Recent content by FunClucks

  1. FunClucks

    Food restrictions for Cornish cross

    Oh, yes, all chickens need grit. There is chick size grit and adult size grit. Any time they eat anything other than formulated chicken feed pellets, they need a source of grit. They will probably eat a fair amount of it the first time you put it out - this is normal, they need the correct...
  2. FunClucks

    Do you feed raw meat to chickens

    Feeding meat to chickens - a great use for the freezer-burned meat in the bottom of my freezer. Trying to get better about food rotation, but I don't always get it right, so the chickens get a treat out of it. Not suitable for human consumption due to off taste/flavor, partially dried out...
  3. FunClucks

    How much hardware cloth is needed

    I liked to buy the 6 ft tall 100 ft rolls off of amazon and weave the edges together with 20 gage galvanized steel wire. I used pliers, rubberized gardening gloves, and tin snips / industrial shears to cut and weave it all together. 1/2" hardware cloth is the way to go, predators can get...
  4. FunClucks

    How long will a 50 lb bag of layer feed last!?

    Consider letting them free range over the veggie garden once you're done with it. They can eat anything that is not moldy. Old, shriveled, dried out, you name it, they can eat it, I stay away from mold because some kinds can kill them. Now, will they eat it? Who knows? Chickens are weird...
  5. FunClucks

    My experience killing and cooking young heritage breed cockerels

    You should have gotten some sort of instruction method or manual or even just a pictorial flier with those shrink bags telling/showing you how to do it. Amazon or google can help out too. Makes things neater, IMO. Works best when you shrink wrap them after rigor mortis passes. Good luck!
  6. FunClucks

    My experience killing and cooking young heritage breed cockerels

    Good job! Excellent work, and excellent description, especially for a first-timer. Sounds you've got it down. One thing I would suggest is get a sturdy straw. Metal ones or durable polyethylene tubing will work. Put the straw inside the cavity of the chicken when it is in the shrink wrap...
  7. FunClucks

    Black Australorp died unexpectedly please help me understand why

    I'd get your cinnamon queen some calcium citrate with vit D (human vitamin, around 600 mg) and give her once a day until she stops with the soft shelled eggs. That condition is often fixable. Good luck!!!
  8. FunClucks

    Food restrictions for Cornish cross

    I wouldn't do it. Others have stated the disadvantages. Also, if it gets wet (thru water or poop), old feed could grow mold and make your birds sick/die. CX poop is extremely wet and full of ammonia. it was a constant struggle to keep their shavings dry in their stationary covered run (with...
  9. FunClucks

    Prepping for the inevitable, culling excess cockerels

    Roast in the oven with a lid is a great plan, I'd set the oven at 275F and see how things progress. I cook most of my roasts that way. Takes an eon, but always tender. Meat thermometer is a must. As for pressure cooker, get the simplest one Walmart has that meets your size requirement. I...
  10. FunClucks

    Prepping for the inevitable, culling excess cockerels

    You may already have this info, but just in case you don't, here is Molpet's picture with things labeled. 1. liver, 2 lobes. 2. heart 3. Galbladder, located on top of intestines, attached to the liver - I usually have to cut a portion out of the liver to remove the galbladder carefully so it...
  11. FunClucks

    Pecking my hand

    I had a prairie bluebell egger, Chipmunk, that was smaller than everyone else. She was, of course, my favorite chicken. In spite of the bullying and feather picking, she didn't give up, her spirit was not crushed, and she would not submit, she would actively run from the bullies. Finally I...
  12. FunClucks

    Pecking my hand

    I had a male faverolles chick that was extremely aggressive. I was really sad about it because I had heard they made good roos. But not that one. I rehomed him at 3 weeks to someone who had a brooder. There's a distinct difference between curiosity and human aggression. Curiosity is fine...
  13. FunClucks

    Change in Behavior - Less "Loving"

    Mine like Scratch. It's like candy for them, but great for reinforcement of behavior you want to see.
  14. FunClucks

    Pecking my hand

    Treats can help. But for birds that peck you without provocation like that, I just rehome them. I don't need the human aggression, and it usually gets worse as they get older. My management style and their personalities are just not a good fit. They would probably do great free ranging all...
  15. FunClucks

    I'm heartbroken 💔

    I love the look of your setup, but it's not very secure, and poses significant risk for when you're not watching them. As far as survivors, it depends on how long ago you lost them. If it was 15 minutes ago, I'd search for a bit as far as you think they could run, checking out anything that...
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