Recent content by I'M On Island Time

I use cat carriers. I took 10 roos to the processing facility that way. I was ready to kill them myself after listening them crow in the back of my SUV for 2 hrs. Everyone else that dropped their birds off had old chicken crates, cardboard boxes, etc. My boys arrived in style, at least.

Tonight, my 15 week old pullet sounded like it had a kazoo in its nose. All my other birds are fine, and this particular bird does not have any discharge coming out of either end of its body. She seems perfectly healthy and was eager to eat and drink when separated from the flock tonight...

For those in the N. IL area...I started a chicken meetup group. http://www.meetup.com/The-WIllinois-Backyard-Chicken-Meetup-Group/

Yes, please join! As soon as we get more members, we'll schedule a meetup.

I just formed a Chicken Meetup group for N. IL and S. WI chicken lovers with some help from Andy Schneider, the Chicken Whisperer. You can join up and then we can have a chickenstock! http://www.meetup.com/The-WIllinois-Backyard-Chicken-Meetup-Group/

I'm not sure where you are at, but a heat lamp is a requirement for the health of my chickens. I have a thermostat where the lamp turns on when them temp in teh coop gets below 35F and turns off at 45F. I have older hens, a roo that already had frostbite, hens had frostbite on toes, and their...

I have 2 four year old hens. The Red Star lays about every 2 days. She has slowed down, but still gives a really nice egg. The Brahma lays about every 3-4 days. Her eggs are hit or miss with missing shells, wrinkled shells, etc., and she is such a big girl that she will frequently smash the egg...

I have to say it is hilarious, and I believe it. My roos when they were learning to crow would imitate everything, from the old rooster to the geese in the yard. They were like parrots! When they would hear a sound or call, they would answer back with their version.

I love to read. I think I am a book collector. lol If you liked Grapes of Wrath, you might like The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. It was about immigrants in the Chicago meatpacking warehouses. Sad, but interesting part of history to consider. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Anyone read the Gossip Girl...

Thanks for the post. I am glad to know I am not the only one that feels sad, and I didn't even do the deed. I dropped off 8 roos today at the processor. I have to go pick them up this evening. I knew the day was coming, and have been looking forward to trying out the "homegrown" meat, but I...

Galloway Processing in Sterling, IL (about 53 miles west of DeKalb right of I-88). 815.626.0305 You need to make an appointment because it seems they have days they only do poultry, and days they only do other types of livestock.

Quote: Hi! We live on the Chain, near Fox Lake. 1 roo, 7 hens, and 8 little roos that need a new home or are heading for the stew pot.

I'm sorry and would be doing the same thing in your position. Isn't it amazing how much one can love a chicken? Just thinking about my 'kids' gives me a smile. However, I think losing chickens just seems to be part of chicken ownership. Good luck, God bless.

I agree with the antibiotic ointment and bandaging. I found that using epsom salts really helps to soften up the dirt and junk to get out. My old hen seemed to enjoy getting her 'pedicure' in epsom salts in the bathroom sink in the evening. I let her soak for about 15 minutes in hot water (as...

I have leghorns (9) that I am processing this week at 13 wks. They were the roos from a classroom hatching. I have 2 hens left after raccoon attacks. The girls are staying and are already living with my adult birds. There is hardly anything on the little boys. They run around so much and hardly...