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  1. rosemarythyme

    Are They Eating Too Much Calcium?

    Well of course they were happy to chow down on the treats - put a plate of chocolate chip cookies in front of the typical human and even if they're full they'll find way to make room for them! I'd aim to cut it down to maybe 1/4 cup total or less a day. BOSS and BSFL are both fatty compared to...
  2. rosemarythyme

    Heat lamp alternatives needed.

    What I prefer for brooding is a "mama heating pads" which is simply a heating pad WITHOUT shut off placed on a frame to work like a heat plate. A fraction of the cost and they work in bigger temperature ranges versus the typical brooder plate.
  3. rosemarythyme

    1 week old chicks

    x2 on taking them outdoors if weather permits and you have a chick safe enclosure ready for them. Any photos of the brooder? They do get bored if all they have is a tub with bedding and nothing else.
  4. rosemarythyme

    Are They Eating Too Much Calcium?

    I haven't noticed excessive intake when the flock is allowed to regulate for themselves. During winter of course the oyster and eggshell barely get touched. Once they're getting back into lay I start seeing it disappear and yes it does seem to go fast when most of the flock is laying, however...
  5. rosemarythyme

    Flying Chickens

    I would think they'd be able to jump up to 3' even with clipping, though you may need to test that. If there's no lower roost to help them up there's always the ramp option, or even a cinder block or stump can give them a boost.
  6. rosemarythyme

    Resource guarding keeps derailing my flocks. Can't crack the code!

    Maybe it's just me but I don't see any real issue in the first video. As you've noted chickens tend to want whatever another chicken wants. The roost situation is a bit tougher but as you're aware the 2 roosts are simply too close together, so even jumping to another roost doesn't put enough...
  7. rosemarythyme

    Flying Chickens

    How high are the perches? For the most part chickens jump up onto roosts rather than fly, so as long as the roosts aren't up too high they should be able to get up to them. Or you can add a ramp. Young birds tend to be more active since they're brimming with youthful energy which is why...
  8. rosemarythyme

    Integrating bantams into a flock of sussex & orps

    Good amount of space so I think it'd be worth trying if you really want them. While I don't have bantams I have a very random assortment of breeds with different traits (feathered feet, muffs, head poofs, varied colors and patterns), and I find as long as they have ample space and stuff to keep...
  9. rosemarythyme

    Integrating bantams into a flock of sussex & orps

    Most Marans aren't that heavily feathered in the feet unless I suppose someone is breeding specifically for that trait. As far as the original question, here's a couple things to consider: - How much space are you working with? If you're close to minimum recommendations, it may be more...
  10. rosemarythyme

    Chicken problem

    Molt, broodiness, changes in food or environment or predator pressure can all affect laying.
  11. rosemarythyme

    Bully Broody hen

    Do you want her to hatch eggs or raise chicks? If not I would break her: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/
  12. rosemarythyme

    What could cause the wound?

    What does the enclosure look like? The injury looks to me like a laceration from either wire or thin string/netting, like if the chick got spooked by something and tried to flee and got tangled.
  13. rosemarythyme

    Integrating just 1 mean chicken

    Hmm not sure what to advise. I've never integrated in an older bird, strictly chicks, which is more predictable.
  14. rosemarythyme

    My 4 mature 18-month old hens are not laying consistently. Could it be the feed or heat?

    At the height of production I was feeding quite a lot of egg to my dogs, especially the ones that were more likely to have inclusions (thankfully all my eggs look distinct enough to be able differentiate). And making pound cake and stratas that ate up a dozen at a time. Got another strata...
  15. rosemarythyme

    I could be wrong...............

    Birds "fade" throughout the year as I think some of their pigmentation is used up during laying. Plus feathers get dingy with use. Molting and cessation of laying in fall/winter will refresh their feathers so they look less ratty and worn out, and let their bodies build up pigmentation again.
  16. rosemarythyme

    Anyone else have a tapper?

    Chicks are probably more tap-happy but even my adults will tap at their plastic dust bath ("Hey lady open up the pool!") and the upside down bucket that serves as base of their waterer ("Hey lady where did the water go I'm going to die of thirst because I haven't had a drink in 30 seconds!!")
  17. rosemarythyme

    Is my gorgeous little lady about to lay soon?

    Agreed! 20 weeks would be very early for me, I don't think I've had any pullet go into lay that quickly. Also assuming OP's "GA" = Georgia the state, we're well on our way to fall. The decreasing day length can further delay the onset of laying.
  18. rosemarythyme

    Molt question

    Not unusual for a chicken to not fully molt during their molt cycle. Sometimes a bird will blow out almost everything and look patchy all over, with pin feathers everywhere. And other times they'll lose just a bit around the head and neck or drop all their tail feathers, and they're done for...
  19. rosemarythyme

    Roosting at three weeks old all night?

    Turn off the red light and see if that makes a difference. She may be seeing well enough to jump off but not well enough to feel confident to make it back up.
  20. rosemarythyme

    Am I missing anything?

    If you can get a humidity reading that would be even better but matching temperatures is definitely a good sign, especially when it heats up.
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