Recent content by Kathleen Sanderson

Not going to read the whole thread, but I do have a Nurture Right incubator, and while it works well, it does have some cons. It needs higher sides, at least three or four inches, to keep babies from jumping out when the top is lifted off. This was especially a problem when I hatched a batch...

I have ten Buff Orpington hens with a gorgeous heritage RIR rooster, and 19 of their chicks in the brooder. Curious how the cross will turn out. In August, I have some Whiting True Blue chicks coming. I've had those before, and really liked them; they are smaller, cost less to feed, and lay...

Weasels can fit through any hole that a mouse can fit through, which means a hole need be no larger than a dime to allow them access. We've lost whole batches of half-grown meat chickens to a weasel before -- as long as there is movement, they keep attacking. Mink are just as bad; they need...

Has anyone weighed their Pearl Star hens to see if they actually weigh what the hatchery claims they will? I want smaller hens that lay well; the calm temperament of the Pearl Stars is appealing to me (although, I really don't dislike Leghorns). But I'm a little dubious about the claimed...

I am generally not inclined to intervene too much with chickens. If they aren’t strong enough to make it, then they need to go, and make room for the ones that are stronger. But these guys were kind of expensive.

We are in Kentucky. I will see if I can get him down out of the tree where they roost tonight. Thank you.

I have a small flock of Icelandic chickens who run loose in the yard and are semi-feral. That means, they hang around because I feed them, but they act wild otherwise. Since they roost in a tree higher than I can reach, it’s very hard to catch them. I had just put dog food down in the kennel...

Well, it depends on two things -- how many eggs your family eats, and how well your hens will lay. If you aren't big egg eaters, and get a breed that lays really well, one per person might be plenty. But if you eat a lot of eggs and get one of the breeds that is a fair layer but not...

Someone else said that to them, chickens are for eggs and meat, not for pets, and I have to agree with that. So the breeds I don't care for are the ones that aren't productive and can't reproduce naturally. I want chickens that lay pretty well most of the year, will go broody and raise their...

I've had Silkie hens bred by full-sized roosters before without any problems. They should keep an eye on things and if they see damage starting to occur from the rooster then separate them, but unless he's a rough one, they should be fine.

I've never had a Buff Orpington go broody, either, even though 'everyone' says they are good broodies! I did have a Buff Wyandotte go broody, though, and strongly suspect she had some Buff Orpington in her ancestry, because she had white skin and legs (Wyandottes are supposed to have yellow...

I don't think that's cheap. And I agree that I would avoid the frizzles. They need more weather protection than chickens with normal feathers. Are you hoping to get lots of eggs? What size eggs do you want? Because Silkies can be fair layers through the spring and summer, but you probably...

The only question I don't see a good answer to so far is when to get your chicks -- if you can get them in March, they should start laying in the late summer/early fall, and lay pretty well through the winter. If you get them earlier, they may start laying in the summer, moult in the fall, and...

I just saw these on Sand Hill Preservation Center's site -- first time I've noticed them -- and wondered if anyone has any, and if so, how do you like them? Here is what SHPC says about them: Range Sussex- Not a true breed but we offer these for those who want an active and somewhat hardy...

LOL! I almost mentioned the new format in my post, but yes, it's definitely different! I'm reserving judgment -- hopefully it will become easier to find things by searching.