Recent content by pymatuningchix

  1. pymatuningchix

    Rooster Attacking Me

    My rooster runs from my husband and me. Got him as a chick. they were all supposed to be hens. long story short, one was a HIM. Thought he was big hen and tried to tame her. would pick up and chase to pet. He didn't like the attention. We continued efforts to tame him after we realized he...
  2. pymatuningchix

    5 week old meat chicken off her feet

    I am raising meat chickens for the first time. Have heard a lot of stories and am amazed at how fast they get so big. One went off its feet. Picked it up and it made noises of pain. Thought it had broke a leg. Have checked and cannot find any sign of broken leg. It will eat and drink, but...
  3. pymatuningchix

    Official BYC Poll: How many chickens do you have?

    There are 24 hens in my care. They are 17 months old and give me anywhere from 14 - 20 eggs everyday. I suppose I should cull the non-layers, but I'm not sure how you determine who is and isn't laying eggs. Also, they should be starting to molt and I am told that will affect their egg laying...
  4. pymatuningchix

    feeding grasses and clovers

    Thanks again for everyone's input. I figured grass was one of the items on a chicken's menu. Considering there is clover and such in yards and many people free range their chickens, I don't get where this would be bad. There seemed to be alot of common plants on that toxic list. Oh well...
  5. pymatuningchix

    feeding grasses and clovers

    Because of various obstacles of time, money, material, weather, etc., I have not yet got my chicken run usable. In the meantime, I have picked grass and clover to scatter in my chicken pen for the girls to scratch at and eat. Was rereading what was considered ok for treats and came across some...
  6. pymatuningchix

    how high to make roosts in pen?How high nest boxes? Will space suffice

    ok. So if I bed good enough I can put the roosts 36" off the floor without too much trouble. They should have plenty of wing room in their pen. I take it the pen is big enough for 25 although bigger would be better. Like I said, deciphering through all the sites and info was kinda confusing...
  7. pymatuningchix

    how high to make roosts in pen?How high nest boxes? Will space suffice

    I read somewhere that the roosts shouldn't be any higher than 18" because of something called "bumblefoot" from them jumping down. Don't you have a problem of messes on the nest boxes if your roosts are over them?
  8. pymatuningchix

    how determined are racoons and rats?

    Quick update about coons. Our dog "treed" one in the barn where coop is. We didn't do anything that night. The dog "treed" it again tonight. After reading all the different post on the forum, we dealt with it tonight. My husband dispatched it. Felt bad as it was a momma, but the safety of...
  9. pymatuningchix

    how high to make roosts in pen?How high nest boxes? Will space suffice

    I keep reading different sources and many of the posts about space requirements and nest box sizing. Haven't noticed any about how far off the floor to put roosts. The girls are Rhode Islands(12) and Golden Buff Cross(13). Just young'uns, but what is suggested for roost height and nest boxes...
  10. pymatuningchix

    how determined are racoons and rats?

    Oh yeah. I was very insistent about doing everything possible to prevent the critters from getting in. There were chickens on this farm years ago, and I mean YEARS ago. My husband says they didn't have too many problems then. If they do get in, they had to REALLY work at it. I didn't make...
  11. pymatuningchix

    how determined are racoons and rats?

    Just got home from work about an hour ago. Moved my girls out to the pen this morning and first thing I did was go out and check on them tonight. So far so good. As far as feeding the barn cats, we keep the cat food shut up in a metal cabinet. If we think about it we put any uneaten food into...
  12. pymatuningchix

    how determined are racoons and rats?

    Have been desperately trying to finish a chicken pen in our old barn as my chicks need space. We have racoons that visit because we feed our outside cats in the barn . The coons visit for the free smorgasbord. We have tried our best to predator proof the pen, but my husband and brother-in-law...
  13. pymatuningchix

    hello from pymatuning lake

    Hi eveyone! I'm from Hartstown ,PA. I was born and raised in a farming community. Been around horses, cows,and chickens. Never actually raised chickens myself. My sister and I have talked for a few years about raising some laying hens for our own eggs. Finally did it this year. Since I have...
  14. pymatuningchix

    coop design

    Hi everyone! I am new to raising chickens myself, but as a farm girl, have been around them some. My sister and I wanted our own eggs, so we have went into a partnership. My local feed mill had a deal of 25 chicks and a bag of chick starter and we went for it. Since I have the farm and the...
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