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  1. itom37

    genetics i need some help

    I'm a geneticist, not a chicken geneticist, but ANY dominant single-gene trait can be lost from 100% homozygous in 2 out crossings. A polygenetic trait is more complicated and depends on the specific trait, but you can lose it quickly as well.
  2. itom37

    fish cheaper than mealworms

    If you can benefit from those asian carp, I say go for it!
  3. itom37

    Leghorn egglayers

    So it will be tough and stringy... still meat and worth it based on the economic woes described by the poster.
  4. itom37

    Does anyone NOT use a poop board and wish they had? or...

    I do not have a poop board, and I do not regret it so far. I've got 5 ladies that have occupied their coop for about 3 months, and I haven't cleaned once. No smell, no wetness, no mess. I just add a little pine shavings as needed, but I also haven't gone through even a whole pack of that...
  5. itom37

    Confinement Issues

    I think you can get away with it ok with just two chickens, but more would certainly be appreciated. You can look at them in the run and get a sense of whether they seem cramped. Also, a small run like that devoid of anything to keep them entertained seems cruel. Perhaps make sure there is...
  6. itom37

    Accounting

    Excel should do the trick. I guess it's not free, but most people already bought it!
  7. itom37

    Can I leave 4 week old chicks alone for 4 days?

    I think it's fine if your coop is secure (a rat could kill a 4 week chicken, for instance. then again it could do that if you were home). Just provide enough food, and be sure that your water source is 1) plentiful, 2) secure (they will knock over many setups), and 3) redundant (I'd say have...
  8. itom37

    ex-battery hens

    Battery hens are those used to lay the cheap grocery store eggs. They are kept in very small cages (battery cages) in which they can't really move and just eat and pump eggs out until their egg laying slows and they are slaughtered as they've outlived their value to the commercial producer. An...
  9. itom37

    My housing plans

    It sounds like you plan for the fence to be limiting. If so, sounds like a great plan! What if you put the coop in the center of all 4 and had 4 doors. You can simply open/close the doors you do/don't want them to use to affect their choice of pasture.
  10. itom37

    My girls seem bored in their run. Suggestions?

    Aside from treats, I like to make sure there are some "features" to the run. I have an 8 foot roost which they enjoy getting up on, a piece of picket fence, a small log, and a potted shrub (nandina, which is pretty hardy. they don't seem to eat it, though the root through its soil). I also...
  11. itom37

    What treat did your chickies get today?

    over ripe banana, over ripe peach, and a bran muffin!
  12. itom37

    What treat did your chickies get today?

    A biscuit and some bell pepper stems and seeds.
  13. itom37

    should she lay everyday??

    She shouldn't necessarily lay every day. Leave her alone and she'll be fine. Does she have access to the nest all day? She should. You let your chickens wander in and out of your house? I'd get them to lay outside so they don't, um, poop everywhere. Up to you of course, however with your...
  14. itom37

    HENS DYING!! Bellies bloating and mushy! Please help!

    I am not experienced enough to know what this could be, but clearly this hen should be quarantined.
  15. itom37

    Feather Snacks

    i could feed my chickens muscle milk and steak, and they'd still eat feathers. perhaps some birds do it for protein, but I think some just like it.
  16. itom37

    chased by my hen

    Sure. Just kick em a little (gently gently!)
  17. itom37

    Can humans get sick from eating backyard eggs?

    Could be several things, potentially gastroenteritis caused by something from an egg. Of course, this happens with plenty of grocery store foods. Anyway, go to a dr.
  18. itom37

    Question about golden sex-links.

    Lovely birds. I get an egg a day without fail and they're very nice (to me... not so much to my younger pullets, but they're warming up). I prefer the name "cinnamon queen".
  19. itom37

    Barred Rock 4 months old: Rooster?

    rooster
  20. itom37

    Plymouth Rock thread!

    Quote: From my mixed flock, my barred plymouth rock was the slowest to grow by far, despite the best appetite and an entirely healthy demeanor. She has since caught up (they're almost 3 months).
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