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  1. kipper

    Free 12 week old Buff Laced Polish rooster

    Handsome and healthy, 12 weeks old and looking for a new home. One too many roosters. He currently lives on the Key Peninsula near Gig Harbor, WA. Call us if interested 253-677-8403 or email.
  2. kipper

    Can a "toe picker" be reformed?

    We have 25 chicks that are almost 8 weeks old. They have plenty of food, water, space, and heat at night.n We have raised amny chickens, but have our first ever toe picker. We noticed blood on the beak of our Polish cockerel, then saw him peck the foot of a Maran pullet with what looks like...
  3. kipper

    Swollen Abdomen?

    How old is she? No feathers can mean she is swollen in that area. It doesn't sound good.
  4. kipper

    I think I have a problem...

    I like the vaseline/oil idea, too. I have also held them on their side, vent under a very light stream of skin temp water, this will loosen it up, but be sure to pat dry and put back in a heated brooder ASAP. Poop will stick sometimes, and it is usually only a problem if it covers the vent. I...
  5. kipper

    Ordering Chicks and Ducks? AS Eggs or Hatchlings?

    The answer to your questions is "It all depends..." If you hatch chicks, you will need to invest in an incubator and eggs. It takes 21 days of keeping humidity and temps perfect to get a good hatch. It is very exciting and rewarding when they do hatch. You will get "stright run", boys and...
  6. kipper

    When to integrate 2. Week old chicks with 7 week old chicks?

    Put them together as soon as you can, the older birds are at an age where they will likely be or start being mean to younger birds. Or, wait until they are about the same size to see fireworks. I'm not sure which would work better. I would hang around and break up any fights. Do you have a...
  7. kipper

    baby silkies and tophats and EE's 5 weeks about now what sex are they? any guesses? pics

    Boys may be bigger by that age.
  8. kipper

    Ideal Hatchery Chicks for Northwest!

    We used Ideal for the first time this year, having used Welp/Privett (same place if you live in the west) 3 times before. What a different experience! Welp/Privett was fine, chicks came to our little Washington State peninsula in 2 days, only lost 1 out of 75 chicks in 3-25 chick shipments...
  9. kipper

    Heat lamp and chicks

    It is up to you, but we keep some heat for them at that age and temps (similar to our area). I wouldn't use a 250 watt lamp, maybe an 80 watt bulb (incandescent) as they put out some heat. They may be ok without, but I hate to see birds get a chill when they are still young, it can turn out bad.
  10. kipper

    How long to keep this hot heat lamp on??

    Man, I wish it was 82 degrees here.... Chick behavior is the best indicator if your brooder is the correct temp. At the right temp, chicks will scatter around the brooder, not clustering (too cold) to or avoiding (too hot) an area. Sounds like yours is too hot. I assume you are using a...
  11. kipper

    Chicks challenging each other

    Pullets and cockerels will both do this. It's the pecking order. Roos will do it more, though. Cute when they stretch their little necks up, huh?
  12. kipper

    Am I in the Pecking Order?

    Teenagers....always seeing what they can get away with. I think this is just a phase, you are the top hen.
  13. kipper

    Adding day old chicks to 1 week old chicks

    We had a similar situation two years ago. We made sure the younger chicks were stable and healthy (4 or 5 days in a separate brooder), then mixed and matched them in two brooders. Two brooders only because we didn't have one large enough for all of them. It was fine, they were so young and not...
  14. kipper

    Introducing Flocks ~ Coop Option Question

    I would keep the older birds where they are, put the chicks in the new coop. When you eventually move the older ones into "new territory", it may decrease some of the issues around dominance in the older birds since this new coop will not be their "turf". It will be, eh, "exciting" when you...
  15. kipper

    Can you get chicks months apart?

    It is doubtful they will be nice. We have tried this with chickens with less age differences. It did work out eventually, but we kept the younger birds separated by a fence to protect them. It will require a lot of supervision on your part. you might see if someone locally (Craigslist) is...
  16. kipper

    Do my chicks need grit for treats?

    I don't give treats when they are so young, To me it's like giving a newborn baby a candy bar. They will get more nutrition from feed than treats. We usually just offer chick feed in our hands and they think it is something special. That said, I think if you are limiting the treats, they...
  17. kipper

    How old of chicks will a broody hen "adopt"?

    We have a hen who is alone (picked on) and chicks coming in the mail. We plan to start the chicks in a brooder inside the house, then to a larger brooding area in the hen house. My question: How old can chicks be and still stand a chance of being adopted my broody mama?
  18. kipper

    I'm picking out chicks today, any advice?

    Pullets are sexed, but sexing isn't 100% accurate. Most hatcheries allow for about 10% males incorrectly sexed as females. I think My personal experience would average out to about 1 in 20 as an "oops" boy. I would select average sized chicks, that's just me. All pullets/hen will lay, some...
  19. kipper

    I'm picking out chicks today, any advice?

    This may be obvious, but: If you want layers, not roosters, be sure you are buying "pullets". I read a lot of posts on this forum from people who assumed they were buying pullets (girls) but actually bought "straight run" (boys and girls). Ask to see the packing slip if they were shipped to...
  20. kipper

    Early rooster indicators?

    I agree with the other comments, also if you have some that are much larger, that can indicate roos, too. 2 roosters? When they are young, they will be okay, but as they mature, they will usually fight. If you have a large open area (free range on 1/2 acre or more) and plenty of ladies, they...
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