Recent content by Alanzs

I raise day olds and sell them on as pullets. I'm figuring a bit over 2,000 -2,4000 chicks this year. Business is almost all word of mouth, so it's not a lot of work. WOO HOO, LOVE THEM CHICKENS!

My dream breed is my Sprollie (Border Collie/Springer Spaniel). She has "the eye" of a Border Collie (she squats and stares at the animals she's herding) and the soft mouth (will get a bird and hold it softly and bring it to me) and less intensity of the Springer Spaniel. Super smart, can learn...

Your goals sound great and more is always better!!! I raise day old chicks (1-200 at a time) until they are pullets @5 weeks old, then, I sell them to local folks here in the far north of New Zealand. Business is good and it's heaps of fun. My goal is to continue raising chicks and providing...

I'd have to agree that after 8 weeks, the umbilical cord should have dropped off. This usually happens after a week or so. I always trim the goat's hooves every few weeks, depending on the weather. They don't seem to mind and I always give them a treat.

Trim time

Separate the injured chook until the wound has healed completely. Chickens will definitely peck that wound if it's not healed well. Also, give her some treats, she deserves it!

Glad to hear she's feeling better 😊

Chicks need a very warm environment, like 32c for the first few days then 30c at a week, etc. I wouldn't use a candle for heat as I'd be concerned about starting a fire.

I have never had long term success when a chick won't eat readily. I've fed them with eye droppers, etc. but none ever lasted more than a day. Also, culling an animal is done to stop suffering and also to make sure that the disease (if any) isn't spread to other animals. I hate culling chicks...

I raise chicks commercially. Sometimes, there may be nothing evident as to why a chick may not be thriving. It sounds like you're doing the right things; checking for pasty butt, etc. But, sometimes chicks just die! I usually think it may be that the chick got cold, but sometimes, they just...

Keep the chooks away from the sprayed area for a day or two. Never had any problems.

My border collie/springer spaniel, Indika, is trained to round up the chooks when needed. As well, she's trained to find, hold and retrieve chickens. She knows multiple, specific commands to round up the chooks. As she's under 2 years old, she's still learning and understanding what's her...

All the rattlers that are a nuisance, get shot or dispatched with a shovel. Nuisance snakes are ones that pose a danger, for whatever reason. Those that are not a nuisance, I just leave alone. Having lived in ratttle snake country forever, they are generally nothing to fear. We've had up to...

I have a few chickens that supply me with eggs. As a part time business, I raise day old Hy Line Brown chicks that I sell when they reach five weeks old. I supply to homeowners, lifestyle farmer's and anyone who wants laying hens. Here in New Zealand, there's no tractor supply stores that...

In New Zealand trademe is a good place. That, all the local feedstores and other places that have bulletin boards. Then, after a while, referrals will happen. Good luck.