Roosters are like early warning systems for your hens. They constantly watch the skies and suroundings for danger and have superb eyesight. At any sign of a large bird that may possibly be predatory, they let out a loud warning cry and all the hens will dash for cover.
There is a lot truth in using black chickens among your flock. The reason being is that crows and ravens do not tolerate hawks in their territories and will aggressively chase and fight hawks. The Hawks confuse the black chickens for crows and will leave the flock alone. I know some people see...
As I mentioned earlier, our birds are fed and watered outside year round. The black rubber bowels you can get at most farm/animal supply stores work great. The ice is easy to pop out each morning as Ridgerunner mentioned and will keep the water from completely freezing until the chickens go in...
I'm looking for purebred Black Minorcas to add new blood to my breeders. Preferably with the classic s-flop comb in the females where the first point tends to lean one way over the beak and the rest twisting and flopping over the eye on the opposite side of the head. If that isn't possible,, I...
We have people that dump their unwanted birds a lot either right in our range, which is a 3 acre pasture. Or worse, along the side road thinking they will make it in on their own. Usually roosters they no longer want. Last year we found a gorgeous black cochin sitting in the middle of the road...
our girls get watered and fed outside year round,, and we live in central WI, it takes a little extra work, but we think leads to healthier, happier birds
I've never ordered from Ideal, but if I remember right, they don't deal with as many breeds as other places like Meyers or Murrays. So if I had to hazard any guesses I'd say probably Barred Rock or Dominique, Blue or Black Orpingtons, maybe Black Minorcas,, and Definitly for sure some Dark Brahmas.
Dark Cornish
Buttercups have a more speckled head similar to wyandote chicks. That chick has a definite brown diamond marking on the top of it's head which buttercups do not have. Other chicks like brown leghorns also are chipmunk patterned with head diamond but they are a darker brown in...
There are very few things that are toxic to chickens, avacado being the biggest no-no and can be deadly to chickens. Citrus however, in limited amounts like any treat is just fine for birds. Many do tend to avoid it due to personal tastes however. Every bird can be as picky as you or I as to...
I honestly wouldn't waste the money. Our birds here in central Wis (with recent temps barely breaking 0F during the day) are all doing fine,, they all wander outside during the day and in and out of the wind shelters and coop when they need to warm up a bit or go lay (which has incedentaly...
Mine will also need coaxing out if they wake up to first snow of the season, otherwise if it starts while they are out they don't seem to be bothered much the next day.
I would also like to point out Ridgerunner's water pan here. I also discovered these and I can't stress how awesome they...
If you are asking if the taste is somehow bleeding through the shell of the eggs after being laid in the nest,, not very likely. However, chickens will nibble and eat things in nest boxes and hay is something they will eat. And it is true that everything a chicken eats will slightly flavor the...
My birds as well are very efficient at catching mice. People so often make the mistake of thinking chickens are fluffy little seed eaters. When in fact are voracious predators and will quite happily, if given half a chance, show their dino ancestry.
I live in central Wis and my birds free range all year round. Temps here drop to barely above 0 during the day sometimes, although this year has been a really mild winter. In the morning I open the coop door and they make their way out. If they get too cold they head back to the coop to get warm...
Zues- Splash Cochin
Apallo- Partridge Cochin
Aries- Buff Cochin
Fancy Boy- Black Minorca
Jean-Luc- Slamon Faverole
Those are all my breeders,, I have a few without names that run with the rest of the flock
kuntrygirl pretty much says it all,,, I would add to point 3.... place waterer several feet away from feeder,,, this also forces them to excersise,,,,, otherwise they are known to just sit close to food and water and not excersise
these birds will turn out to be not only big birds,, but HUGE,, i...