Recent content by Puck-Puck

She looks just like one that I purchased as an Ameraucana chick. She was very bright, curious, smarter than your average chicken. ;) And, her eggs were actually light blue, not minty green.

Depending on the breed, you can tell in a few days, as soon as the first feathers start to come in. In my experience, the girls' wing feathers will start to come in much faster than the boys'. Their feathering out is always ahead of the boys. Secondly, the boys grow long, stout legs while...

After reading horror stories about how people couldn't get their teeth through old birds, and that they were only good for soup or stew, I just had to prepare an 18 month old free-range hen as a roast, to find out just how tough a bird could be. Her skin was a little tough, but the meat was...

Alice, I feel your pain! I butchered my first bird on Thursday, to put her out of everyone else's misery...she was mean (red rock cross). I will also have a set of sharp knives with a bow on them, next time, even if I have to buy those knives and put the bow on them, myself! I, uh, used wire...

Phooey, here I am about to keep a dinner engagement. Have fun for me, everyone, and congratulations in advance to the winners!

I hope the hypothesis is right. Will you post the results after all's said, done, and eaten? And, as a former Vancouverite, I'm curious to know which neighbourhood you live in, that nine crowing roosters raise no complaints. Southlands?

I cannot answer the question you asked, Raroo, and I know you're talking about roosters, not hens. BUT, if you decide to experiment with the dual purpose birds: I have noticed a difference in temperament and economy between the Red Sussex Cross hens (sweet birds!) and the Red Rock Cross hens...

Name: Miller Hatcheries Ship date: 25th May 2009 Received: 27th May 2009 @ agent Temp HERE: -2C in am; nights frosty, days warm in sun Ordered: 25, got 26 DOA: zero Lost in 2 days: zero Lost in a week: zero Miller Hatcheries doesn't have a big selection, mostly hybrids, but the birds...

Answering my own question and posting, in case anyone needs to see "control group statistics" on the benefit of a light *if* you are concerned about late laying. *Assuming* that it all isn't a big coincidence and was going to happen anyhow, these are the results of supplementing morning and...

No, this is the right section, as the basic question is "can I eat my hens if they have had a sickness in the past?". Problem is, many people don't actually read a whole post before responding. Happyfeet, maybe put the above question in the title? (Sorry, not knowledgeable to answer, but I...

As someone who often looks after other people's critters, I appreciate: -knowing where feed is kept -enough feed etc. to actually last for the amount of time the person will be away! -written instructions if medications are to be given, or if everyone's feeding schedule is different -knowing...

Wow, lots of variation in the statistics. I'll just add more info to the mix. I have two separate coops, for which I open separate bags of feed--less walking back and forth for me, and I can keep track of which coop goes through how much. Thirteen red sex links at the beginning of their...

Hi, there! If the mushrooms are growing around certain of your evergreen trees, they are probably helping the trees' roots take up nutrients. Before hauling out fungicide, could you post a close-up photo of the mushrooms? Many are edible for people, and may well be harmless for chickens as...

In brief, my neighbour and I split an order of red sex link pullets. She got their first egg on 5th October; I got the first on 17th October. She is getting about 5 a day, now; I am averaging about one a day. I am wondering if I should be doing something different, or if she just lucked out...

Poultry newbie here, but I think in your position I would be tempted to go for turkeys. You don't have to eat them. You have neighbours and family to do that dirty work, don't you? From what I've read about ducks on this site, they'll mess up a chicken coop. And you don't really want a...