She was supposed to be a Mystic Marans (correction, Midnight Majesty Marans) from Hoovers Hatchery. I have 5 16 week old pullets in this coop and at least 1 is laying.
The colors and shapes of the eggs are distinct enough that I suspect 2. However, none of the girls look old enough. The two...
Last night I slaughtered a 36 week old Biel x JG cockerel.
Weight fully feathered and before processing 6.5 lbs. Dressed weight, 3.75.
Narrow body, I almost couldn't get my hand in the cavity. Narrow breast. They were free range birds, so very little fat and muscles well developed.
I forgot...
Today is 98 degrees, "feels like" 106. The first hot day of summer, the first of many to come.
At the moment my girls are all panting in the heat, not even interested in moving to the water.
When I bought the property it had (has) a chicken coop. Built like a tank, metal walls, metal roof, no...
A friend is asking about breed and gender. I think pullet and some kind of bantam. Any ideas? Friend is not sure of the age, but we think about 12 weeks. Same age as the other she is perching beside.
I am at a loss. This is the second Speckled Sussex chick (13 weeks) that is showing the same symptoms.
Lethargic, not eating (at least when I can see). She eats and drinks fine when I get her inside, then a day or two after I put her back outside she's right back to the same behavior.
There...
@EddieSalita
@Perris
@U_Stormcrow
I'd like to start a discussion about adaptive breeding for chickens.
Basically, a landrace is a locally adapted variety which has enough genetic diversity to adapt to changing conditions. Landraces are often different even just a few miles apart, and the...
The patient is a 12 week old Speckled Sussex. She has been standing around the run for a couple of weeks at least, sleeping a lot and not wanting to move. When I approached she would wake up and run, but once in the coop at night I couldn't tell her from her sisters. At this point she is enough...
Do meat bird pullets reach sexual maturity faster? They're only 12 weeks but combs and wattles are reddening and the cockerels are starting to show an interest in them.
One of my girls went broody and is now the proud Mama of four chicks. She is currently raising them in the broody cage.
Problem is, I think another is going broody, and I'm not at all sure that the broody cage is big enough for them both. It is apx 5x5 and floored with sand. I built it for two...
The chicks first outside excursion was an adventure. They're in the broody cage attached to another coop. The other birds have been interested but basically ignored them except for complaining that they couldn't get to the food.
I opened the door, and this time she led her chicks out for the...
Long story omitted. I gave my broody two chicks yesterday. This afternoon she is out of the nest with them. I have two more in the brooder.
Is it too late to graft them on? Should I just try and see what happens?
I got 5 straight run Rudd Rangers this spring in the hope that one or two would be female to add to my landrace.
One refused to roost in the coop at night (usually disappeared a couple hours before sundown) and didn't come back one morning.
Of the remaining four, one is a cockerel.
They are...
I'm curious.
I crossed a JG to RIR hens, and all chicks were black. The one surviving cockerel has bright red markings.
Because of good behavior over 2 generations I decided I wanted his sons for my new flock. I set 10 eggs, 7 of which hatched.
In the 3rd generation the chicks segregated to...