A muscovy drake can get to 7kg, the same weight as a red fox. Would a fully grown drake fight off a red fox? Would a fully grown drake be able to be housed outside the coop at night?
Thanks for the info. It's almost winter here so things are slowing down. I just picked up 5 rescued hens. They are 12-18 months old. So I can expect at least an egg every second day.
I'm sure we've all heard that ISA browns can lay +300 eggs in the first year. But, in backyard environment, how many eggs will an ISA brown lay in the second and third year? Thanks in advance.
Hi all. I plan to brood some eggs for the coming Spring. I am hoping to brood 4 brahma eggs and 6 pekin eggs. Would a silkie hen be able to brood large and small eggs together? I could brood them one batch at a time but it's a damn long drive to pick up the eggs and I was not keen to make 2...
I have a 98 egg incubator. I only have 1 breeding cage which is 100cm x60cm. Hence why I keep only 1 male. Perhaps I will split the cage into 2 compartments and have 1 roo with 7 hens for each. That way, I will still be able to fill the incubator within 7 days.
I have had my first hatch with a 1 male, 10 females ratio. I have had people tell me that I should expect 50% or higher hatch. My result was only 25%. I'm not sure whether to introduce more males or try my luck again. I need a source from veteran breeders that is reliable. Has anyone here...
Hi all. I incubated 18 eggs and 14 hatched just 2 weeks ago. They are currently in the brooder. Everytime I open the brooder to feed, clean or water them, they all run, flap and scramble. They are frizzles, pekin and silkies. I heard that they become friendlier after 6 months or when you...
Alright folks. I had the fun of not doing my research before buying an incubator and getting myself the fast easy option from ebay for $72 including auto turner and delivery. Many of my friends frowned upon the decision but I was not keen on spending $500 for a machine that I might only use...
My heat bulb blew when my batch was 10 days old. The temp was below 40 degree F. The chicks were only 50 grams but all survived the night without any problems. I quickly replaced the bulb when i noticed in the morning.
Funny story. I had major issues with my humidity so incubated at 70% with 85% at lockdown. I hatched 22/24 fertile eggs. I removes 6 infertiles before lockdown. That is my best result so far. I might throw the dry hatch out the window and stick to the insanely high humidity.
Nope. 220 was week 5. This is week 6. 239 grams. After eating 150 grams of feed for the week, the bird put on under 20 grams. Growth has slowed to where the food/meat trades off poorly. It's dinner time!
I'm having a hell of a time with getting good humidity with my rubbish incubator. I incubated at 70% humidity for the entire hatch. Will let you guys know the results.
Good feeckback and suggestions. Well, I wasn't planning on feeding just 100% GBS. Kitchen scraps, bread, rice, vegetable scraps, forage and bugs. I think it's a viable option to feed GBS and throw in a few things for variety. I raise jumbo quail hence the 33%. My house/land is only 165m2 or...