Search results for query: *

  1. chickarita

    Ruining lawn!

    Last fall, the girls suddenly became interested in scratching up parts of our lawn to the dirt. This was a new behavior and one my husband is not loving. How do I stop this habit? There are only 6 of them on about 1/4 acre so they aren't cramped. I didn't see any new bugs. If they won't stop...
  2. chickarita

    HELP ASAP! Hen escaping daily!

    Why does she want out so badly??
  3. chickarita

    HELP ASAP! Hen escaping daily!

    Ugh. She got out several times over the week. AND she taught her friends how to do it! My neighbor is awesome and latticed his deck slats. But today they got out again! Will clipping help if they aren't really "flying"? What about something like fox urine scent?
  4. chickarita

    HELP ASAP! Hen escaping daily!

    We have a Buff Orp who has been escaping from our yard daily. We think she's squeezing through our neighbor's deck slats so clipping her wings won't help I don't think? We can't find a nest anywhere and she's not going to the same "spot" all the time. My neighbor has been very patient with...
  5. chickarita

    Hot Comb?

    i thought of that! i don't think so. i can't imagine how she would have gotten out to make one - i count them a lot to make sure they are still all here! what about the hot comb? is that a "thing"? or is it just a freak observation?
  6. chickarita

    Hot Comb?

    I have one Buff Orp (about 1.5 yo) who is exhibiting slightly odd behavior. The girls have a coop but free range in our yard and she is bent on escaping, pacing the fence opposite our house and quietly clucking. She succeeded once but was easy to shoo back in the yard. When I picked her up...
  7. chickarita

    Chick Integration causing us (and them!) stress! :(

    When we originally built it, we used dimensions recommended but it sounds like there is disagreement! The girls get along great - never blood or fighting, even through the winter. A few feathers picked as they jockey over the nesting box (girls, we built 3, use all of them!) In any event, we...
  8. chickarita

    Chick Integration causing us (and them!) stress! :(

    They do only sleep in the coop, even in the winter they are usually in the run. And all but winter they are out in a 1/4 acre. But we have def talked of expanding the set-up nonetheless. But thanks for the advice! :)
  9. chickarita

    Chick Integration causing us (and them!) stress! :(

    We have a small backyard flock of 5 1+ year old hens (2 Orp, 2 BR, 1 RIR). We recently bought 3 EE chicks who are now about 9 weeks old and waaaay too big to still be living in the house. The weather is nice enough now in MA that they can live outside, but I'm having trouble integrating them...
  10. chickarita

    Chicken litter compost?

    We have been composting our litter (pine shavings) since last summer. I want to add it to the garden but the shavings are still pretty intact and it doesn't look too "composty". Suggestions as to what we are doing wrong? There were grass clippings in there too, btw.
  11. chickarita

    Predator attack - safe but pretty bald and COLD!

    She seemed to be amiss without her sisters so we put her back outside. She's doing fine actually, in all ways, except she hasn't resumed laying. How long can a hen go without laying? We got one every other day before.
  12. chickarita

    Predator attack - safe but pretty bald and COLD!

    Our White Leghorn was attacked by something yesterday and we found her under the deck, completely bald in the back except for a few long, dirty tail feathers. We washed her up and blew dry her feathers and separated her for the night. She seems to be okay, actually - eating, drinking, etc...
  13. chickarita

    To be speckled or not to be speckled...

    We haven't had another since! :( Maybe it was a speckled kind of day... Do certain hens lay earlier than others?
  14. chickarita

    To be speckled or not to be speckled...

    We just started getting eggs from our 22 week old hens but we are never home during the day to tell who is laying them. So far, have gotten smooth, beautiful brown eggs every day, but today we got an egg covered in dark brown speckles. WHO IS IT?? We have two barred rocks, two buff orpingtons...
  15. chickarita

    Amount to feed 8 week old chicks?

    Thanks! Super helpful!
  16. chickarita

    Amount to feed 8 week old chicks?

    Oh, whoops! We have six pullets - 2 buff orpington, 2 barred rock, 1 RIR, 1 leghorn (a very runty little girl!). Okay, so as much as they can eat before bed.
  17. chickarita

    Amount to feed 8 week old chicks?

    We have recently switched over from Medicated crumbles to pellet poultry feed (and will switch to layer feed as they get older) but I'm not sure how much they should eat. We fill the container (a standard plastic "chick" feeder) in the morning and by mid-later afternoon it's mostly empty...
  18. chickarita

    Treats that are NOT treats

    If I've read correctly, you should NOT give chicks/chickens: potatoes avocados kingworms w heads egg shells until they are laying chocolate (why would you??) flavored yogurt Am I missing anything else on this list?
  19. chickarita

    New urban chicken farmer!

    Hi! My husband and I live in Massachusetts with our three sons and our labrador retriever. We are now also the proud parents of six 2-week old chicks - two barred rocks, two buff orpingtons, one RIR and one white leghorn! The boys are THRILLED to have them and have dove into helping raise...
  20. chickarita

    Holy almost chicktastrophe!

    We have six 2+ week old chicks living in a large dog crate/brooder in our house (2 buff orpington, 2 barred rock, 1 RIR, 1 leghorn). My husband came home from work to find the cage door open, our 90 pound lab IN the crate (we are still not clear how this happened!) and wet, dead-looking chicks...
Back
Top Bottom