Recent content by Hopin

I'm finding this an interesting thread! I'm hoping this is a proper place to ask, does everyone candle your eggs, and do you wash them and refrigerate, or sell them all natural? My pullets are a few months from start up, but I was wondering?

For hardware cloth and chicken wire I've found a 1/4 crown stapler with 1/4 x 1/2 galvanized staples to be the bomb! Staples come in lengths up to 1 7/8s. Set the staple gun strength to fire the staples the proper depth into the wood you are connecting to, and you won't cut your wire. They are...

I have mine outdoors in a ventilated but not drafty coop. I have an emitter and lamps, but mine seem to prefer the emitter over the lamps, even when the thermometer says the temperature is the same??

I was going to put up a thread about my winter chick experience, but I'll just share it here. I ordered from McMurray to be delivered week of Jan 16th. 25 chicks shipped, only 7 made the trip! They offered me several options, but to get the breed I wanted would be end of April! I finally...

O yes. They refunded the losses promptly. I almost feel that they where abused somewhere along the way. First time I've ever started this early, but surly that high a loss isn't normal even in cold weather.

I live very near a waterfowl refuge. I built my coop and run intending to keep out sparrows, and covered to keep out fecal contamination. I plan to let them out more after the migration season is over.

Mine didn't have such a good trip, only 7 out of 25 made it! :( It's been a little over a week now and I can report all 7 are still alive and doing well! I picked up 6 more at Rural King this week and they are also doing great. I ordered straight run and have my fingers crossed hoping for 3 or...

I did, and was reimbursed promptly. Good news is they are all doing fantastic so far! I was prepared for a few losses, just not that many! Now I have to hope for pullets. By spring it'll be obvious if I need to order more chicks, as I was shooting for about 6 hens and culling the roosters...

Got home with them, opened the box, only 7 out of 25+ made it to me. 😭

Thanks for the replies all! I hadn't thought about rain water collection! I have a neighbor across the field mention collecting rain water, I'll pass on to her why this would be a bad idea in our area, as we have huge flocks of geese fly over our properties nearly daily! Just got the call from...

Yes, High Pathogenic Avian Influenza. After doing more local research, I've discovered we have had confirmed cases in the county, but not in any large operations! I'm thinking it's best to at least keep them up in a covered run during migration season, first of November until first of March or...

Cookoo Marans, and Dorking roos. I plan to eat most of the roosters and save a couple Marans roosters with the hens.

I live very near a waterfowl refuge with thousands of geese, ducks, and sandhill cranes in the area. I don't have a pond and none alight on my property. My concern is that if keeping my flock safe from AI. I'm building my run and coop with the intention of keeping sparrows out, but I have...

Hi all. I'd like to introduce myself. I grew up in a farm life, with livestock and crops, but am in the medical field today. I had chickens when I was in my 20s, but life circumstances had me in a position that it wasn't possible to continue. Several years ago we purchased a place in the...