Recent content by centrarchid

  1. centrarchid

    Meet good old Eddie

    Eddie is officially a dad again at about 14 years of age. Shelly the pullet laid her first egg ever on floor behind suitcase. Before doing so she got onto bed with me and pecked me a lot and very hard. Hear earlobes are also very white.
  2. centrarchid

    Livestock dogs to guard chickens and turkeys?

    I would start with only one pup. Before getting pup make so you have a good pen to keep dog in when needed. Compensate for the dog's inclination to room, a perimeter fence is also a good idea. Then you have the protracted training which will likely take so direct supervision. Once first dog...
  3. centrarchid

    Injured Rooster

    I strongly recommend you treat the two roosters, even though brothers raised together, as complete strangers. Place the rehabilitated rooster in a separate pen.
  4. centrarchid

    Free Ranging

    When left to their own devices in a free-range environment with a diverse forage base of greens, invertebrates, and seeds the bulk of their intake by volume not accounting for moisture content is the greens. Once they start getting a good crop fill, they will then start showing looking more for...
  5. centrarchid

    Unusual sleeping / napping posture

    I agree. When conditions thermally neutral for a given bird the head is neither tucked nor extended. Once our central heating is back up I'll be able to record posture when she is warm. When warm they also seem to stand up a lot during the night. Opening photo was extreme; Shelly was neither...
  6. centrarchid

    Unusual sleeping / napping posture

    Same bird as approaching adulthood. Temperature important as to whether she tucks head in feathers on back or keeps it retracted to the front. Note from side feathers completely cover her toes even when purchased on 1 x 2.
  7. centrarchid

    Meet good old Eddie

    High volume chicken watered. He is just now regaining ability to fly up from floor to reach it.
  8. centrarchid

    -40 wind chill forecasted for Friday

    This is where my free-range chickens are concentrating their loafing efforts when challenged by combination of cold and wind. Once we about the snow starts to accumulate they will be more concerned about avoiding wind until the sunlight is direct again.
  9. centrarchid

    Meet good old Eddie

    His eyes maybe clear but he appears to have impaired vision when light levels are low. His eyes are also a different color when compared to a much younger close relative of same overall coloration.
  10. centrarchid

    Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

    I have been running mine continuously since early 2010. All losses replaced by breeding on our farm. About six weeks ago we sold about 2/3's of our flock to get down to 40 birds.
  11. centrarchid

    Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

    That is how most of my Missouri Dominiques are kept with the exception of two roosters this winter. The balance is roosting in wild plum trees on the north side of pens used to contain brood stock games. That said I have my son feed them enough during winter so they seldom go beyond 100 yards...
  12. centrarchid

    Meet good old Eddie

    He is oriented with head facing me so drop zone is away. Here is a dummy run to see how far from his landing gear I need to have the collection extended. Looks like drop zone is centered on about 4” behind his feet when settled on perch. When he extends landing gear / legs the drop zone does...
  13. centrarchid

    Meet good old Eddie

    Upgrading Eddie’s roost so hopefully he and Shelly will quit roosting on head board of my bed. The shinny thing below him will be replicated for Shelly so I can collet their nocturnal droppings.
  14. centrarchid

    Weighing chickens

    I have done research trials with hens and cockerels where they stood on a scale accurate to 1 g with a capacity of 2500 g. The platform was smaller than ideal. What I did was train the birds to stand on platform calmly to wait for small treats. My birds were weighed repeatedly. I now have Jersey...
  15. centrarchid

    Meet good old Eddie

    See those cute pokey spurs? Imagine how they poke down even more when Eddie crouches to rest.
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