Recent content by RM44

  1. RM44

    Co-parenting new chicks - Have you seen it?

    Several weeks ago I had a hen go broody so I decided to let her hatch a few eggs. First broody was a White American Bresse. We gave her 4 eggs, but when we went on vacation a week later some of the sneaky girls laid 2 more under her. She hatched 4; one died, but three days later she was ready...
  2. RM44

    Baby Chick!

    Can you put mamma and baby in a kennel inside the run (so the others are still around it and learn to accept it?)
  3. RM44

    Baby chick stepped on

    So sorry. Don't be too hard on yourself. Try to remember that you are trying to be a good caregiver and understand that accidents happen. Good luck.
  4. RM44

    Chick needs with mama hen

    I put mamma and the new babies in a dog kennel inside the run for the first week (to allow the babies to get at the starter food without the other hens eating it all up). After a week I open the kennel door and let them go in and out, and then I close the kennel door and keep the starter food...
  5. RM44

    Help/advice baby chicks in nesting box 2 feet above ground

    Has no one ever allowed chickens to hatch in an elevated nest box before? My chick is 2 days old now. I need to know whether I should attempt to move it or let nature take it's course here?
  6. RM44

    Help/advice baby chicks in nesting box 2 feet above ground

    So we decided to quit fighting the broodies and just let them attempt to hatch a few eggs. One of my broodies was successful and hatched a baby in the nest box, which is one of 5, in a long tin (or metal) box that came from an old chicken house. The other chickens also use this box, and the...
  7. RM44

    How do I know if my feet are still good?

    Yes, you are right. Lesson learned. But what about the feet? They were in the fridge earlier, and the necks seem fine. I have always left the chickens in the fridge 4-5 days after processing to "rest" before cooking. This time I went a lot longer plus the cooler debacle, so a few unknowns...
  8. RM44

    How do I know if my feet are still good?

    I processed some birds a week and a day ago. I put them in a cooler b/c I didn't have room in the fridge. The cooler is not a high quality one, and the bag of ice I put on top melted before I realized and the chickens got a little warm. I put another bag of ice on them but it was 2 days total...
  9. RM44

    Chick sex - can you tell by the tail?

    I remember reading somewhere that, in general, baby chicks might be gender identified the tail length at a young age (2 weeks). But I don't remember which one had the long tail versus no/short tail. I almost think it was the pullets that had a longer tail first, and the roosters had short/no...
  10. RM44

    Supposed to be pullets...but maybe not?

    They do, within reason, sometimes develop at different paces. However, I have seen that most hatcheries do have an "oops" or two when trying to sex pullets. I got a few roosters both times that I ordered from a hatchery.
  11. RM44

    Baby chicks died

    Do you have full grown chickens on your property? Are you practicing good bio-security? I can tell you of my one and only experience that sounds like this one. I was handling the babies and then going outside and feeding the big ones. I had hatched the babies myself. I followed all the...
  12. RM44

    help Failed clutch under broody hen

    Sounds like she's just still broody. Try to break her. I don't dunk them in water, but some do. I just pull them off the nest and close up the box (if everyone is done for the day). If you have a small wire cage I will sometimes take my broody and put her in a small wire cage inside the run...
  13. RM44

    Fart eggs - do you eat them?

    Are they edible? Is it worth it? I know it will probably be all white, but do you use them?
  14. RM44

    help Failed clutch under broody hen

    Are you saying the hen sat on the eggs for 25 days, and that you candled on day 17? Or that she was broody for 25 days and you are on day 17 of putting eggs under her? If she sat on those eggs for 25 days then they are probably not going to hatch and I think you're right to take them. I...
  15. RM44

    Safe to eat??

    Thank you all so much for taking the time to advise and share your experiences. We have decided to cull her and not to run the risk of eating her. Even if the blue cote doesn't harm, I just can't help but wonder if she might have some other infection entering the wound site. I too have my...
See more
Back
Top Bottom