Keep your chickens closed in your coop until they find another home. It's better to have them cooped up than eaten. I'm sorry for your loss too. :(
Do you know any hunters who could help you with that raccoon? Or try trapping it. Getting rid of your chickens will keep them safe, but it still...
I thought so too, but one of mine looked like the first and turned into a beautiful hen.
I did have luck sexing my five chicks with the wing feather test.
If my hens are kept inside for a while, I'll pick some greens for them. Your hen has been under stress, which can throw her GI system out of whack. She should get better on her own after the stress calms down.
I have heard of the yogurt/ yolk suggestion. It cant hurt to offer it to her, but...
My hens won't touch citrus or onions, but they'll go after almost all other food! As for citrus, you can try to feed it to them, but they may not be interested. I don't think it's probable chickens would eat enough of it for any ill side effects; they're not being fed strictly citrus.
We have...
The quarantine is to protect the birds (both new and original) from contracting any possible disease. It's a precautionary measure, but unless you plan on keeping them separate forever, you need to introduce them at some point.
I've gotten new chickens many, many times and have never run into...
I have five narragansetts. They're definitely interested in people and will keep me company in the barn. However, the one Royal Palm poult I have is incredibly vocal and insists on being involved in all activities. Maybe it's the breed!
@oldhenlikesdogs
Where do your turkeys roost? Mine fly up into our maple tree. I'd like them to stay in the chicken coop but the run isn't covered and they fly over the 6' fence. Do you think they'll be more prone to staying in when they're 1+ yrs old?
This is my first year with turkeys. They're free range; our chicken coop has a fence, no ceiling.
The four Narragansetts are 4 months old (they look identical, so I can't tell for sure if I have any hens) and although they don't bother me, they'll closely follow and strut around anyone new...
The incandescent bulb burst violently and caught debris on fire (bedding, cobwebs, anything flammable). Newer equipment often has safety features but older materials are accident prone.
Energy efficient bulbs run cool, though that defeats the purpose of the heater. Check your heater to make...
If you plan on keeping him and waiting it out to see if he relaxes, it's worth caging him. Better that than risking the very real alternative.
Some aggression is normal when they're growing and figuring out the pecking order, but I'd say once they become aggressive towards humans, it's rare...
My hen Peg (short for Peg Leg, not Margaret!) lost all the toes on one of her feet. She was still the kindest little hen and she was able to hobble along just fine.
Some roosters are so docile! Others simply have a mean streak and it's bad enough with other birds, but unacceptable when aggression is directed at people.
Your best option is to get rid of the bird if you don't want to contain him. It's amazing how scary little birds can be when they're at...
My chickens once pecked away a styrofoam cooler I had drying outside. They are a decent portion of it before I noticed they got to it. I wouldn't feed it to them ever again, but all chickens were fine! Things pass right through them.
Foil, styrofoam- it doesn't get in the eggs so you're good...
I love my chickens! They're a great little pet. They give eggs, they compost, they take care of food waste and bugs, they have wonderful personalities. It warms my heart that more people are interested in having them.
I actually asked for some more as my 21st birthday present!
Do you mind...
When I have eggs left when a hen has hatched some, I try to have an incubator going as back up. Sometimes eggs will hatch and others will be a day or so behind. The hen will leave the nest with her chicks and not return to the rest.
Candle them to see if there is anything inside the egg. Dark...