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I've had both Lavenders and Barred Rocks. I had two Lavenders; one developed Bumble foot at about two years - we saved her and put her back into the flock just to catch her egg eating... sometimes you can't save them no matter. Her "sister" never gave us any trouble, was a good layer - both were...

I don't think free-ranging is a viable choice where we live in SE Alabama - too many predators between possums, racoons, coyotes, and even snakes - not to mention the occasional stray dog(s). There's a red fox that claims his turf about a mile down the road, but so far he seems more interested...

Our girls are pets. We started out with half a dozen and now have about seventy. Chicken math. But they are pets and all have names and colored bands so I can at least look them up when I can't remember them. We get a goodly amount of eggs each day, more than enough for our needs and our...

I've had to get rid of roosters because of aggressive behavior to the point I don't bother with them anymore. It didn't take me long to come to that point, either. I don't free range as there are too many predators in the area, but my girls have a great run. Still, there's no good way for them...

Reading your suggestions - thanks for taking the time to respond: My chicks don't free range - too many predators out there - I do have a couple young "high flyers" who are getting over the fence - but for the most part my flock is as secure as fencing and concrete along the bottom can make...

Thanks for the reply. I almost wish mine were molting; then I'd have an explanation and a reasonable expectation of an end to the "drought." But several of my girls went through an early molt in the Spring (I figured it had something to do with when they hatched). Thanks for responding.

I have a problem that has me stumped and I’m reaching out to see if there are any ideas. I’ve been doing backyard chickens for about five years now. I started out with a dozen girls and over time am now nearing 90. Yep, chicken math. That, and the fact a lot of folks were wanting to buy eggs...

Sorry it's taken so long to respond. I ended up tossing the brood. Sad, after all, they had started to develop but the problem persisted and even though I had a couple hens go broody I thought it would be too risky. As it turned out I have nine naturally hatched chicks from other broods -...

Thanks for the speedy response. It's greatly appreciated and pretty much confirms my fears. It's been at least two days since I noticed it and a fight since, personally I would be surprised if any of them hatched out now - just wanted to get some other input before I pulled the trigger. It...

A few months ago we decided to take the plunge and hatch out some eggs of our own. I ordered a brooder through Amazon (a cheep "Smartchoices 12 egg incubator") but decided to go the "natural" way as I had some broody girls - one in particular, a bantam cochin who's wanted to be a Mama ever since...

It's not necessarily a pecan problem - even if we had any good pecans the squirrels get them all. The problem is the constant shedding of branches and dead leaves that are constantly falling into the net weighing it down. Follow that up with the heavy rains we've been having since early summer...

We have been using netting to cover most of our coop and run area but the problem is we have pecan trees and they shed everything on the nets weighing them down. 'Been thinking on stringing plastic coated clothesline spaced closely over the area with occasional colored pennants to discourage...

I couldn't agree more. Haven't had any more problems with predators, but know it's just a matter of time where we live. I think the reason we haven't had more of a problem in that area is our neighbor across the road lets her chickens free range and another neighbor a bit farther down the road...

I usually carry my cell with me when I'm outside - you never can tell what might happen. It looks like I might need to start going around heeled, too. (LOL) I normally try to live catch and release, but it really wasn't doable under the circumstances without a real risk of letting him get away...

I found a possum in one of my hen houses when I went to lock them up this evening. We lost a couple chicks we had brought home a couple of weeks ago. They were about two months old, real cute. It was a weekend we had so much rain. We had brought home eight chicks; Monday morning we did a head...

I wanted to do an update on my chickens. As I had started two threads about the various problems I was having I figured I'd combine it into a new thread. First, many thanks to those who took the time to give suggestions; they may or may not have all applied to my situation but ALL were...

We had considered several options when looking at air protection. We have a beautiful hawk in our area who patrols regularly. Fortunately, for our babies out neighbor across the road free ranges (she has almost lost one to the hawk, and who knows how many others to it or other predators) and...