Recent content by sarcasm

Usually when the description is "my bird suddenly got yellow bumps that started to turn brown" the most probable cause is fowl pox.

I had typed out some stuff about agricultural vs homestead property tax exemptions, but honestly this is probably going to be way more helpful since I'd have to make some assumptions about your situation. Contact your county's ag extension office by phone and talk with them, they're a fantastic...

Cold fronts like this are why my lemon tree is a potted plant. Does anyone have a universal translator so I can tell the birds to get to bed before it gets any colder?

Cape honeysuckle?

I think that's a dragon fruit cactus. I could easily be wrong though, but the shape and flowers look like it to my untrained eye.

We call that the “bird-rito” at my house. I’m not sure if I heard it somewhere or if it was just the obvious name.

Well that was WAY too much water WAY too fast. Everything's fine except one bantam chicken who couldn't get back up out of the 8 inches or so of water that was racing through the bottom of the coop. She was barely floating when the lightning finally let up enough to check on them yesterday...

Whelp... it's mornings like this that I wish I had remote opening coop doors. Not that my trip outside was appreciated just yet, even the ducks and geese are staying out of the rain for now. As of right this moment, I've got more puddling in my yard than at any time I checked during Harvey...

Legend. They don't even look straight up, their eyes are on the sides of their heads. But the probable grain of truth behind it is that it's actually pretty darn easy to chill a young poult to death, and they ABSOLUTELY CAN die if it's cold and rainy and they can't get back to mom easily...

There are SO MANY things that it could be, but because you mention the odd head placement and movement, look up some pictures/video of wry neck and see if that looks like what's going on?

Ooo, a black vulture. I actually had some of them hanging out with my flock for a while one day. The vultures, turkeys, and chickens were bonding over a meal of "random dead raccoon" before I came and removed the buffet.

That's what I call the "f u" noise, complete with accompanying upward head movement. She wants those poults to recognize her superior status, preferably by running away. If there were not a fence in the way, she'd peck them.

Not a defense of craigslist, but it's ALWAYS a case of "do your homework" with fowl regardless of the source - even Ideal was labeling their easter eggers as "ameraucana" until last year. From parties that aren't big-name-warehouse-hatcheries: get pictures (and do a reverse image lookup online...

We're spoilt for choice on the outskirts of Houston when it comes to finding birds and eggs. It really just depends what you're looking for. Craigslist is probably the best choice if you're looking for specific breeds. I do sell eggs, but my chicken flock is mixed so they're mostly for eating...

Since they look roughly the same size, I doubt the difference in weight one way or another will make much difference for the hens. You might want to give both of them a heft and see if the difference is substantial though if you're concerned. I had a female duck convince a fully-grown bourbon...