Recent content by tomarcs

Hello, I have seven pullets that I'm looking to re-home. I received them from Cackle Hatchery on 2/26/14. I never ment to keep all of them from the minimum required order, so now it's time to downsize. What's available are 4 Buff Orpingtons, a Barre Plymouth Rock, a Rhode Island Red, and a grey...

The chicks are now 14 weeks old, the five cockerels that had started crowing have been dispatched, and that leaves 19 girls and two blokes. I built a modified version of the purina mills coop, so it has 24 sq ft. My chicks are bantams, so I figure 12 would be ok. That means I've got some...

I know exactly what you mean about the treat train! They'll all seem to be nestled inside the coop, but as soon as they hear me slide the house door open BAM! There's three outside the run, and they're climbing up the stairs of the porch to see what I'm up to. Just keep your patience, eventually...

I think I lucked out with my chicks learning some behaviors from the lone hen I have. In the morning though, around 5:30 - 6, I can already hear them waiting for me to open up the door. As soon as that coop door is open, it's a mad dash to get out. Get to where? I have no clue other than out...

Packobeagles, I hope the best for you in intergrating your silkie's, from the bottom of my heart. And here's why: I started my flock by rescuing a silkie from a co-worker's flock. It was the second time she had to be re-homed due to getting the ever-loving-life pecked out of her - no feathers...

I've gone through something similar to this: One 2 y/o silkie hen 26 chicks They all lived in my garage (the hen was let out to range) while I was getting the coop built, but had a divider going down the middle to separate their pens. The fence was just a cheap metal garden type fence with big...

Hi all, I've been wanting to post here for a bit and finally thought of a legit question to ask instead of, "You like chickens!? Me too!!" Where do you get your feed from? I live in Sonoma County and get a #40/#50 bag of Bar-Ale for $20 from a little feed store. Haven't bought from anywhere...

Yes, the combs!!! I knew I must be forgetting something else! Thanks so much to both of you for confirming my suspicions.

Thanks to everyone for the replies! Glad I didn't toss the FF like I was planning to. It's definitely been hot here lately, and it sit's on our back porch so makes sense that it's been more active lately. I've added more feed to the batch, I'll try to stir more too. Was always concerned about...

Hello all, I've had a batch of fermented feed rolling for about a month. When I came out the other other day, the top looked like this and I stopped using it. Any ideas on what went wrong? Is this fixable or should I toss the batch like I suspect? And how can I prevent this from happening again?

Out of all the breeds, I really wanted Dominique's. So naturally, I think they were the ones that died as chicks (only four losses early on) and the two that I think are Dominiques, I think they're boys. Both suspects look exactly like this. Cockerel, right? :( And just to confirm that this a...

Really, they love it??? My chicks haven't realized they're missing out on a tasty treat then, because the only thing still alive in their run is the wild mint that was already there.

Have you tried fermenting you feed? I've only just started this, but from reading up on it it's supposed to decrease the food consumed by your flock as well as allow them to absorb more nutrients from the feed. I know someone else mentioned that 4 legged creatures could be taknig their unfair...

The short version: How/when do I integrat a solo Silkie hen with 26 eight week old chicks? The long version: I have a single Silkie hen that I resecued at the beginning of January, she's fully recovered from nearly being pecked to death by the large fowl flock she raised. At the end of...

My 26 bantham chicks are just three weeks old and almost finished with a 40lbs bag of feed. Sounds comparable to yours, assuming you have large fowl chicks.