Posts by Fred's Hens

What SilkieChicken said.   You might also dust them for mites/lice.  Sometimes this is an underlying contributors to the pecking, especially as it relates to pecking in the vent area.  Feather eating is also a sign,...

Yes, Some TSCs in some places get some of the bird's from Mt Healthy.  But, they also use Townline here in the upper midwest and other hatcheries other places.   Since Mt Healthy had an outbreak a year or so ago and were...

Quote: Originally Posted by ChickenCanoe  Neither. Get a non-medicated grower feed and give crushed oyster shell in a separate container for calcium. Yup, yup.   Any Grower, Flock Raiser or even...

Salmonella exists in nature.  It is everywhere.  As is e-coli and many other organisms.  In most cases, it is simply the sheer number and the particular morph of a virulent strain that causes the...

Different TSC stores get sourced from different hatcheries.  FWIW

If you read the tag of ingredients on your feed bag you see that virtually all chicken feed, chick Starter, Grower, Raiser, etc all have calcium.  Sure, all chickens need some calcium for good health.   But Layer feed has...

If the ambient air is 80- 85?  During the day?  They'd be just fine.  But how long does it take to get to that?  Noon?  You'd likely want some supplemental warmth at night.  50F is too cool at night and...

This is an exhausting time of year at the old homestead.  We market garden, so the work is tough and compressed into a short time frame.  The older I get, the more frequently I have stop at the end of row, sit down, have cup...

Culling  is normally done around here in November, as we cannot carry 300 birds, on the three farms, through the winter. No can do.   The prime layers go to the laying houses and the breeder pens get set up for January-April...

Out of 90 or 100 pullets we put on the ground every year there always seems to be at least one of these.  Just never do lay sometimes.  I seriously doubt changing feed would have much to do with it.     Too bad....