Recent content by ella

They naturally kick out bedding while they are nesting, Especially When they are youngsters. They are a little bit obsessive in the first year because they are running more instinct than experience. But even with older hens you need to replace the bedding occasionally.

It looks like you don’t have bedding in the nest boxes. If that is the case, try adding some. They are very much creatures of instinct and they like to have a medium they can nest in.

I don’t think anyone can really understand duck sexual preferences. I kind of hope not anyway. But you might want to have a bachelor yard ready for some of the males, over aggressive drakes can accidentally kill female ducks. Just FYI 😊

That’s the aerial predator call. It’s especially hilarious when they do it in response to a bumblebee.

I don’t think he’s broody. It’s just like him calling the hens to a tasty treat, he’s trying to lure them to a nice nest. Broody hens kind of scream/ squeal. He’s making a ‘come look at this noise’.

I’ve looked and haven’t found this anywhere so forgive me if it’s well known, but, here’s my method for collecting eggs from a broody hen: I call it egg block. Basically you take an egg in your hand and when she wants to peck you you present the egg. Stroke her with the egg. Especially on the...

She is darling! The way she is looking at you 🥰 that’s a special thing. Is she a norwegian jaerhon?

I’m sure she’s fine. I had a black Sumatra pullet celebrate her first egg two days in advance. By the time she finally laid it she had completely lost her voice. She did settle down after that and was never quite as enthusiastic.

Looks like she's adjusting her crop. I'm guessing she ate a bunch just before you saw her. It's possible she has a crop infection but I wouldn't worry about it just yet. Check her crop in the morning to make sure it's empty, if it's still full you might have a problem.

My flock of 36 ranges from Orpington hybrids to tiny phoenixes and they all get along just fine. I think the key is to have more than enough space for everyone. They say a few square feet per hen/quadruple that, at least. If you have a small coop/ yard. I wouldn't even try it. Chickens are more...

I've had quite a few different breeds over 8 years of Minnesota winters. Although my coop is kept at 30+ degrees F. I can see a difference in how they respond to the weather. So far all of my roosters are wusses when it comes to the cold. I've had a tiny phoenix hen out all day in -0 temps...

Nutritionally they are the same. Brown eggs cost more because the hens are heavier and need more food to maintain weight/lay eggs. That's just a breed thing. As for what people say about them...

They are not machines. Bad weather, etc... can effect them. Just do a general heath check. Make sure their crops are full at night, no has has abnormal poo, or mites or lice. Even young healthy hens will not lay every day/every other day for months on end. They do take breaks. :)

Light in the coop helps. I think they instinctively go to the light. Also if the coop is big enough, keeping them in it for a few days, with food and water of course, helps them see that it is their home. If the coop is not off the ground or they don't have roosts in it (or if the roosts...

I'm near the cities in Minnesota and yes! I collected a dozen from the flock the other day. From the 30 of them, their ages range from 3 to 8 years old. It's just annoying to have to wash eggs again.