Recent content by Ridgerunner

  1. Ridgerunner

    New coop construction

    Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined! I would not use chicken wire. It tends to be pretty fine wire but mostly because it is formed by twisting to form the mesh. That twisted knot could possibly injure their feet. I'd use 1" welded wire. It tends to be a heavier gauge so the wire is...
  2. Ridgerunner

    Is there such a thing as overeating in baby chicks outside of meat birds

    Do you know which hatchery they came from? Maybe Blain's can tell you. Then you can go to the hatchery website and see what they say about their Golden Comets. Golden Comets are not a breed. Golden Comet is a marketing name, usually for sex links. They can look different, depending on which...
  3. Ridgerunner

    One hen's eggshells have gone soft

    It is only one hen doing this so it is an individual hen problem, not a flock wide problem. She used to lay good eggshells but has consistently laid thin-shelled eggs for a few months. That eliminates a few things. It is not genetic. Do you know what kind of mites? There are different...
  4. Ridgerunner

    First Time Candling, I'm Not Sure If I did It Correctly

    Don't be surprised if the chick doesn't fluff up after your cleaning. It would probably take something like washing it in Dawn dish detergent (what wildlife rescues often use) to get that gunk out. But your overall plan sounds good.
  5. Ridgerunner

    When should I start incubating her eggs? (Serama hen)

    Thank you for responding, I really do appreciate that. It is so much easier when you can address specific concerns. I'm going to give my opinion. No doubt many experts will disagree. I've read that you are not supposed to harvest strawberries the first season after you plant them. You...
  6. Ridgerunner

    When should I start incubating her eggs? (Serama hen)

    Some people say the earth is flat. You can hear all kinds of things. Did they say why to not hatch eggs fertilized by a young cockerel? I'd love to hear "why" if they have a reason. If you wish to wait you can but I see no reason to wait because of his age if the eggs are fertile. I can see...
  7. Ridgerunner

    How can I ensure a friendly Rooster?

    Assuming you keep that chicken and it turns out to be a male. This is not a yes or not type question. Each chicken has its own personality. Each flock has its own dynamics. As flock members change out or mature, dynamics can change. I don't have a clue how your flock's dynamics will change...
  8. Ridgerunner

    Barred rock chicks or not? (feathered feet/legs). Not Easter Eggers?

    If by Araucana you mean chickens from the landrace (not a breed, a landrace) discovered in a specific region of South America (presently in Chile) I agree that the British Araucana, American Araucana (different breed requirements even with the same name), and Ameraucana derived from the landrace...
  9. Ridgerunner

    Steve McQueen’s Great Escape to her hidden nest of 25 eggs (plus 9 in my incubator)

    Thanks for sharing your location. Not sure what your predicted lows are a couple of days after the eggs hatch. Should not be too bad. The most chicks I've seen a hen bring off of a hidden nest was 18. Never found the nest so I have no idea how many eggs she started with. She raised all...
  10. Ridgerunner

    When should I start incubating her eggs? (Serama hen)

    They should be good now but open one of her eggs and look for the bull's eye. If you see the bull's eye any future eggs should be good. She is not a pullet laying her first eggs, she is two years old. She should not have any of the issues a pullet laying for the first time could.
  11. Ridgerunner

    Run cover?

    Some very good points raised by two very good people. Even with the hardware cloth roof (let alone a solid roof) you should consider snow and ice load. Snow and ice can get pretty heavy. If you put a solid roof on it I would slope it so the water runs off to an area where it naturally flows...
  12. Ridgerunner

    Anyone have a diy rain drum waterer thats easy links to products would be nice

    Do you have access to city or well water? You can set up a valve with a float that refills when water level drops below a certain level. Similar to how your commode works. You could do the same with your rain barrel system, use a float and a valve. I don't use nipples but since they work...
  13. Ridgerunner

    Anybody do food forest/grow food for their chickens (in run or on property for them while they free range)?

    What do you have to work with? How big is your run, in feet or meters. How many chickens do you have? Where are you located, for general climate information? What do you have growing now in the free range area regarding trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants? Is your chicken density...
  14. Ridgerunner

    Brooding inside the coop.

    It sounds like it may be your first time with a broody hen. So, are your girls really broody? My test is that a hen has to spend at least two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping in her normal spot. One night is not enough, it has to be two consecutive nights. It sounds like...
  15. Ridgerunner

    Feather Pulling Problems

    The only thing I can think of, other than leaving her permanently with the blinders, is to isolate her for a week or so away from the flock. I've had limited success changing behaviors doing this. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
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