Recent content by mhawley

  1. mhawley

    Small oak tree

    Along this line, I have an oak tree which is infested with Oak Leaf, or Oak Gall Mites every year. They rain from the tree by the thousands for a couple of weeks in the summer. Just noticed my chickens eating them up happily today. I don't believe this kind of mite hosts in/on animals - only...
  2. mhawley

    broken feathers, mites *if you are experiencing this, PLEASE READ*

    Do these look like the work of feather mites, feather lice, or just picking? The white feathers on my rooster's neck and tail seem to be the only effected. These pics are from several weeks ago. Now his neck is raw and red and his tail is eaten down to the shafts. I have two black hens as well...
  3. mhawley

    NEED HELP WITH COSTS>>>>>Neighbors dog killed my whole flock ....

    Online, adult, standard breed birds (already laying hens) run $200 for a pair including shipping. Juveniles were $30+ each with shipping from the major suppliers (Stromberg's). When I can find them locally, they are less (average $30), but are subject to availability. I have free-ranged...
  4. mhawley

    Redding, CA - 2 Free Roosters

    I've got two extra "mutt" roosters that need to find a good home (or a good table) before they kill my poor hens! For anybody that is considering them for an addition to their yard, they are Buff Orpington/Silky mix (orange & black). Pictures provided upon request.
  5. mhawley

    is it ever ok to help the hatch?

    Thanks everyone for your input. Y'all were right about the membrane having dried out. It was dried to the chick, trapping it. Using a kitchen atomizer and a swab, I was able to moisten it enough for the chick to eventually free itself. It was a fighter and looked healthy but didn't live an hour...
  6. mhawley

    is it ever ok to help the hatch?

    I thought I saw an earlier post along these lines, but couldn't find it again today. I've always heard that if chicks couldn't get out by themselves, they wouldn't be strong enough to make it. But some of your incubation posts have indicated that there may be times when one should intervene when...
  7. mhawley

    hen killing chicks

    Thanks for the idea, Becky. I might just try it. (one of my favorite verses, by the way!).
  8. mhawley

    hen killing chicks

    She did it again last night. One hatched overnight and was pecked to death before I found it this morning. There are two more eggs under her that I'm afraid to leave in there, but I don't have incubation, so don't really have a choice. I managed to rescue two from the last hen, healed and...
  9. mhawley

    hen killing chicks

    Please forgive me if this has already been addressed . . . I couldn't find it under past topics. My last two mother hens have pecked a few of their chicks to death and I was wondering why they do this? Do they know which ones are not theirs? They were not weak chicks, in fact all have been as...
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