Recent content by rjl

  1. R

    Managing breeds?

    I appreciate all the thoughts, thank you! I have some experience with chicks and some experience with hens but have never done the full raising of chicks myself and never had to deal with a rooster. If I end up with a male, I will likely keep him and see how things go. I don’t mind having to...
  2. R

    Managing breeds?

    Thank you! That is a lot of great information for me to consider as we move along in this process.
  3. R

    Managing breeds?

    My oldest is 5 and my youngest is 4 months. I’m not purposely adding a rooster but there’s a chance that I’ll get one with my order so I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth keeping around to sustain my flock long term or if we should just cull him.
  4. R

    Managing breeds?

    Sorry, one of the problems I meant is that I won’t have several generations very quickly if I minimize the number of eggs that a hen is allowed to hatch. I live in town so I don’t have space for an extra dozen chicks on top of the 15 that I ordered. So my idea of a sustainable flock is a very...
  5. R

    Managing breeds?

    I don’t even have the chicks yet so I have no clue. Obviously I’ll be able to tell the Easter Eggers but all the others lay brown. The sizes might vary though. If chicks are hatched that do have recessive qualities, do you cull them as chicks then? Or can you allow them to grow so they can at...
  6. R

    Managing breeds?

    My main concerns are egg laying and foraging ability. But I won’t know about how well they forage for a while anyway. I guess I’m trying to find the best balance between low maintenance and sustainable. I’m in the season of having young kids so I need it to be relatively simple. How can I be...
  7. R

    Managing breeds?

    I’m about to start my flock with purchased chicks (Easter Eggers, Barred Plymouth Rock, White Plymouth Rock, and Rhode Island Reds). There’s a 90% sex guarantee but we could end up with a male. If we keep a rooster and let the girls go broody as desired, do we need to stay on top of genetics or...
  8. R

    Sick or Injured?

    Thank you for the help! These are my first chickens so I’m severely lacking in the sick management skills. Unfortunately when I went out this morning, she was gone. Whatever attacked probably came back and got her because I can’t find the body.
  9. R

    Sick or Injured?

    Thanks for the tips! Do you think it’s simply that she’s traumatized? The mess on her vent has me worried too. Also, what would you use to sweeten the water? Sugar, honey? Brown sugar?
  10. R

    Sick or Injured?

    I had 7 chickens and when I came home from a morning away, 3 of them had gotten out (possibly hiding in the bushes) and one was lying underneath the coop, barely moving. I'm kind of assuming something got to the other ones, but it's possible that they had just been out long enough to wander away...
  11. R

    Purchasing flock, coop, and run - how to move??

    I was able to borrow 2 crates from a friend so that should take care of the actual transport. I will take a look for electrolytes. I’m guessing Tractor Supply would have something appropriate. Thank you!
  12. R

    Purchasing flock, coop, and run - how to move??

    Ok. I don’t have access to dog crates and am trying to avoid a large purchase like that. I had seen bankers boxes suggested on another thread so I was going to do that, along with some extra ventilation and taping the lids.
  13. R

    Purchasing flock, coop, and run - how to move??

    We are purchasing 8 laying hens, along with their current coop, run, waterer, feeder, etc from a lady 30 minutes down the road. With that short of a trip, what are the most important things about transport? We will hopefully be able to just pick their coop off the trailer and set it down in...
  14. R

    Getting Chickens Soon

    Thanks for the ideas! I'll keep those in mind. :)
  15. R

    Getting Chickens Soon

    I was originally going to wait to get chicks later in the summer and have a Fall flock but this baby surprised us so...not sure that's the best timing. Now I just have to figure out when because we're not ready quite yet.
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