Well, wait. You can't leave us hanging. What is dipping or dunking?? My mind is only coming up with dunking the poor roo head first in water!
or maybe I'm right.... 
Backyard Chickens?
- Thread starter Dragonborn
- Start date
or maybe I'm right.... 
lady Dobie
Well-Known Member
My one and only Rhode Island Red
Beautiful!
Sorry life got interrupted, didn't mean to keep you hanging.Well, wait. You can't leave us hanging. What is dipping or dunking?? My mind is only coming up with dunking the poor roo head first in water!
I'll explain the method we used.
We grabbed the roo and forced his head down and then forced his rear down. Sort of like a rooster would do when he mounts a hen. Then you sort of hold him there until he submits. If this doesn't make sense let me know and I'll see if I can find a video that explains it
Easter Eggers, Lakesides (Meyer "breed", like EE's), and 4 Delawares.
A week since arriving and they are all doing well.
Every time we have a heatwave my Orpington gets broody. I don't know how she does it! She eats very little and dosen't take near enough water. Sitting on those eggs she gets so nasty and then molts. This morning I went out to do my chicken chores and 2 eggs hatched! I'm going to leave her be with her babies and when they are all hatched and coming out to meet the world I'll get some pics.
Love to see pictures of the littles when they are all out and about! Broody hens are amazing in their tenacity.
And final news on my 9 year old hen, we put her down today. Because I am the way I am, I did a necropsy to see why she's been ailing for a couple of months but eating and drinking just enough to keep giving her a chance. She had two huge lash eggs inside, not passing. I feel bad for not putting her out of her misery weeks ago. We really have to remember that animals act as normal as possible when they are dying inside, and from the necropsy there is no doubt that I let her live with pain way longer than I should have. I know she lived the finest 9 years any chicken could, and when I brought the new baby chicks in she showed a lot of interest and I think it brightened her last few weeks. RIP Dixie.
Rits
Hot Topics Subscriber
Aww, thats a hard and tough thing to go through. She had 9 wonderful years with you! Many chickens aren't as lucky to receive such quality care to keep them around that long. Was she the last of your old flock?
Aww I'm so sorry but you made the right decision. I would have given her every chance in this case too.
That is so true, especially with birds. Our vet told us that they mask it so well that by the time you know something is wrong in birds, it's usually too late.
Yes. I wanted chickens all my life and finally got the place and time to do it. A straight run of 20 plus the freebie in June of 2016. What a riot they were. Culled the roosters and ended up with 10 hens and one rooster, with a couple of broody hatches along the way. Onward and forward now with the sweet sixteen hatch of 2025.
Rits
Hot Topics Subscriber
If taken care of and some good luck, their average lifespan is that of a large breed dog! I have a few oldies in my flock. With the lack of vets that will bother with a chicken and predators if you free range, yes it's certainly an accomplishment to have a chicken reach their senior years!
They are indeed! When I notice her sitting I grab the eggs and move her to another part of the coop where the others can't bother her. Maybe I should say where she can't bother the others. She gets a little cranky. That's part of the reason wht I separate her.
I lived on a farm when I was a kid. My Grandpa gave me my first hen when I was 4 and I have had chickens ever since. If things go well I probably always will.
Not really for the typical backyard chicken. I've had them live into double digits pretty regularly. Just give them good food, a clean environment and protection from predators and they can live a nice long life.
Brioddy
Hot Topics Subscriber
Chickens are truly amazing and their intelligence is underrated, of course just like any one else some are smarter than others. Mine have a far better recall than either of the dogs I’ll say that. I’m a member of the backyard chickens forum and while it’s rare vets will see and treat chickens (and charge a premium of course) it’s incredible how many people treat various conditions in their chickens themselves. There’s a few members in particular that are truly experts and are always offering precise advise on how to diagnose and treat ailments. I’ve seen threads where chickens have been attacked, losing a wing or a leg, and making full recoveries with the care provided. It’s like as chicken owners we all have the potential to act as vets, because otherwise they are doomed. They are actually very resilient, it’s pretty crazy some of the threads I’ve read where it’s like “no way is that chicken surviving” and then they do. If you are a fan of poultry I highly recommend that forum, it’s so informative and everyone is extremely friendly.
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