Recent content by larsalan

Yeah, maybe just molting. She will get a nice fresh set. One of my hens had just dropped nearly all her feathers in 2 days. It looked like there had been a massacre.

I dont think a small light like that will have much effect on laying. I had read some poultry farming thing that was talking about chickens per sq/ft and watts per square foot and light color. They were talking about much higher wattage. I think the 7w sounds good. Otherwise at like 60w or...

The light I use is very dim and its directional. So, its hanging and pointing downward on like half the roost. My observation is the majority of chickens choose to be under the light the majority of the time. It's not like a heat lamp it's just a very weak light. Certainly less than most...

I have a 3watt led light that I leave on 24/7. I think it helps them to get back in there and up on their roost when its getting dark out. If you want to take it out I doubt a chicken will mind. I think is nice to have a light. Imagine if you had to walk around in your house with no light at...

I think a lot of them have their own special qualities. And some are kinda extra dumb, ugly and useless. I like hens that lay well. I like roos that are tough but not mean. I like beautiful chickens. I don't like instigators, poor layers, ugly birds, or uber stupid birds. Of the breeds I've...

I have an Austrolorp that is a great layer. Nice eggs always and hardly misses a day.

ditto, I have one that thinks she is the tops. If she gets way out of hand then she goes for timeout in a cage. Right were everyone else is free roaming around. She can stay in solitary for 23hrs a day for a few days. If that's what it takes for her to cool out then so be it. She can watch...

well they free range everyday. They would have a fit if they had to stay in that coop all day. I guess maybe one day I'll start to get some more eggies.

So a ways back my mini flock got ruined by a opossum. Nightly it would kill one of my hens. Till all but one lone Australorp remained. We built the flock back up out of local chick deals on CL. Ok, so Rowdy the Australorp is pretty **** good layer. She hardly misses a day. And I knew we'd...

Alright then. I am new to this so I'll have to work out a strategy. It is pretty hard to get up a set of eggs when we keep eating them here. Then I need to find a way to protect her better once she decides to sit on another dozen or so. Maybe the neighbor can supply eggs while I work this out.

Snake could get in there and could maybe swallow eggs whole too. Didn't smell any skunks and they should have a hard time getting in just as the opossum should. Chain link fence is too small of holes for them to get through. I don't see snakes often and when I do they are just like a pencil...

myb an opossum sneaked in there. I have seen them there before but I had thought to have blocked them with a rock. cant set any traps cause of all the cats that are around. I hope we can get some babies and some food eggs here.

Or maybe fratricide? I had a hen setting on a clutch of at least a dozen eggs. This morning I see her wandering the run with the rest of the flock and a bunch of feathers strewn about. Maybe they're hers or maybe some other bird's. And her clutch is smashed. Moreover the dozen or more eggs...

Ok, I have a broody hen doing a fantastic job sitting for 1 week so far. If/when she hatches out some chicks what do I need to do? Do I take them to a rubbermade and raise them a few weeks? Or will she do all the mothering? I guess I need a little chick water feeder and some smaller chick...

I just yesterday saw a hen pull a nice scratch. I have always seen them scratch their heads with their feet. But this hen wiped her face back and forth on a limestone paver like she was sharpening a knife. Pretty funny stuff.