Recent content by Faracas

Almost hurray? I got a gloopy soft shelled egg from one of my spring chickens

Not molting, unfortunately. That would have made me feel a little easier about the situation. Weather change didn't hit until this week either, so that doesn't make any sense. They are confined to the coop/run (very spacious) and I would be able to find the eggs if they were laying somewhere...

No predators (knock on wood) and the food is out full time. Is it common for the older hens to stop laying as the younger ones catch up?

Hi Duck-lovers, I have a recently mature pair of Cayuga that I have raised since spring in a large enclosure w/water feature. I wanted to add some additional ducks and scored 2 Muscovy and 2 runners (12 wk old and beautiful) at a bird auction. They are healthy, and I tried to introduce them...

Hi BYC, I have 7 chickens in my coop/run. 2 D'anvers and 1 Silkie are of laying age and had been giving me an egg a day. The have not laid in 3-4 weeks. Not molting. My spring chickens are 21-22 weeks now. 1 BR, 1 RIR, 1 EE, and 1 BA. Their combs are red, they squat, I hear the occasional...

38,242 + 7 = 38,249

Update: Fertile eggs were not fertile, so I'll have to go elsewhere (got a dozen - cracked six with no fertile). Silkie's still on her nest However, something strange is happening. The other chickens (6) are spending a lot of time in the coop, standing around the nest box in a half circle...

I vote for golf balls. My silkie just went broody on a clutch of them

Cool. She started being cranky and on the nest a lot last week, but has been sitting non-stop for two days. Each time I go in there she's stolen another one of the golf balls - she's got six of them now. I don't have a roo because I am in the city, so I am going to a local lady who has...

All of the golf balls I had in the nesting boxes to encourage the "almost ready" ladies to lay have been relocated under my Silkie. I got a month of eggs out of her and POOF she's broody. I keep checking under her, but all I find are more golf balls.... Uh oh... Maybe she has started laying...

Hello BYC, I have a mixed group in my coup. 3 banties that are of age and have been giving me eggs for a month or so, and 4 others (RIR, BR, BA, EE) that were hatched in late March. My three little girls have not been laying in the past week, although I just moved/rearranged the coop and they...

Quote: Yep, shoot,shovel,and shut up....the farmers way...... Huh... also the serial killers way. Is it illegal to harvest the bear if killed because its attacking livestock? If its taking out the neighbor's chickens as well as your own, the DEC should be willing to step in and take care...

No where in my response did i insunate that an animal's life was more important than a human (personal oppinions about certain people aside). What I said was a legitimate response to this post. If you have a headache, go to the doctor and get informed that you have a brain tumor, what do you...

Awwww. my savior If someone is unwilling to control their pet after enough issues to name it that, its too bad you can find a way to give the darn cat to someone else. Not the cats fault. However, I agree. You should take care of Satan's spawn. A little holy water and a stake through the...

Huh. How about you just adequately protect your chickens, since they are food for everything. Take the time to predator proof your enclosure? If the dog owner is letting their mutt run all over, sure, shoot it. Obviously they didn't care about it anyway. I don't care if you shoot...