From our experience, the chicks seem to be "traumatized" when we get them. Little kids have been picking them up all week and playing around with them, which exposes them to sicknesses that could easily be spread. They don't seem to form a liking towards people at all, no matter how much...
I'm hoping to show some chickens in 4H, but there's one problem; I don't know how!! What are some things that I need to do, and how would one go about doing those things? What specific qualities do my hens (I can't have roosters) need to have? How would I present them to the judge?
I have 2...
That's good. The TSC chicks can be a little problematic. If you're getting them from a different place then you shouldn't really have a problem :) Constant handling and a good environment will really establish how your chicks will end up after you get home.
How old is she? She may be squatting and ready to lay. If that isn't possible, the staining could be caused by diarrhea, I would check for worms, and make sure that she's eating properly. The best thing to do now would just be to separate her, and see how it progresses,
Fish is fine, but feed it in moderation. Citrus, although not entirely healthy for the chickens, is completely fine. Because we use my girls for 4h, little kids are always throwing Lemons and Oranges into the run. The only thing citrus does is weaken the egg shell, so if you offer your...
Whole corn is certainly better than cracked corn, as it has the oils and nutrients that cracked corn lacks. However, you don't want it to be the staple of your chicken's diet. You should offer them a pellet or crumble feed as the base, with grit always included.
I know I'm not supposed to play favorites, but I absolutely adore 2 of my hens. Then again, I only have 4 . One of my barred rocks just loves to pick on my other girls. On the other hand, one of my Hamburgs is a complete jerk . I love my other Hamburg and Barred rock, though. They are my...