New Year chicken keeping resolutions.

[Marigold]

Wishing you all a very and successful Happy New Year, with your birds,
My poultry-keeping resolution this year is to pick up my hens and examine their feet more regularly. Yesterday I went round all them to clip their nails, which I knew had got rather long, especially on the older girls. I'd been meaning to do this for a week or so, but what with the extra tasks in the cold weather and over Christmas, I always seemed to forget to have the dog toenail clippers in my pocket when I went down to see them. I found that, not only did some of them have over-long nails, but most also had hard balls of mud caked round their claws, reinforced by fine fibres from the Aubiose bedding. This wasn't noticeable until I actually picked them up as their constantly-moving feet were camouflaged in the deep litter. I had to cut away the mud balls before I could see the claws. They were especially big on Marigold and Nutmeg, who are nearly 5 years old and had very long claws. The pullets didn't need clipping but also had some mud balls on their feet.
So, 48 claws and 4 spurs later (Marigold and Nutmeg both have grown long spurs as well) everyone is trotting around without any clogs on. Must try to do this more often.
Anyone else got a poultry management resolution for the New Year?

 

[BabyBantam]

My resolution is Not to worry about my girls so much. Constantly stressing about whether they are ok. Also planning to make sure that I handle my new girls more. Due to being at work from before dawn to after dark for about 2 months over winter, my new girls are happy to see me, but not comfortable being handled nor come close. Roll on longer day length.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Like BB not to worry about my girls, I think the eggs they are producing are proof of their contentment with life generally.
If only they would go to roost by themselves, I thought maybe redmite were the worry overnight, but, thank goodness no sign at all. I do believe in Redstop and their dose is always up to date now. Only Phyllis roosts naturally, all the others have to be plucked off the roof of the hut, even in the rain, lovely!!

 

[KittyKat]

To automate more of the feeding and watering. I recently set up a large waterer (involving a water butt) for one of the coops, now waiting for parts to do the same for the other coops. Need to think of something for the feeders to increase the capacity as we travel relatively frequently and it would be nice if the chicken sitters didn't need to lug feed and water around. They only get paid in any fresh eggs that they can find and are ever so good about coming in regularly that I'd like to make the visits easier for them.