updated location.

Oh, can anyone chime in on whether oilcloth would be toxic to the chickens at all? Just curious. Thanks! CG

Oilcloth, cool, let me look at that. Thanks to all for the replies! As promised, here are pics of the coop. EDIT: gaps between planks are about 1/4" I would say.

Sure, I will post pics later. Looks like plywood is the winner so far. The coop does have a vinyl roof, recently added to prepare for a possibly rainy winter.

Hardware cloth would have to be very thin, maybe 1/4" grid then? Wouldn't the chicken feet get stuck in the hardware cloth as they scratch? Just looking for the cheapest option at this stage. Hardware cloth is cheaper than plywood and would let water go through. Horse mats are heavy and appear...

My current coop floor is made of pine lumber, 1" x 4" boards (treated with wood preservative). Due to the lumber quality, some boards being slightly bent etc. there are some gaps between them. Tiny pieces of wood chips fall between the gaps and so I have to refill wood chips more often and...

She appears to be molting right now. Lots of feathers in the nesting box...

Thanks for the reply. How do I increase protein content in the diet? dried worms? Never head of peepers before, are these difficult to install?

1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) Breed: Salmon Faverolle. Feathered feet, 5 toes. Age: about 9 months Weight: similar to others in the flock 2) What is the behavior, exactly. Feet bleeding at times. It has gotten worse...