Recent content by bobchristenson

Two years later and lots more experience and I just re-read this post after I just introduced my next set of chicks (the babies in the original post are the big girls now). Some of the best advice in this thread is about "when they stop peeping and start 'clucking', they're ready to mix". I...

Hey All, I'm in my 3rd year of suburban homesteading (and chicken raising) and I finally have a sick chicken (I think). Over the winter one of them (only a year old right now) started having a bit of 'baldness' around the comb. For a while I just thought it was white feathers...but it's not...

My issue really is one of having good enough housing to keep them separated long term. That's why I keep trying to introduce them into the same run (I really only have a single area that can't easily be divided again). We got a snow storm today so it means they're not going outside either...

Well, since the start of this thread, we're now at week 8. I just put them together again (all day today) and it's not going much better, but the chicks are bigger so I feel like they're a little less in danger. I opened up the coop so they're much less likely to run into chicken wire etc...

Here's where I'm at...looking for some advice: Weeks 0-5 - Inside in a brooder Week 5-6 - they were put in a small brooder/run in our coop. Heat lamp on all times, however with this mild winter so far, temps never really got below about 45. Week 7 - I changed the heat lamp to be on only at...

Thanks everyone! I actually closed them up for the night and everything seemed to quiet down...I figured the'd tuff it out...then I read this thread :) I went back out (in my PJs!) and moved them back to a rubbermaid box for the night. Tomorrow I'll have to reconstruct their adjacent run...

My first introduction of chicks to chickens and its not going so great, but I've never done this before (or seen it done) so I'm not sure where the line should be. Here's the details: Chicks are 5 1/2 weeks They were separated from the 'big girls' for about 5 days by only chickenwire. So...

Excellent feedback from an expert! How lucky am I?!? Thanks so much for your thoughts.... (the backyard chickens community rocks!!)

Yes, I know the title of this post initially sounds like a bad idea and there are people out there that won't even feed their chickens municipal water (because it's chlorinated). I try and have a balanced view of caring for my flock's health but not going overboard when it comes to treating...

I've got my fingers crossed, but I think I'm out of the woods. I made sure she was eating and her poop has returned to normal. So, I think it was stress from the move that caused the weird shell...once that was extracted and she started eating I think everything is getting back to normal...

Not sure what FF is?

Well. That was super gross. :) I pulled it out and there was quite a bit inside still so thanks for giving that advice. I could see how that might keep her from eating or pooping normally! I was afraid to pull before in case it was part of her insides coming out! Here's a pic...it sure...

This makes me wonder if it's a membrane from the shell-less eggs she's laying? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/637339/long-white-strand-coming-out-of-vent This actually makes the most sense...sound right? Should I leave it and let it come out on it's own? What about the green poop?

I've only had chicks up to this point but we just got a 2.5 year old barred rock that is molting. I've never seen a molting hen but I have a feeling I'm seeing something abnormal. This hen lived in one place with her 12 'sisters' her whole life. Now she lives with my single hen in a new...

Issue solved. They both seemed docile enough so I just put em' together straight away. All is well in the kingdom :) Thanks for the input!