I second this. I have had no hawk issues since I started putting out my big games to protect my banties. Between that and my pitbull taking care of the possums and the coons my flock is happy and safe.
Depending on where you live, it may still fall under noise ordinances even if you are allowed roosters. You might also want to do a search and take a look at some of the other threads on here about this. Even in areas that allow roosters, there have been cases of neighbors simply making life...
I have a game hen (A Kelso I think. I found her wandering around in a hospital parking lot and took her home....) with spurs so huge that they have to be trimmed like a roo's. I am sure she is a hen because she also lays large brown eggs and has a little bantam roo mate. I don't know if they are...
I cared for a handicapped rooster for a long time and agree with the idea of maybe putting a non-aggressive friend with him. Silkies are a good choice as is anything puffy like cochins because they don't tend to be very pecky. (At least in my experience.) It would let him feel like he has a...
I am embarrassed to admit that I do though I would not advise it. I am not so worried about diseases but I have heard about people literally getting an eye pecked out by a pet bird (not necessarily a chicken).
You can wear more clothing without it causing a problem to ease your fears about being bitten. It will not make him more aggressive. The main thing is you need to be decisive and just reach down and grab him. Hold him and don't let him do what he wants in front of the others so everyone knows...
I have thought about this sort of thing for my own use and I really think this is the answer. He is doing what he needs to protect himself. I also think that if you are looking for a yes or no answer from others, you are unlikely to get it for the same reason.
In the end you need to take...
Of course! The ingredients aren't really any different than in any other scratch. I use it for my tiny bantams because they are too small to eat the regular scratch for a treat. Like everyone else said though, I would not use it as their only source of food.
Same here...
Everything I see that everyone else on here has I seem to want -except these-. One need only need to skim over the "Emergencies" forum to see how many people's birds get bumblefoot. Seems like these would have problems like that even worse.
They really are just kinda ugly looking
Mine have a fan and hubby rigged up a hook in front of it where I can hang plastic milk jugs that I fill with water and freeze. His co-worker keeps chickens also and suggested the milk jug thing. At first I thought it was nuts, but it really does work to lower the temp in their mini-barn.
Yes! As others have said, these are one of the friendlier breeds besides silkies that I would even trust as a child's house pet. They generally aren't bite-y, like being held and can be trained to come when you call them. (Mostly because they are hoping for more treats all the time.)
Use caution...
2nd this! I got one of my shamos this way right here off BYC because her previous owner said she was aggressive and did not lay. She lays fine for us and we have no problem with her roaming around with the rest of ours. Sometimes they are just like people and need a change of scenery or more...
D'uccles are friendly and curious and always run up to see what you are doing and if you have any food. Docile and easily handled, seems to be a decent (everyday to every other day) layer for a bantam. Also crazy smart - I even have one that has learned the "out" command when I point at a door...
Same here, we have plants on our property that are listed as toxic but I have never had any problems with my birds (this includes Muscovy ducks) eating them. There are certain plants they like and will savage until the plant is dead and others they seem to know not to bother with.
As others...
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Bingo! This is why I won't give mine feed with bugs in it. It's not the nutrient content, but the fact that it could have gotten wet/moldy spoiled and that is why it has bugs. Moldy feed can kill your entire flock. The special bug feed has been formulated that way (rather than it being...
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No, bantam chicks don't just die compared to regular chicks and aren't harder to raise. One thing to watch out for though is they are so tiny they can get through the holes of regular poultry wire and escape, so they can certainly escape through other holes too. Make sure the place...