Recent content by DanasChicks

I would let her continue setting. You said they were at difference stages in development, so that means possibly other hens laid a few eggs while she was sitting. She will take care of the chick and continue to sit on the other eggs until they hatch. I wouldn't worry about the size of the yolk...

Hi no empty nest, I wouldn't worry about the aggression you see the mother hen exhibiting toward the other hens. The mother hen is protecting her chicks. It's natural and will subside on it's own in time. Congrats!

Hi Studio2770, As I understand it, true Araucanas are very rare here in America. They are a cross between a Colloncas and Quetros bread way back in the early 1900's. The distinguishing traits are they are rumpless, and have ear tuffs. Ear tuffs look like single feathers coming out of the ear...

Before you stake claim on a definite roo, and rehome this one, you might want to check the comb. Silkies will express a very small knob formation at the base of their comb, where the females will not have one and I am assuming that a Cochin comb would be more evident at this age. I am not seeing...

I have Blue Silkies. I also have Black-Blue, Black, Buff, White, Partridge, and Lavender Silkies. However, now looking at your picture again with better lighting, Sonoran Silkies is correct, your Silkie appears to be a Black Silkie, expressing Splashes of Lavender (or call it grey). I have a...

Hi katlantis, Before doing anything with the feet, it's helpful to cut thin strips of the wrapping material down to size to use for wrapping, whether it's gauze strips or tape or a bandage, what have you. The thinner the strip better for wrapping toes. You will most likely need to wrap the...

Hi Bravevline, There is a market for goose eggs. Some people purchase them as fertile eggs only and other people purchase them as non fertile eggs only. I believe that people use them for eating eggs and baking eggs. They can bring a dollar or more per egg. Goose eggs have a stronger flavor...

Hi MsMuse, Sounds like he is doing a great job courting those girls. Soon he will be doing a bit more than offering gifts and treats... soon he'll be dancing around the girls, pointing his wings down and prancing in a circle around one of the hens.. Right now, he's just letting each of them...

Hi Kslizza, From what I understand Cochin's are the preferred chickens when creating a frizzle. It appears this chick took on the comb and waddles features of the Cochin, but still has the black beak of a Silkie. What I wonder is how many toes it has? If the chick has five black toes, you...

Hi Samisue, From the picture it appears to be a blue with lavender splash! Very pretty!

Hi Jaimemae, Silkies will not get the concept of the ladder as quickly as full sized birds. They do require a lot more training in my experience. It is a pain to place them in their bedding area each night and if they are not in any danger huddling in the corner, then let them huddle. Once...

Hi Plarch, I am not certain, but by the looks of the amount of space between the bars on your cage that several types of predators can get your chicks. Rats, Possums, Snakes, but I would suspect this is a raccoon. You may need to purchase some hardware cloth, which has very tiny openings, the...

Hi roofgoat, In my experience if done properly, the cutting into a birds foot to remove a bumble foot infection should not produce much if any pain for the bird. You may even see a bit of blood while removing the white cheese like substance and the kernel. It takes a bit of messaging and...

If and when you think she is done sitting and you want to take the eggs, you can either coax her off the nest with food, or grab the chicks and move them to where you want the momma to follow. If she doesn't follow you on her own then just pick her up and mover her. She should stay with her...

Hi Chickenfarmer22, Expecting a hen to sit another 21 days after hatching out chicks may disrupt her hormones which has now begun preparing her body for another laying cycle soon. What are you going to do with the chicks she has now? If you desire to hatch out more eggs, there are many...