Recent content by DonHess

  1. DonHess

    Sudden chick death

    My six chicks hatched out at Meyer's on Monday, they arrived Tuesday, looking fine. Just a few hours ago, one little darling died. All six were energetic clowns, running around, jumping on top of each other, seemingly having great fun. In these very few days they were clearly growing larger...
  2. DonHess

    Chickens have stopped laying

    I have 15 hens that gave me 10-12 a day in the summer. Now, it's zero to 3.
  3. DonHess

    Jersey Giant bad butt

    Sorry for cross-posting, but I put this elsewhere a month ago and only got 1 reply. It was suggested that Emergencies/Diseases might be a better choice. Here is the link to my original post...
  4. DonHess

    Do chickens like water?

    Mine, too. Except windy rain, or any kind of strong wind. Most head inside, but some of them huddle close in a tight oval. Perhaps there is some penguin blood in them.
  5. DonHess

    Ended Contest #3 Cutest Baby Fowl - 8th Annual BYC Easter Hatchalong

    Raising chicks in the bathtub...
  6. DonHess

    Topic of the Week - Feeding table scraps to your flock

    I have observed again and again and again that if one hen tastes something and starts to eat it, every other formerly reluctant hen follows suit and they all push each other away from what a moment ago was scary and now is delicious.
  7. DonHess

    Black Jersey Giant photo - she has an ugly lump near her cloaca.

    Bessie has the ugly butt you see below. I first noticed it yesterday. Today I picked her up, calmed her down and turned her over to examine the area. The bloated blob is not hard, it is soft and pliable. I felt around finger-deep up the cloaca and could feel nothing unusual. I had thought...
  8. DonHess

    Nesting boxes and golf balls

    My fake egg-golf balls I believe have been unnecessary. I have never had an egg kicked out nor any egg-eating hens. I used golf balls as a prevention, as suggested by this site. For me, I doubt it was necessary. Don
  9. DonHess

    Nesting boxes and golf balls

    I had forgotten about the soccer. I apparently have several ardent soccer players because I found most of the golf balls out in their playground after a day or two. At least they're having fun.
  10. DonHess

    Topic of the Week - Feeding table scraps to your flock

    I just gave my 15 a big lunch of carrots, green tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, yams, romaine lettuce, cabbage and cous-cous. They are goats with wings. Don
  11. DonHess

    Frozen eggs

    I have 15 hens, all were bought as day-olds about 9 months ago. Over the weekend they experienced snow for the first time (not happy) and the coldest temperatures they have ever known (15 degrees). I have read many discussions on this site about heat the hen house/don't heat the hen house. I...
  12. DonHess

    Topic of the Week - Feeding table scraps to your flock

    Forgot to mention: hey love leftover chilli.
  13. DonHess

    Topic of the Week - Feeding table scraps to your flock

    It sounds so spooky that I sometimes refrain from doing it, BUT.... A steaming plate of scrambled eggs in the winter is devoured in record time. I have heard many times that they love Yogurt, but -- who ever has leftover yogurt? At this time of the year I wonder if anyone out there has...
  14. DonHess

    Topic of the Week - Feeding table scraps to your flock

    I feed my girls anything they will eat and that I think is healthy. They love stale bread, but as there is not much nutritional value there I limit it. Someone suggested a head of cabbage in the winter when they can find no greens; I tried that and the 15 of them can make a head vanish in 25...
  15. DonHess

    Flock staying in coop

    I think this is very odd. Could they be scared of something in the immediate area? I would force them out of the hen house one way or another and see what they do/where they look. If they all are pointing in the same direction, there is something scary over there.
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