Recent content by NatJ

  1. NatJ

    Need Advice- How do I start a Bachelor flock?

    Is that meant to let them get "away" from each other without needing a big space? I notice each area has at least two holes, so no bird could get trapped in a corner without a way to escape, but there are lots of places that a chicken could go without being seen by another chicken who is...
  2. NatJ

    What breed is this Roo ?

    If you had looked, you would have a found a vent either way, because roosters and hens both have vents. It looks a little different on a hen that lays eggs (stretched out by the egg passing through each day), but the vent on a rooster looks just the same as the vent on a hen that is not laying...
  3. NatJ

    What breed is this Roo ?

    Yeah, I figured that. When I said it was mislabeled, I meant the place you found it had a wrong label on it. I agree, that sounds more like male behavior than female! Although I have seen some adult hens do that too. Can you maybe get a photo of the saddle feathers? Those are the ones that...
  4. NatJ

    What breed is this Roo ?

    I can't see the hackle feathers in the pictures you posted. Hens have spur buds too, and some hens do grow relatively large spurs over time. Hens of some breeds do have large legs too. Have you heard it crow or gotten an egg from it? I might give it a few more days to be sure. It would be...
  5. NatJ

    Outdoor Brooder

    Those temperatures sound good to me! If the cool end gets even cooler, that would also be fine. Although if the heat lamp is making it that warm, you don't really need the brooder plate at all. I don't think it will cause any harm to have the brooder plate too, just that it's not really needed.
  6. NatJ

    Outdoor Brooder

    Maybe move the heat lamp to the same end that has the brooder plate, and skip the towel. I'm pretty one end will be plenty warm with two heat sources. Then check the other end with a thermometer. If the far end goes over about 80 degrees in the hot part of the day, unplug the heat lamp during...
  7. NatJ

    Emergency! Should I assist or leave alone?

    Have you read this article yet? https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/ It has a lot of good information, and might be useful while you're waiting for someone with more specific knowledge to respond. (I don't know much about assisting an egg...
  8. NatJ

    What does this teach me about the parents genes?

    In the photo with four chicks, one catches my eye as a maybe-cockerel. It's second from the bottom, the only one with brown in the down color (stripe with brown on the back, and some brown on the head.) I cannot say for sure whether it is actually male or not, just that it catches my eye as one...
  9. NatJ

    Stormcrow's Hobby Farm

    Maybe put a bit of bait on the ground (little bit) and then more bait in the trap? That would give the creature a taste (yum!) and then encourage it to go in for more. (Might not work, but I doubt it will cause any real problems if it fails.)
  10. NatJ

    Underdeveloped hen: cull or not?

    Definitely possible. Or it could be a "fairy egg" from one of the hens that has been laying longer. The next few days will probably answer the question: either egg production goes back to normal, or you get more small eggs but they are increasing in size.
  11. NatJ

    Underdeveloped hen: cull or not?

    The things you said are reminding me of this article I read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/ I don't know if your hen can be helped or not, but it might be an idea to think about. Based on your description, I probably would kill &...
  12. NatJ

    Things you wish you could say

    Except that I would use "devastated" for either of those.
  13. NatJ

    Feathered legs, tiny comb

    Cochins have single combs. So it might have a pea comb, or it might be a Cochin, but not both. I can't see the comb clearly enough to be sure either way.
  14. NatJ

    Colourful layers through cross breeding

    Are you wanting different colors of feathers on the chickens? Or different colors of eggs? If you want to produce hens that lay well, you want to use a rooster from a breed that lays well. Looking at your list, the Barnevelder might be better than the other choices. His daughters should lay...
  15. NatJ

    Using Shredded Paper for Coop Litter - As Good As Wood Chips?

    Or dig the same pit, stack them up, and throw a little dirt on top. I'm sure the earthworms would be quite happy to eat them up.
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