Recent content by oaklandmama

So I must have a totally incorrect idea of what a molt would look like. I thought it was weeks of losing feathers and they'd look ratty while it was happening. Mine really didn't look much different, and just stopped laying for about a week. Had no idea it would be so fast. Maybe because the...

We've got two white leghorns that started laying around 18-20 weeks. They're coming up on 26 weeks, and the leghorns haven't laid any eggs for five days. Before the two of them made one or two a day. I can't find any hidden eggs (there aren't really places for them to hide them in the coop)...

I agree with PP, you probably should give her more than one day to sort it out. Mine did some funny laying when they started and eventually it all seems to work itself out. Their natural instinct will win over. Maybe that one likes the cardboard. If it doesn't resolve in a few days you could...

Welcome! We're in the Bay Area (Oakland), I'm always jealous of the weather you guys get when we are out here freezing our butts off. Bet you don't have problems getting your tomatoes ripe.

Quote: Have to agree with this. I was raised in a strict write-your-thank-yous-as-you-open-gifts environment. Some relatives had several string attached to each gift (and I don't mean curling ribbon), and they especially absolutely demanded thank yous. I actually greatly prefer *not*...

Thanks! That is super helpful. Although... in the article it sounds like they live in the southern hemisphere, right? Was confused for a sec. . Im glad to hear that once they start they're likely to lay through the winter. Was starting to wonder if it would take until next spring!

I know this is probably a super newbie question, but how does it work when your chickens are not laying yet and the days are getting shorter? We have 2 White Leghorns, 2 Welsummers, 1 Maran, and 3 EEs. They're all almost 24 weeks. The Leghorns have been laying for a while but none of the rest...

I knew you BYCers could help me think it through. I know wire cages is the standard, but it does seem a little less "natural" to me, I'd love to figure out a way to let them have something closer to what they'd naturally create for themselves. We're about to do some major grading in your...

Quote: So do you think it is possible that breeding and domesticating rabbits has extinguished some of their natural instincts? (Or, more accurately, traded some of those instinctual behaviors for other traits, like fur, size, and temperament...) I can't imagine that rabbits in the wild...

Has anybody ever done this? Ran across this while I was researching setups for meat rabbits... http://ressources.ciheam.org/om/pdf/c08/95605275.pdf It makes lots of sense, seems like it would replicate their natural lifestyle a lot more than wire cages, and take care of the overheating issue...

Thanks for all the expertise!

Ah, this is what I wanted to hear. Seemed like a reasonable plan to me, but I just needed to hear from someone else. How much feed would you go through for 25 birds? How big did they end up getting? Any recommendations for how much space I should plan on giving them?

I've done a search on this, but I'm still unsure. Can you seasoned chicken owners help me? We live in a really urban area, but are thinking about trying to raise meat birds. Would it work to order 25 Cornish X, raise some to game hen size and slaughter at 3-4 weeks, then let the rest grow out...

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Your chickens don't eat them? Ours eat every creepy crawlie that dares inter the coop. I think DE works on ants though, people use it as a barrier. If they try to cross a line of DE it cuts them up.