Search results for query: *

  1. peepinglaura

    Cold Snap, cold ducklings

    Thank you. Things have warmed, luckily, so hopefully we'll be good from here on out. I hope the little beastie didn't suffer.
  2. peepinglaura

    Cold Snap, cold ducklings

    Thank you, all. I ended up using blankets and checking their temp through a largely sleepless night. At one point a blowdryer was involved. Man. Then the next night was warmer but the heat lamp exploded in the night and a duckling died, I assume suffocated in the huddle of cold ducklings :(
  3. peepinglaura

    Roof for Run

    I built a 20x 12 chicken run out of 2 x 4's and chicken wire. The vertical 2x4's are grounded 18" deep and cemented in place. I want to do a roof. I was going to run a few 2x4's across the top to attatch the chicken wire to (and I wanted a bar to hang something from as well) but I'm worried that...
  4. peepinglaura

    Lonely Chickens

    Since there's safety in numbers with flocks, solo chickens I think are frightened as well as lonely. I think an additional hen is a super idea. My hens have tended to break into groups of 3, and a trio of hens can make a great connection. They bond pretty quickly too, so I think your hen would...
  5. peepinglaura

    Cold Snap, Cold Critters (xpost ducks)

    I have 11 day old Pekin ducks. We are having an unexpected cold spell and temps are going down into the low 30's, not remotely typical or expected here for mid-May. I've brought the ducklings back in for the past 2 nights but we have a lot of them and they really stink! Ideally their heat should...
  6. peepinglaura

    Cold Snap, cold ducklings

    I have 11 day old Pekin ducks. We are having an unexpected cold spell and temps are going down into the low 30's, not remotely typical or expected here for mid-May. I've brought the ducklings back in for the past 2 nights but we have a lot of them and they really stink! Ideally their heat should...
  7. peepinglaura

    Rhode Island Reds

    That could be- they're in a pretty artificial environment. Good point!
  8. peepinglaura

    Rhode Island Reds

    I think I'll call Tractor Supply and see if they have any info. There's one in the bunch that's really lovely, and another one who's curiosity earns my respect. We'll see how it goes! I hope I get at least one that meets up to the Red/ Rhody standard!
  9. peepinglaura

    Rhode Island Reds

    Thank you!! Better egg production sounds good.
  10. peepinglaura

    Rhode Island Reds

    I bought some Rhode Island Reds at Tractor Supply. They're now about 11 days old. I picked them up a bit impulsively, but partly driven by our love of an old RI Red we had who had so much character. She used to come to the house with her duck buddy and knock on our door for food scraps. One or...
  11. peepinglaura

    Husky Tale With A Horrible Ending

    After my husband shot it, he called the police. We were within the letter of the law (actually, in my state you can shoot a dog for even "worrying" your livestock). It was after he shot it that he saw the tags round its neck. The police notified the family and returned its body. The young...
  12. peepinglaura

    Husky Tale With A Horrible Ending

    Wow, thank you all for the very helpful perspective. I guess moving on, with a good conscience, is all I can do. Thank you.
  13. peepinglaura

    Husky Tale With A Horrible Ending

    Has anyone killed a neighbour's dog who was killing chickens? If so, how did it work out between you? My neighbours 2 roads away had a husky that got free. My husband didn't recognize the dog as someone's pet (we had never seen it before). I wasn't home at the time. Apparently it was just...
  14. peepinglaura

    Duckling Peeping, rocking, Not Hatching

    Yikes, it's gotten quiet and there's no visible pip. How disastrous would it be to put a tiny pip in the air sac end if there's no pip by bedtime tonight? It was screaming its head off, and I thought I read that mom hens will sometimes peck a hole in the egg at that point- not sure if that...
  15. peepinglaura

    Duckling Peeping, rocking, Not Hatching

    Thanks, you were a help!! I will stop pacing in front of the bator for a while
  16. peepinglaura

    Duckling Peeping, rocking, Not Hatching

    A Pekin duck managed to sneak an egg in a broody hen's nesting box. We took it and put it in the incubator because it would hatch far later than the chicks and be rejected. We were away when the duck placed her egg there, so I don't know the exact incubation age of this egg. However, it has been...
  17. peepinglaura

    Homocidal hens

    Ack! I just posted a whole reply, which I lost. Thanks, axion lotus. I have gathered all the eggs I can reach (she's under the goat house) and have them in the incubator, along with a half dead chick I'm hoping we save, but not confident (I'd say the odds are against us).
  18. peepinglaura

    Homocidal hens

    Thanks, Crawford Mama. It's possible that they might be taking cues from other hens. I'm not sure. I am trying to take everyone's eggs and incubate them. Tomorrow I'll get more aggressive with it. Ugh, the carnage has been awful!
  19. peepinglaura

    Homocidal hens

    Definitely the hens- we've seen them do it. I know silkie hens are supposed to be excellent moms, but they've been the worst. Their diet hasn't changed- they get the same Dumor laying pellets. It's so bizarre. As for stress, hmmm, I don't know. Nothing has changed that I know of, but maybe...
  20. peepinglaura

    Homocidal hens

    Every year, we incubate some of our eggs and let our flock hatch out some eggs. This year, something unusual and horrible is going on. Our hens are killing their newly hatched chicks! Some are new broodies, so I thought they just didn't know what they are doing, and thought the new chicks were...
Back
Top Bottom