Recent content by BarnyardChaos

So I'm adding another breed to my mixed heritage flock - Speckled Sussex! I picked up these six chicks at Tractor Supply a few weeks ago, to be buddies with two rescue chicks from a neighbor. She's new to chickens, and when one of her 2-day-old chicks fell in the water dish, it almost died. She...

The eggs collected in January were not fertilized, except one. (I tossed it.) George seemed to be trying to do his job, but I think the girls weren't interested yet. So I decided to wait until warmer weather. And it's successful, mostly - I again set 12 eggs on April 1st, of which 9 are fertile...

I don't mind at all! Unfortunately, I'm no help with respiratory issues. I've been away from the board for several months, so I haven't been much help to anybody lately! As for the Safeguard wormer, it's safe and is used off-label for poultry. An avian vet once told me you'd have to dose her...

There is no one right way to raise Cornish Cross. Everyone does it a little differently, and you'll just need to find what works best for you. I think those who fail with Cornish Cross do so because of poor management. But if you just stick to a recommended set of guidelines, monitor them...

I would not, unless it's buried under sand or dirt so their bellies don't rub on it. I'm serious; these birds will spend 95% of their time lying on their bellies. They will rub all the feathers off. They get up to eat, but often sit while eating. They'll waddle over to a waterer, get a drink...

Pine shavings run me about $8 per bale, and it goes a long ways. I use large flake for the coop floor and fine flake for the nesting boxes. Keeps nice and fluffy, and keeps the eggs clean and cushioned. Your call for the run; personally, I'd just keep it in dirt and let Mother Nature do the cleanup.

I something wrong with the latch? Or do you just want to replace it so you can do something about the gap? Couldn't you fill the gap above and below the latch?

When I've raised Cornish Cross, it's always been in a stationary coop and run. We had a little wooden shed with raised concrete floor, inside of a fenced run. We had no netting or roof over the run, so we took our chances - but never lost a bird to any predation. They made an awful mess in the...

Thanks so much! He's the same age as the hens, just turned 1 year. And he's got a nasty case of frostbite from 2-3 weeks ago, in which he is losing all the tips of his formerly magnificent comb down into the edge of the meaty part. Well, DUH BarnyardChaos! It just occurred to me about the...

They should kick-start for your area any day now. They started up here (west central Missouri) about two weeks ago. If they free-range, you may want to check under every bush, tree, plant pot, wheelbarrow, fallen log, etc. to be sure they haven't been hiding them. You could also put a light in...

I'm happy I was able to get out of bed with little pain today, and walk on my own two feet. I have a warm, secure home and a hubby who loves me. Good, solid transportation. Lots of people don't have any of that. I am blessed. I've been sick with flu the past several days, so have felt like...

@Shadrach do you have any thoughts on this?

@Bertram and @JacinLarkwell I think I will wait about a month and try again. Come to think of it, I haven't noticed my other three roosters mating with any of the girls in the big flock for awhile, either. So it's likely weather related or seasonal. Like most of the U.S., we had two weeks of...

No treatments of any kind recently. I should check them for mites this morning. These four birds have a coop that measures 4' x 8', and a 600 sq ft run.

Out of 12 eggs in the incubator, only ONE is developing at 5 days. One! Did my rooster forget how to do his job, or are the hens just not letting him? I have only 2 Bresse hens, 1 rooster, (and 1 pullet) in this pen. They are about 1 year old now. Incubator is a kebonnixs, I've used it several...