Recent content by Patterson Farmer

  1. Patterson Farmer

    How do I deter foxes in broad daylight?

    We started our flock in the fall so this is our first spring and we just lost one about 2 weeks ago to a fox. I managed to spot it as it was coming back for seconds and chased it away (only then did I realized we were missing a hen). It hasn't been back, and we leave them unattended for hours at...
  2. Patterson Farmer

    One chicken consistently keeps getting lost from the others

    I noticed this morning that the pupils are large and irregular. I'm googling and everything I'm reading points to Marek's Disease but nowhere is it telling me what to do about it? Is my whole flock doomed? What do I do?? :(
  3. Patterson Farmer

    One chicken consistently keeps getting lost from the others

    Eyes look normal...but I haven't picked any of them up since they were little, I know it seems silly but I'm kind of afraid to now that they are bigger. I know, I know. I'll have to get over that. Will try tomorrow and do some more detective work. Thanks for the help!
  4. Patterson Farmer

    One chicken consistently keeps getting lost from the others

    This is my first time raising chickens. They hatched on Aug.1st, so almost 2 months ago. They've been in their outdoor coop since week 4 which I know is early but the temps were good and they've been so happy. I waited a little over a week before letting them out of their run to free-range. I...
  5. Patterson Farmer

    Chicks noisy out of boredom?

    I wish I had known this! Everything I have read (and I've read a lot!) has highlighted the importance of making baby chicks an indoor brooder space. But in mid-summer, I just didn't really understand the logic. Mind you, our coop wouldn't have been ready anyway, but I probably would have timed...
  6. Patterson Farmer

    Chicks noisy out of boredom?

    Thanks for the reassurance everyone. So today when I put them outside, and took the opportunity to clean their bedding, I noticed that one of the water nipples must have been leaking and so a bunch of the pine shavings were soaked. That must have been causing the smell I noticed on them...
  7. Patterson Farmer

    Chicks noisy out of boredom?

    This is my first time raising chicks. They are 3 weeks old, feathering nicely, and have access to a Titan brooder (that they hardly ever use anymore, even at night). Eleven chicks in total, and I set up their temporary home/brooder in an old bathtub, with a wire cage on top to keep them from...
  8. Patterson Farmer

    Chicks don't want to use heat plate

    I'm glad to see this question and reassuring replies. I was about to ask the same thing, I'm using a Titan heat plate and my chicks are also just a little over 2 weeks and barely using it anymore. I love this forum, it's so helpful and I'm learning tons :)
  9. Patterson Farmer

    Comment by 'Patterson Farmer' in article 'Water Cross - Waterer for Small Coop or Tractor'

    This post (and the comments) has inspired me to give this a try. This will be our first winter with chickens and temps can dip into the -20's (Celsius...that's -4F in Fahrenheit. I've been searching online for solutions and so far this system seems to make the most sense. Thanks for sharing!
  10. Patterson Farmer

    Starter feeding problems/question and grit quantity help

    Ok,I've added a bit of water to their food and that's made a huge difference. Thank you!!
  11. Patterson Farmer

    Starter feeding problems/question and grit quantity help

    Hi all, I have eleven chicks, one week old, and I've been feeding them Homestead Organics chicken starter. They tend to just peck at the larger grains in the starter until there's just powder left over. I'm wondering if the smaller, 'powdery' stuff is their added minerals and the larger stuff...
  12. Patterson Farmer

    Help! Will this day-old chick be Ok?

    Thank you, this is reassuring! I'm not sure what the hen was, the rooster is an Americauna :)
  13. Patterson Farmer

    what is this stuff on my chick, it won't come off

    Oh, phew. Thank you. None of the others have it, I worried that they would start pecking at him/her or something. I figure it is 'egg goo' but am surprised at how stubbornly it is sticking on there like concrete! Thanks for putting my mind at ease!
  14. Patterson Farmer

    what is this stuff on my chick, it won't come off

    Hi there, this is my first time hatching chicks, can someone tell me if I need to worry about this transparent 'stuff' that is stubbornly sticking to the back of one of my littles? Last night I tried brushing it with a soft moist toothbrush, this morning tried again this time ran some lukewarm...
  15. Patterson Farmer

    Help! Will this day-old chick be Ok?

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