Recent content by Portia

The most I have had a hen successfully raise is 8, any more than that & she seems to loose track & the number dwindles until she has a manageable brood. Of course mine are all 100% free range, but that hasn't been a problem.

Chick feed has slightly different nutrients & contains some form of grit. Layer feed is formulated for optimum health in terms of egg production. That being said, there is no one better equipped to raise chicks than a hen; just let her do her job & give her & her chicks full access to outside...

I love my mutt mixes and our other dog is always a greyhound. Both are awesome and I'd recommend them to anyone & everyone!

Mine free range in our yard & woods & love a pile of leaves to scratch around in. Their other love is some bare, scratchable dirt in the sun for dusting.

Around here she can easily hatch out through late september or so and still have time to raise them so they are 6 weeks or so old before the weather gets to yucky. I worry more about the early days of the hatch when I often have to help the chicks out/in the coop for the first week until they...

I have 2 verified broodies and possibly a 3rd (love my speckled sussex and salmon favorelles). Little speck is always my first verified broody of the season and occasionally I'll get 2 hatch/raises out of her; she's the best mama hen I have, very doting and will stay with the chicks until they...

I have an eastern wild tom that was raised by one of my hens. He free ranges with the flock during the day and roost in one of the yard trees at night, always keeping an eye on the coop. He does challenge the head rooster, but mostly they just follow each other around the yard with the turkey...

Chickens will sit, and sit, and sit until something hatches...at least some of them will. Others get their fill after 2-3 weeks and abandon the lot of eggs before they hatch. Because turkey eggs do take longer to incubate you will want to make sure your hen is hearty gal who will sit for the...

I use one of those heating elements that you put into the water dish, I use one of those thick rubber dishes that holds several gallons (Tractor supply). I put the waterer right outside the basement door and it worked all of last winter and is still going strong. I also use a heated dog dish...

I am reading 2 books at this moment, as well as a list of articles for work...but that's another story. The 2 books are: Cotton by Stephen Yaffa Beekeeping: A Practical Guide by Richard Bonney