Recent content by briand55

Hi: We saw "colored" chickens at our State Fair. They were blue, hot pink, bright yellow. Honestly, we thought it looked pretty silly and had it been combined with "Chicken Education" so that the humiliation of the coloring attracted people and educated them in concert, that would have been...

Moselle: I agree with many of the posts about why give neighbors permission over your property and basically, lifestyle. I am glad you researched your zoning. But, call the Code Enforcement Officer (no need to tell your name/address) and ask him what constitutes a nuisance? We really should...

Hi Kayri: No problem. I am sure they will like them. Just put in the starter holes first. I use a screw driver to poke a few holes in the Winter squashes. Betcha they will be curious at first! I don't know if you do this with this site already but if you "subscribe" to this particular...

I would not chance it. We live on the fringe of the village tucked away but only 2 neighbors could see our 6 hens when they came out. We were actually just waiting for them to lay their first egg(s) and then we would move them to the family farm about 10 minutes away. They really had a...

Always uncooked. Keeps them busy. We toss a pumpkin or butternut squash ( several) into the coops and run...so no fighting. We also poke some starter hole in the whole squahes to get their curiosities. Again....to keep them busy. Once they the Winter squash are mere shells ( about 2 days)...

Lone Cowboy, We were so alarmed to see this happen so suddenly in our small and penned up flock of 6 hens. We are also so lucky to have this site as everyone, especially Carrie, was a big help in giving us possible solutions to what can be a nasty and habit forming problem. We were successful...

:DHi Stephanie! We too are from Upstate NY are are glad the single digit nights are over. Being new to chicken raising...we only have 6 hens...we do have a large insulated coop and enclosed massive wire run. We closed the coop flap over some of the cold nights which goes to the run but that...

Hi! Actually, we ordered and successfully recently used a heated chicken waterer that turns itself on around freezing levels. We keep it in the coop and haven't had a problem yet. We ordered it from from McMurray Hatchery and yes, we spoil our only 6 hens. Call us crazy. We have one red...

Our chickens are very friendly with us. We have 2 Black Sex Links and 4 Rhode Island Reds...all hens. They are in a coop and run and are spoiled rotten. They have a lot of fans that come by the farm to visit and bring them apples and pumpkins. We made a point of handling them (appropriately)...

Hi ALL! Just confirmed vent picking and some neck picking by the 2 "Boss Hens" which are large Black Sex Links picking on our other 4 Rhodes Island Reds. Thanks to Carrie, a poster here at the forum, who made the suggestion since this is our first flock. We have separated the 2 Black Sex...

We had the same thing happen to us twice with pullets that were born in April. They laid one egg that size about a month ago and then again about 2 weeks ago. It was soooo big we laughed and laughed as well as took video and pics. Since we are new to raising hens (we have two black sex links...

;)Our hens have been averaging an egg per day, even in the lesser light conditions of the winter. So perhaps it is because they are laying so much that they are losing some feathers. I am wondering then, if we should change their feed. They are on adult-laying feed, they do not get artificial...

Carrie Brown and Silkie Chicken: Thanks for your replies. We are checking for mites, lice etc and dust the nesting and coop area regularly. We haven't identified any as yet but that doesn't mean they aren't there. Interesting about the pecking order advice. Recently, due to our cold...

Hello All: New to this site....very nice. We have 6 pullets born in April or so and started laying in Sept of 2007. We have 4 Reds and 2 Black sex links. 2 of the Reds in succession (one week just after the other) have started to lose feathers around their bottoms under their vent, revealing...