Recent content by patrickj

I have six girl Cochens and One Rooster. I am thinking of six female runner ducks for eating ticks. We have a big issue these days in Central Texas. Good plan? Also, do you think they will get along with the Cochen's and vise versa? and we have a creek 30 yards from coop...will that work for...

First time this happened. what is this? Year old, six girls...real hot here and they virtually stopped laying a few days ago...two or three just hang out in their nest box all day and not roam...I don't think they are sitting on any eggs....just sitting. My first chickens so not sure what is...

seven girls and all of a sudden they started pulling out his tail feathers and then today I saw they have been pulling feathers off behind his neck...looks awful..down to the meat...poor fellow. Why are they doing this? they free foam have a very peaceful life..seems really strange. he jumps...

I don't have an answer, but will join the thread in hopes of some help like you. I have 8 7 month old girls and they lay plenty of eggs, even though it's cold here in Texas the past few weeks, but not in the next boxes. My neighbor said my original boxes were too open with too much light. I...

This has happened twice in the past two weeks. I find a dead hen with the meat around the necks eaten and nothing else...maybe some of the head. anyone have experience with this predator?

I have 11 girls, one rooster, all Cochens. Very friendly, free range all day. Two and half months old. We've lost a couple to unknown predator, maybe coon or fox. Have big tick problem, has been helped by the girls for sure. Thinking of a couple guineas for more tick eating and also possible...

Do you think a couple guineas are worth the "noise" for possible protection for my hens from fox, racoons, opossum and maybe hawks? Do they alert the girls troubles around?

two and half month old Cochens. Free range twelve hours a day. No issues until now. Sometime late in the day I suspect before putting them to bed, something got one of the girls. This morning I found a big pile of feathers...nothing else. The feathers were all in one spot near a tree line...

Would love opinions on the height of nest boxes and perching bars for Cochens. Six boxes and two perches is what we have. Opinions please on ideal set up in 8x8x8 coop, twelve chickens on the way. thanks so much. All Cochens.

Well, guess that is a a yes....thank you. My main motive is for tick eating, of course eggs will be lovely. We've a real problem here the past three years. The wasps stopped building nests...and now I have ticks and a couple of dogs..ugh. I know Guineas are tick monsters..but noisy, so I...

Have a nice sturdy coop built. I will build an area surrounding the coop so that I may leave them be for a couple days at a time. I am in Texas. There are owls and foxes, skunks. Is it necessary to put a top on the outside fenced area they will have access to with door open to coop when I am...

I have not a clue to what I am doing. so, with 15 is it 50-50 generally on sex and what does one do with the boys if we don't want roosters around?

I am in Texas and interested in 12-15 silky/cochen or cochen, young females as young as possible. can you help please? Patrick Timpone 512.894.3387

I am in Texas, new at this, finishing up on the coop now. 15 acres and our motive is to eat ticks, which have been very challenging to people and dogs the past few years. Many have recommended Cochens. Looking for some experienced opinions out there. thank you.

ticks have been bad here the last few years in central Texas. I hear guinea's eat lots of ticks, but too noisy for my taste. Wondering if a few chicks for eggs will also eat ticks around the grounds?