Recent content by hsdiaz

  1. hsdiaz

    Rhode Island Reds have weak shells - do yours??

    Quote: I think you're right...our RIR was laying well for a few weeks then started with soft-shelled eggs. She's only 6 months old, so I'm thinking it's because she's new at this. But she gets oyster shell and ground up eggshell. Our EE has nice, hard shells. Sometimes the RIR will drop a...
  2. hsdiaz

    Do RiR hen's have eggs earlier than other breeds

    Our RIR was the first to lay at 21 weeks; we've had some issues with soft eggs but hopefully it'll work out as she gets more experience. Our EE came next at about 24 weeks and lays pretty much every day with nice, hard shells. Our SLW has yet to lay but has finally begun to squat when I bend...
  3. hsdiaz

    soft shell egg behavior, why usually evening, and usually outside

    Quote: Our RIR started laying about a month ago and our EE and SLW haven't started yet. This past week I've found soft-shelled eggs under the roost, always one well-formed one plus a second smaller one which is sometimes broken. Today I found the same and now my RIR is in the nest box...
  4. hsdiaz

    19 week old chicken standing in one place, not eating...

    We gave Rosie the warm bath and blow-out treatment last night. She handled it well which surprised me since she's friendly but doesn't like to be picked up..she really liked the blow dryer. I couldn't feel anything when probing her vent--it was tough to go in very far since she was...
  5. hsdiaz

    19 week old chicken standing in one place, not eating...

    My hen is doing this too, right now. She's also a RIR, 23 weeks old and has been laying for a couple weeks. Anyone know what may be causing this? She's walking slow, standing in one spot and sitting down occassionally. She just started doing this a few minutes ago, she was acting normal...
  6. hsdiaz

    When to put them outside?

    Quote: I'm in eastern Washington state. It was 60 about yesterday. I left the chicks and ducklings outside in the garden all day(no plants there yet). They seemed to love it, or really hate it...the chicks were digging a hole, either to escape...or something I'm not sure I want to know.... I...
  7. hsdiaz

    What is your chicks' favorite treat?

    Our didn't like yogurt when I first tried giving it them either--they just walked in it and made a big mess. Then I tried greek yogurt (it's much thicker) and spread it on a brick, leaned the brick on the side of the brooder, and let them pick it off. That worked...they love yogurt now!
  8. hsdiaz

    Bath for 4 - 5 week old chicks?

    I wouldn't bathe them in water and certainly not dish soap. They'll get bigger, shed feathers and learn to take proper dust baths...give them a tub with some dirt or soil mixed with wood ash or peat moss...any dry dirt will work. They'll also preen/clean themselves once their feather start to...
  9. hsdiaz

    What to do with the hot weather this weekend?

    Quote: That's a beautiful chicken in your thumbnail picture, what kind is it?
  10. hsdiaz

    Seattle is still cold, can I put my 8 week-olds out in their coop?

    Quote: That's funny, one of our cats is actually afraid of them! They flapped their wings at him and he ran away as fast as he could. Our other could care less about them, pokes his nose against the brooder then just lays down on a chair we have next to it. We introduced them when they were...
  11. hsdiaz

    Seattle is still cold, can I put my 8 week-olds out in their coop?

    Quote: I'm so sorry to hear that! Where in WA are you?
  12. hsdiaz

    Seattle is still cold, can I put my 8 week-olds out in their coop?

    Quote: Yesterday was so beautiful but unfortunately I was gone all day so they didn't have the chance to go outside! I feel bad for them...I know they're getting sick of staring at the walls of their brooder. I'm glad to know that they'll go in their coop when it rains, we plan to let them...
  13. hsdiaz

    Seattle is still cold, can I put my 8 week-olds out in their coop?

    Quote: I know what you mean, the first night we turned the light out on them they went nuts! Now it just takes them a few minutes to calm down and go to bed. We used one of those ceramic heat emitters that people use for reptile cages and it worked out well and allowed them to get used to...
  14. hsdiaz

    Seattle is still cold, can I put my 8 week-olds out in their coop?

    I hope we see the 60's eventually as well! We keep getting teased with one nice day then a week of cold/rain. We stopped using the heat lamp a couple weeks ago and they've been fine, but they have been inside the house--and yes, they're already spoiled rotten :-). I'll open the window in the...
  15. hsdiaz

    When will my chicks warm up to me?

    Funny, our RIR is the friendliest of the bunch, has been since we first got them at a few days old. I think our EE is going to be alpha-chick fo the flock, she is bold and not afraid of us but I would say she's more curious than friendly. Our SLW is the biggest "chicken" of all of them...she...
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