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  1. Ridgerunner

    Only one hatched chick, help!

    If she is off of the nest with that chick, put them in the incubator now. Assume she has abandoned the nest. Just do not take that chance.
  2. Ridgerunner

    What time of day do YOUR chickens lay?

    Chickens are as consistent about when they lay as everything else, which means not at all. That does not mean individuals won't be consistent, just not chickens in general. I've had hens lay an egg every morning at 9:00 am. If she did not lay by 9:00 she would not lay that day. I'd get 5 or...
  3. Ridgerunner

    18 1/2 week old Blue Laced Wyandotte

    Sorry. I have no idea what went wrong. As far as I'm concerned you did everything correctly.
  4. Ridgerunner

    First Year Molt?

    Some pullets skip the molt their first fall/winter and continue laying eggs until the molt the following fall. Some cockerels skip the molt also but they don't lay eggs anyway. Some do not skip the molt. It is an individual chicken thing. The main reason for the molt is the days getting...
  5. Ridgerunner

    Easter egger questions

    I agree it is not 100% reliable. That's why I said "You do not get any guarantees with this but it should improve your odds a little."
  6. Ridgerunner

    Integrating New Pullets

    It sounds like you are planning on two new chicks. I suggest a minimum of three. It is easier to integrate chickens if you have at least two. They are social animals and really want to be with other chickens. Unless you get sex linked chickens you are not guaranteed that they will both be...
  7. Ridgerunner

    New rooster

    My guess is that he is a mix. Could be a mix of two breeds are a mix of several. I really like that yellow on the black background. I had one like that that was a mix of Speckled Sussex, Black Australorp, and Buff Orpington. But there are many mixes that could make one look like that.
  8. Ridgerunner

    Does egg shape determine gender?

    Most of my individual hatches are 2/3 to 3/4 of the same sex, sometimes boys sometimes girls. I typically hatch about 40 to 45 chicks a year. Some years I will have more boys, some years more girls. But several times I've looked at a two year average, 80 to 90 chicks. Those are practically...
  9. Ridgerunner

    Integrating New Pullets

    Let's talk quarantine first. Diseases and parasites can be spread by them eating or drinking from shared containers, pecking at the ground with them living together, by insects like mosquitoes or grasshoppers, or just blowing on the wind. A little separation will give them some protection...
  10. Ridgerunner

    Feathers Feathers Feathers!!!!

    If you want to collect them and use them to make jewelry or fishing lures you can, but I just let mine rot. They go away pretty quickly.
  11. Ridgerunner

    Egg issues

    The Egg Quality Guide addresses many shell flaws. That's set up more for commercial operations than for us so they mention things that will not apply. Don't get too excited about any of them. Egg Quality Guide - The Poultry Site | The Poultry Site If you are selling them then those flaws...
  12. Ridgerunner

    Separating the Roosters, or WAY TOO MANY

    I find the easiest way to catch them is to take them off of the roost at night when it is dark, using a flashlight. I don't know how yours roost, if that is possible or not. As long as you respect your elders we'll get along great!!! :oops: :thumbsup
  13. Ridgerunner

    Is ordering chicks online supposed to be so expensive nowadays?!

    When I buy an automobile I don't pay that much attention to the cost of the vehicle. I want to know the amount of the check I'll have to write. That total price is the cost of the vehicle. A part of the cost is not the total cost. Same thing with ordering chicks. The individual cost per...
  14. Ridgerunner

    Gold laced wyandotte

    I think I see wattles which implies it is probably a boy.
  15. Ridgerunner

    Easter egger questions

    At that age it is practically impossible to tell by appearance. Some people mention size but that depends on the size of the egg they hatched out of at that age. But behaviors might give you a clue. Boys tend to be bolder and more curious. The girls are more cautious. If one comes out to...
  16. Ridgerunner

    How many on the go at once to sustain your consumption?

    Do you have a link or something where that came from? I've never heard that and am curious. When I catch a possum, raccoon, rat, or such I slit open the abdomen so they can get to it and leave it out all day for them. To me, that is good protein for them. But just before dark I get rid of...
  17. Ridgerunner

    18 1/2 week old Blue Laced Wyandotte

    The problem is rigor mortis. If you cook them while rigor mortis is set up, they are going to be tough whether pullet, cockerel, hen, or rooster. Pressure cooking may be able to overcome that, I've never tried. But if you don't age them to get past rigor mortis you are probably going to have...
  18. Ridgerunner

    Are egg colors/speckles supposed to vary?

    It is not parasites. It is not a disease, whether mundane or exotic. It is just something that happens. You probably have at least three different ones laying.
  19. Ridgerunner

    Help identifying breed/sex

    Try posting individual photos when they are five weeks old. Often by then we can make a good guess. Right now they are too young. A closeup of the head showing comb and wattles can help a lot. Also, a profile shot showing legs, posture, and body conformation can help.
  20. Ridgerunner

    Are they actually eating the dirt?

    They're probably getting some food from that. Possibly some bugs but more likely plant matter. They are probably getting grit from pecking at the dirt. They are probably getting some minerals from actually eating plain old dirt. They are strengthening their immune system by exposing it...
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