Recent content by forestrymom

I kept the chickens locked up in the coop/run today and had eggs tonight when I got home. I am quite puzzled.

He gets a couple eggs a day ANYway, LOL! I have plenty right now and I usually give him one in the morning and one at night, on his food. So I'm happy to share...just not *all*. And I hate coyotes!

Well, he's eating ALL the eggs. If its him. 18 eggs yesterday, I'm guessing, since that's been the average.

:( Sad for the dog and for you all.

Not kids, they were gone all day. I've also never seen a possum or a 'coon, although I've heard they *can* exist here. Wouldn't those upset the chickens and/or the dog, though? He's very protective.

I have yet to see a snake in this valley, aside from a tiny little garter snake, and I've lived here my whole life. We just don't have snakes--our temps are too low. And I'm sure they couldn't make off with 18, LOL.

I came home last night to get eggs, expecting about 18, to fine 0. I know there were a few yesterday already, b/c when I went out to let the chickens out to range and feed/water them, there were about 5 in boxes. I have a guard dog who I don't think can fit in the chicken door, and 2 cats. The...

We had to get a guard dog. I had coyotes coming up to my back yard while my little 20 pound 2 year old, and my 30 pound 4 and 6 year old were playing. We shot at them, shot one of them and killed it, and they still kept coming back. We got a big mean dog who loves the kids and hates coyotes and...

I have several chickens with poop accumulating on their butts. What is going on? Its too cold to give them a bath (-20F this morning). I don't notice that any of the poops look runny.

Bump! Thanks!

Well, my production hasn't been very good for several weeks. 3 of my hens are molting, and I only have 5 hens. I have 9 pullets, and only 2 have started laying. So its hard to say for sure.

Yeah, I have one hen who is tiny and she started laying after my SLW, but her eggs are already quite a bit bigger. And out of 9 chicks, only 2 of mine are even laying yet. And they are all around 25 weeks. I'm so ready for tons of eggs!!!

I live in Montana and our daylight is dwindling. I put a light with a timer to come on at 6 am and give them a couple extra hours, but they are going to bed 2 hours before sunset, so it really didn't make a difference. Should I have it come on at night too? Also, its been pretty cold. -5F for...

I have a columbian and she lays extra large eggs (she's an adult), but my SLW who has just started laying about 5 weeks ago is still laying medium/small eggs. HTH!

About 4 weeks ago, one of our chicks died, unexpectedly, really without warning. She was about 20 weeks old. She was an unknown mixed breed and she spent a lot of time shivering. Then, 2 days ago, the other chicken of the same "breed" died. We treated for mites about 2 weeks ago, and then a...