Recent content by Mattemma

I have had to hatch out eggs left by my broody hen tending to her hatched little ones. I would put them on a towel in a cage or box under a heat lamp. It is all I have. They did fine in the house under the light.

Sounds like you did a great job. I never used painkillers just triple antibio and blukote. I was just reading up on it myself due to my bleeding roo. The hens I kept inside in Marchioro cages were given scratch,oats,layer feed, berries,and shredded greens. Oh grapes too. I always tossed their eggs.

I just have a junky metal shed.Chickens did fine without insulation.I built an awning covered with a trampoline mat,and used tarps to block winds.They spent winters on their porch scratching in straw. I had a brooder lamp clipped to a hole I cut in upper side wall. Just put a 25 watt in it. I...

I would do it to save my Vegeeta. Was even looking at collars. Dogs and male house sparrows are worse,but we all know the laws are just against our fellas. I prefer to move,but would consider decrowing if the stew was the only alternative. I hate having to kill an animal just over their normal...

My yard is fenced. I keep traps set 24/7 for any pest that comes in. Cannot afford to feed the wildlife.

I added large wood chips due to muddy areas.Would toss straw on top for them to dig around in. They dug their own holes to dust bathe in. Bought bags of cherry grit stone from the feed store. Very nice looking but at $6 a bag too expensive to fill a run with. Some build a raised garden box with...

I picked black currants and raspberries.Pulled a few weeds that went to seed.Put some tomato plants onto cages. I had no idea cardinals like raspberries, so it is a race against them.

I like the small bags of pine shavings sold at Walmart for $2.78. Very soft.No dust. Used day one. I put out chick grit this year as I have a mama hen in with 7 chicks scratching away.

Most places have setback laws. My coop needs to be 150 feet from a neighbors house. Decent folk don't put coops or compost bins closer to neighbors. If anything it should be closer to them. You tried to talk to them. The problem persists, so I would report them for coop location,the...

Sounds like it is going well so far. I always slipped them in at night when 16 weeks. Seems like you could do it now. Is there food or water in the coop to keep them busy till you release them? I always tried to let them out early the first few days, or put something in to keep them busy till I...

I spray bald spots with blukote and was told to give them sunflower seeds. Maybe add some more foods and roost/play options to the run. I always pulled bullies and crated for a bit to change the pecking order. Sometimes I just craiglisted the bullies. I have had hens on the floor or in a...

Havahart trap set at all times for predators. Fishing line with red Mylar for Hawks. You could build a little secure run for mama and babes close to the flock. I am making one out of the kids old swing set frame and another with a trampoline frame. Hawks stink. Hope our rooster gets them. I...

I know the feeling. I have a broody in egg sitting mode that I put on hatching eggs my momma hen left after she just hatched six. My egg sitter smothered 2 out of 4. I grabbed one still wet after finding the last smooshed. I too have read of heat lamps as well as putting an egg in your bra.

I have used baby playpens. Right now I am using a Marchioro cage for 3 chicks inside the house with a brooder lamp, and a 100 watt regular bulb. Outside in the garage I have a mama hen and 7 chicks in a dog crate with a dog kennel box attached. I have a broody in a playpen, and another broody in...

I can't see a picture. I agree a month is the Q time. I have never made it past 3 weeks though. I always spray blue kote on any wounds or exposed skin. You could put him in a dog crate in the house or garage.The XL Marchioro cages are great.Cheap on Craig's. Night time slip him in with the hen...