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I have 4 Barred Rock peeps that are 6 weeks, and I just noticed the exact same thing on 2 of them. I'm searching for answers as we speak.

They'll be fine. It's amazing how insulating that fur is, and how well the babies are capable of snuggling down in. Don't be afraid to count them. The few seconds it will take will make sure there are no still-births in there. Cold is seldom an issue for rabbits. It's the heat you really have to...

Thanks, YardbirdMom! That was my goal. The most expensive elements were the metal brackets, which ring in at about $8 apiece. Total cost here, though, was still under $300 and was a weekend project that could have been completed in a day, had I pushed. Given what is commercially available for...

:-) Thanks. The best part is that the ventilation under the straw bales keeps it cool on hot days, and also keeps the inside humidity level down. If I did the design over, I'd make it just a touch more accessible for cleaning out bedding and such. It's manageable, but just slightly inconvenient.

Thanks. It's raining out again, but the ducks are having a blast inside the house. It's the best of both worlds for them, I guess. :-) I'll add a couple more pics...

Are you certain? :-) This picture does nothing but make me question exactly what I have. I got 10 from Metzer, with 5 sexed as female. Care to take a guess which one of your ducks most closely resembles my ladies? lol At what age do we expect to see the green plumage on the drakes? I think...

Thanks! I'm happy it provided you with some thoughts. :-) I *wish* I had a barn. heh

Yes, for sexing day-olds. I was thinking, though, of adult drakes, whose bills and feet are yellow, compared with hens, who are black/black. Please do correct me if I'm wrong. Mine are at 6 weeks at this point, and it's still not certain if I have 2 or 3 drakes out of my batch of 10. I'll...

I might be mistaken, but WH drakes shouldn't have black bills.

My 10 Welsh Harlequins went outside at 3.5 weeks and didn't have an issue.

Which feed store are you thinking about? I have hens right now from Half Moon Bay, Los Gatos (where I live), and San Jose. There are some great stores to visit (and it's an excuse to travel around the Bay Area finding resources and community!). If you include Mountain Feed in Ben Lomond, then...

Back a bit, you asked what to bait traps with: canned cat food works the best in my experience. Also, cheap. And yes, make sure you kill it. While the myth of playing possum is a fun one, dead really is dead, and it's easy to tell when you've humanely ushered him along his path. ;-) And...

Sorry to disagree, but the issue isn't one of bacterial growth. You're not storing the egg in a warm-water bath. You're simply washing it. The cold water causes the contents of the egg to retract. Since the egg shell is porous, and the bloom is now removed after washing, the theory is that more...

I adopted my cat, Bella, when she was 7, and that was a good 5 years or so before I moved up here to the farm. She definitely has dibs. ;-) At some point, I'd like to welcome a dog to the farmstead, just so I have something who can guard the flocks when I'm away.

LOL... if I had a wife, I'm sure she would be. I'm married to my farm. And as much as I'd like a house duck, my cat really was the one who objected to the whole hubbub. She's happy to have the entire couch to herself now.

I did just that. I put her back with the rest of the flock last night, and they're all now out of the brooder and into their permanent duck house. They were all very chatty with her. And I stayed and watched to make sure she had space at the water and feed. Everything appears fine now, so I'll...

Quote: From an environmental standpoint, cardboard is better. As to buying, I don't. I make people give me their cartons...especially if they want eggs from me! ;-) Going on a year now and 200 dozen eggs, I've yet to purchase a container. heh

She's now sitting here supervising my posts to BYC...

Factory eggs that have been washed with chemicals of their bloom must be refrigerated under U.S. law. Eggs for eating that are collected fresh don't. It's a choice up to the individual, not a "must." I might suggest the Mother Earth News article listed earlier. I also might suggest...