A friend of mine has had excellent luck in Production Red hens for being consistent layers. I, on the other hand, went with "fancy" hens first time around … they would lay ONLY when the weather conditions were perfect!!! Not too hot, not too cold, not too dry, not too wet. I am planning to...
My hens are approaching 5 years of age. This past summer egg production decreased, and we have had no eggs from any of them since late summer. Do you think these hens are too old/tough to butcher for the crock pot? I am not going to continue to feed nonproducing hens … I'm a senior on a very...
So a reader responded to my molt question ... saying there are breeds that molt less and not as long ... but failed to list these breeds! Does anyone have any input as to what breeds these might be?! Thanks.
Looking for a breed(S) of chicken that doesn't molt or, at least, will continue to lay while molting ... my hens are getting up in age, and I am planning ahead for when I need to replace them.
I'm not sure if my small flock has a problem w/lice, but I wonder if I should treat them "just in case" ... if so, what do you use? They are about 18 months of age ... it is very hot, humid and dry in this part of the country. They free range about 2 hours each day ...
My hens are now a year old ... some appear to be starting to molt and some are getting "broody" ... I do not want to hatch chicks, so a) is there a way to stop the broodiness and b) how long does molting normally last? I understand hens may stop laying during molting season ...
Thank you.
I purchased 2 hens this morning from an individual, she did not know what breed the hens are ... I haven't take a photo as yet. They are less than a year old, on the smallish side, black and white spotted with copper/orangish spots on their bodies. The woman originally purchased them as...
I purchased 2 young hens today, about 8 months of age. I haven't taken a photo as yet, but was wondering if someone out there MIGHT have an idea as to their breed. They were purchased from the local farmers coop store, and they normally don't sell "exotic" or "fancy" breeds. The hens aren't...
My chickens are just under one year of age. I feed them a high quality lay maker, they do fine. My husband throws them a handful of clean, whole corn almost every day ... is this safe?
I am new to Marans, have 6 six month old Black Copper Maran hens ... nice chicken, "darkness" of egg color varies per chicken ... is anyone on BYC selling older Maran hens as I don't want chicks ... I would like a few of the Wheaton Maran hens ...
I have 2 laying boxes, but the girls seem undecided which box to use OR just lay on the ground! I plan on trying the ceramic egg again ... if it works, great ... if not, so be it!
I have 3 nesting boxes for the 6 hens ... they seem to be undecided on whether they'd rather use them or the ground! I figure what happens, happens! I plan on trying the ceramic egg again and, if that doesn't work, so be it!
It may be difficult to single out (hopefully only one!) the culprit ... I am retired, so I do collect eggs numerous times throughout the day ... that said, I only have 6 hens and they have just been laying for about a month now! I have tried the ceramic egg, but I took it out since it seemed...
My 6 month old Marans have been laying for the last couple of weeks ... every now and then I discover that they have eaten or pecked a hole in an egg ... how can I stop/deter this behavior? Thanks!
I am new to the Black Copper Maran breed ... my 5 to 6 month old hens started laying a couple of weeks now, so some of them use the laying box, some are laying on the ground. I wash the eggs before placing them in the carton in the refrigerator. I have noticed, on some of the eggs, that the...
Liz, thanks ... not sure what is going on with her ... I am concerned about my husband and I consuming her eggs ... I am also worried she will infect the rest of the flock, altho she has been with them for almost her entire life and the others seem fine. I wonder if it is too late to dispose...
I posted a problem with a hen the other day ... let me add some more information and concerns ... this five month old hen, breed unknown altho I suspect she is a Black Jersey Giant, has been making an odd sound. She sounds as if she is being strangled and when she inhales afterwards you can...