Recent content by GuppyTJ

  1. GuppyTJ

    Is it ok to make marks on eggs?

    I use a marker. I make tiny dots on the fat end of the egg. So for example, maybe 1 tiny dot means it's an egg from one of my Barred Rocks. Two tiny dots mean the egg is from one of my Buffs, etc. Then I write down on a piece of paper what the dots mean. So, the point is, I keep my marks on...
  2. GuppyTJ

    Roo?

    Looks like a cockeral to me too. I always look at the wattles. This seems to me (I've had about 125 chicks to sex that I've hatched on my farm) the easiest and most tell-tail way to compare. And if you have any others of the same breed/type, the comparison is what really helps. In other...
  3. GuppyTJ

    egg shells soft and weak

    I agree with Capricorn, if you aren't already, give them oyster shell free choice. In other words, free choice means put it in a separate bowl and let them eat it whenever they choose. Are you feeding them 16% layer rations? That's what hens need to lay well and lay eggs with solid shells...
  4. GuppyTJ

    How big should I make my coop and run for 4 birds?

    Hi There, I think the folks above did a nice job of giving you ideas for minimums for the coop and the run. I'll offer that the bigger you can make it, the better. I'm pretty sure almost no one ever says "I wish I had made my coop or run SMALLER." Yet, almost every one wishes it was larger...
  5. GuppyTJ

    I LIKE my Rooster

    I'm interested in this thread too and agree with Centrachid. Much of what is being done here is not necessary and may in fact create issues. I've had my share of roosters. Right now, I have 4 with my flock. All my chickens free range (absolutely no fence with true free ranging during the day...
  6. GuppyTJ

    Broody killing other chicks - how do I tell them apart??

    I'm hoping others reply but here's my thoughts. You can keep trying what you're trying, bringing the chicks to the Buff to see which she will accept? It seems the Maran wouldn't take any of them? The other thing to try is to slip an equal number of chicks under each hen after the hen has laid...
  7. GuppyTJ

    Broody momma calling it quits

    Delta, In my opinion, you don't do either. Let the babies and the mom figure it out themselves. All that you see going on on the roost, as hard as it is to watch, is perfectly normal. As long as there is no blood and no one getting truly hurt, all is well. The only time I would intervene is...
  8. GuppyTJ

    Broody momma calling it quits

    Yup, just to add to this.. Broody mom's leave their chicks at varying ages. I've had about 15 different mother hens and it just depends on the mom and the chicks. The average age is around 5 weeks tho so your chicks are right in that normal range when the mom left them. The chicks sometimes...
  9. GuppyTJ

    Moving out to the coop & run

    The question this raised for me is... what type of ventilation does your coop have? You may want to think about this. If your coop when the door is closed is warmer than the outside air, you may want to add more ventilation. Just a thought.
  10. GuppyTJ

    Bath time for baby chick?

    Do they have a way to take a dust bath? Let them take care of their stickyness. If they are still in a brooder, give them a shallow plate or flat bottomed bowl of dirt to play in. Or, if you'd like, get a shovel-full of sod and put it in the brooder, flipped over with the dirt facing up and...
  11. GuppyTJ

    Egg eating chickens

    I don't know how you stop this behavior once it's started. I know it's very difficult to get them to stop and that the best course of action is to make sure it never starts. My only idea if you can do it is to remove the eggs very frequently and as soon as they lay them as possible. Put lots...
  12. GuppyTJ

    When can I let mama and her chicks free range in a potentially dangerous environment?

    Wow... I have some suggestions but the answer seems to be that you will not want to let them free range until they are nearly adults. My situation is similar in that I have had mother hens hatch ~100 chicks over the last few years. Each time, I let the mom take them out when she's ready, which...
  13. GuppyTJ

    tips on introducing chicks to the coop

    Yup, lock them in the coop for several days. I followed the recommendation of others here and locked my first set of chickens in the coop for 7 days to be sure. I free range (no run, no fence of any kind, secure coop at night) so I really needed to have them return to the coop at night so I...
  14. GuppyTJ

    When do they learn/how to teach chicks to go up the ramp ?

    Yup, what those 2 said. I'd add that locking them in the coop for a few days, then letting them figure out how to get DOWN the ramp is all it will take for them to figure out how to get back up. Once one of them solves the ramp puzzle, the others will figure it out. And if say, the first...
  15. GuppyTJ

    Most important things to keep in mind?

    Can you describe your coop design a bit? That makes it easier to comment. But in general, the main thing is that it is draft-free but with good ventilation (use the search function in BYC to research this). Also I agree the prior poster, try to make it as big as you reasonably can. And as...
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