Recent content by reedyfork

I've done some more research today, and I can't find where anyone has had negative experiences using these pellets - most info/opinions are very positive. No one seems to have problems or concerns with their chickens eating the pellets, and most love them for their absorbancy, dust-free...

I just discovered these (Equine) Pine Pellets at TSC the other day. Bought a couple of 40# bags ($5.99 ea.), but now I'm wondering whether my girls will try to eat them. Anyone had a problem with older chickens eating these pellets? Mine are only 3 months old and still eating crumbles, but...

This is a fast growing fad, but it is a fad, Don't go so far overboard that when it dies back to a stable level, you got so much into it that you can get it back out. You know, I have concerns about that too. Is the interest in backyard chickens, locavore products, organic foods, backyard...

Thanks! Those are all excellent ideas. I've edited my original post to include your thoughts. I've gone back and forth on having live chicks for sale in the store. Obviously that means a little more care and upkeep on my part (do I want my store to smell like a coop and have constant dust...

Not sure where to post this, so I thought I'd start here. I am brand-new to raising chickens, and live in an urban city that justed passed its "backyard chicken" ordinance last year. Interest seems to be growing - we are the third family just in our neighborhood to have a backyard flock...

I'm raising my first chicks now, and I'm really interested in the responses to this topic. Mine are 6+ weeks old now, and I finally moved them out of the house to the garage last week. They still have their 100W heat lamp (I only have 3 chicks). depending on the outside temps it can be just...

Thanks everyone. This makes me feel alot better! I'll keep an eye on her, and it will probably help once I find a new home for the two males I have. Should eliminate any crowding issues... Ron

Hopefully she's just feathering out slowly... I have two males that are moving to a new home ASAP, so any crowding/stress issue in their box should be relieved very soon. They are eating Purina Chick Start & Grow, and they get the rare earthworm or mealworm as a treat. I'll definitely be...

Not sure the best place to post this, so I'll also ask it under "Chicken Behavior". I have 5, 5+ week old RIR chicks. One of the chicks (who's always been the "runt") is looking pretty rough. I don't see any obvious wounds, redness, blood, mites, etc., but she still has some bare patches...

Not sure the best place to post this, so I'll also ask it under "Raising Chicks". I have 5, 5+ week old RIR chicks. One of the chicks (who's always been the "runt") is looking pretty rough. I don't see any obvious wounds, redness, blood, mites, etc., but she still has some bare patches, downy...

Thanks to everyone for all the great information! The consensus seems to be: Chick 1: Halloweena Hen Chick 2: Poker Rooster Chick 3: Pinky Rooster Chick 4: Jake Hen Chick 5: Runner Hen I guess I'll wait another couple/few weeks for the feathers to fully develop before I feel...

Our five chicks are in a large cardboard box in the house (4' x 2' x 2'). The other day, at 5 wks. old, I came home to find one perched on the top rim of the box. Luckily that's as far as she got! Anyway, I immediately made a "lid" with hardware cloth attached to a 1" x 2" frame. Very easy...

Have you checked the pet stores? I have my five chicks inside the house, and didn't need a large 250 W heat bulb, so I got a smaller 100 W red heat bulb w/ smaller size reflector (?) from the local pet store. It's made for reptiles. Good luck! Ron

We chose RIRs as our family's very first backyard chickens because of their reported hardiness, egg laying, "regular" size, and docile/friendly nature. We were looking for a positive first experience for our two small children (and their friends), and were more interested in them as pets than...

So that I can learn a little for next time, would you all mind telling me what characteristics, appearance, etc. that your looking at to help decide? Comb, legs, feathering, overall appearance, or what? Is there anything specific I can post photos of to help? Poker is the only one I would...