Recent content by SamLockwood

  1. SamLockwood

    Why was there a dead rat in my nest box

    At a guess, the rodent was raiding the nest and some bird took exception and dispatched the rodent. I've seen my chickens and guineas kill rats and mice
  2. SamLockwood

    If warm outside, no heat lamp at month old

    I don't use heat lamps anywhere near any flammable bedding. I've had a couple times I've had the things get moved by bonehead people and nearly set stuff on fire. I transition by birds to the outdoor brooder (really just a smaller coop) at 2 to 3 weeks of age. If the nights are cooler (like...
  3. SamLockwood

    One hen who wanders really far without flock - new behavior.

    Some of them are like that: they'll like to wander off by themselves. Unfortunately it's a terrible survival trait.
  4. SamLockwood

    Why does my rooster circle around me?

    It depends on exactly what he's doing. If he's just circling and muttering at you it's a greeting. If he dips a wing down and does a sort of sidways shuffle at you he's trying to herd you. The latter can be "pre-aggressive" behavior as he's trying to push you around. In that situation move...
  5. SamLockwood

    Integrating new hens 1 at a time.

    As the others said, it's better to integrate them as a group. Lone chickens facing a group of strangers are going to be really nervous, and a group of chickens facing a lone stranger is more likely to bully the newcomer because chickens think that sort of thing is fun. I really don't have a set...
  6. SamLockwood

    Maran rooster

    My roos are a blue copper maran, blue cuckoo maran and an olive egger (was supposed to be a cream legbar but the hatchery messed up). The hens are olive eggers and cream legbars. The progeny lay brown, green and blue eggs. I've got two that lay a dark-olive egg and one that lays a darker brown...
  7. SamLockwood

    When to cull chicks

    Not eating or drinking at 2 days old isn't abnormal, right before they hatch the absorb all the remaining yolk and have a couple day's worth of food & and water in them by the time they hatch. This is why hatcheries are able to ship them. If it looks like it's trying to walk but can't get one...
  8. SamLockwood

    Nurture Right 360 incubator is reading 82% humidity and its hatch day! HELP

    It could be the instrumentation is off in the incubator itself. I use a govee thermometer / hygrometer to monitor the temp & humidity, plus it has the bonus of recording long-term trends (like the average temp & humidity over 24 hours). I've noticed that the humidity readings can be as much as...
  9. SamLockwood

    Probably a hawk ...

    Moat hawks aren't big enough to fly off with an adult standard size chicken. If you didn't find your bird with its head missing or it's chest cracked open and it's heart and liver missing, your culprit is likely a ground predator like a coyote, bobcat, or dog.
  10. SamLockwood

    Issues with neighbors dogs

    The only difference for me when a neighbor's pet is baking around my birds is they get one warning shot. Otherwise when a predator attacks my flock I do my best to kill it. Look at it this way, of the pet's owner really loved it, they would not let it roam wild around the neighborhood. If you...
  11. SamLockwood

    Will a Roo protect my hens from roaming dogs?

    No. Roosters are only really good as a warning system. Some of them will fight hawks, the best will frighten off small predators like opossums or raccoons if they're not too determined. The smallest dogs tend to weigh twice as much as.the biggest roosters. Unless the dog is extremely timid the...
  12. SamLockwood

    Adding a Rooster... Later.

    My general advice for new chicken-keepers that ask about how best to add a rooster to your flock is "don't." Even if you're experienced they can be a handful in their adolescent (aka "tiny serial rapist") stage, and if you're new even normal rooster behaviors can be upsetting. That being said...
  13. SamLockwood

    Raccoons, skunk possums question

    Not in the long run, unless the light coming on usually brings a human or a dog to investigate. That's pretty much the case with a lot of predator "deterrents" like decoys, noise-makers, etc. If it doesn't really hurt them or threaten them they'll figure out sooner or later it's just a light /...
  14. SamLockwood

    Hens killed the rooster??? Need answers.

    It's rare but I've seen hens gang up and kill.a rooster if they don't like him.
  15. SamLockwood

    Hens/Rooster getting more vocal

    You being around isn't really a deterrent to a predator, especially if they're very hungry. I've had attacks when I was less than 20 yards away, other times they'll slink around and wait to see if you leave. The more clever ones will learn your routines and and try to hit your flock while you're...
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