Recent content by homesteader824

I'll keep an eye on the hens, and treat if I see anything. I assume I would have to throw away their eggs, is that correct?

Thanks, I'll get the Corid. Do I need to give it to my grown hens as well, or just the chicks?

I have three buff orpington chicks that just turned 8 weeks old. They seem to be acting healthy but this morning in their brooder box there was two places where dropping had blood in them. Sorry, no pictures. I got these as day-old chicks from Orscheln Farm Supply. They have been stressed...

That looks like a good feeder. I may get one.

I hadn't seen that test plug before; looks like it would be very handy.

Finishing up my new coop, and looking for ideas for a mouse-proof feeder. I like the feeders with the PVC elbows in a bucket, but it look like a mouse could still get into them. I saw some reviews of the treadle-operated feeders, and saw video of mice in them. Is there such a thing as a...

I've got them switched over to a turkey-type starter, and raised the feeder a little higher. They are still knocking some feed out, but getting it a little higher helped a lot.

It would get hit in the head, or stuck in there. Hadn't thought of that, thanks. Seems like I read somewhere about side guards; maybe that would prevent it.

I've been looking at better ways to feed my chickens to reduce waste. I've found this treadle feeder for less than $30 online. I'm a little suspicious when some are cheaper than others, and this one looks like the picture is photo-shopped. Does this look like it would be worth getting...

I have seven keets that are now three weeks old. Their feed consumption has increased, but a lot more than what I expected. They are wasting some food, as expected, but for the last few days they've been going through a feeder that's supposed to hold three pounds in less than a day. This...

I have six hens, three are 4 years old and three are a little over one year old. They free range. One of my 4 year old hens has not been acting quite right for several days. Instead of hopping up on the roost at night she lays in a corner of the small hen house. Sometimes they do this and...

My layers have all day access to their feeder in the hen house, but when I started free ranging them their feed consumption greatly decreased. Egg production and quality did not suffer. They just seem to prefer scratching for their food and finding bugs, weeds, etc. to eat over the commercial...

Assuming warm weather, such as summer, what age could I let chicks out to free range? I know it would probably vary with breed, but what percentage of their diet, from day 1 to slaughter weight, would be from feed, versus free ranging? Also, if kept in separate housing at night, would there...

This is my first winter free ranging chickens. I've had chickens for years but had to keep them penned in before. This spring I started letting them out. They still have access to a feeder in the hen house. Now that winter is here, they are still out scratching and turning over the leaves...

Thanks, I didn't know color was the only difference.