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  1. merry hens

    Chickens Age.... 19yo

    One type of chicken that I have noticed in my chicken experience to have very short longevity is sex-links. Never had one that lived over about 2-3 years - they all got problems and died. They laid too many eggs, I guess. I'm not sure if that's typical for them or not. My long lived chickens...
  2. merry hens

    Are chickens smart enough not to try and jump into the dog yard?

    I've lost several chickens by having them fly in with the dogs. And its usually the perky curious ones that end up in the dog yard. Keep their wings clipped.
  3. merry hens

    Central CA Acorns - Are They Poisonous?

    Hi there, I live in northern California and we have plenty of oaks (blue oaks and valley oaks). The chickens don't eat them, mainly because they are too large and tough to be opened (even when green), and there are always better things to eat. Not sure if chickens really taste things before...
  4. merry hens

    Parakeet taming

    The best way is one that includes time and patience. Parrots and parakeets are very sound-oriented to talking and making sounds during the taming process will help out a lot, and spark the bird's interest in you as a companion. Set up a chair by your birds cage and set aside time every day to...
  5. merry hens

    Are oil lamps toxic to small birds?

    It is next to a window, which I opened when I lit it the first time for a test run. It probably clears the air a little.
  6. merry hens

    Chickens Age.... 19yo

    WOW, that was one old chicken! That's the longest I've ever heard a chicken living. Some of my chickens are 10 this year. I thought that was old! I wonder if some breeds live longer than others? A lot of my really old hens are easter-eggers.
  7. merry hens

    Freshly laid eggs..How long til they go bad?

    I collect at least once a day, more often in hot weather. However, they'll remain edible for at least several days. When wild birds lay eggs, the eggs have to remain viable until the entire clutch is laid, which is around 5-6 eggs for a chicken progenitor like a junglefowl. Once they are stored...
  8. merry hens

    Can a rooster become a mamma hen?

    How delightful! I once had a Sebright cockerel who adopted 7 chicks (they were his younger siblings) and never left them.
  9. merry hens

    Are oil lamps toxic to small birds?

    And I'm not sure what the wick is made of...
  10. merry hens

    Are oil lamps toxic to small birds?

    Thanks! I feel mildly uncomfortable burning it in the same room as my bird, even by the open window. I think I'll use it upstairs or on the deck. Last thing I want is a sick bird!
  11. merry hens

    Are oil lamps toxic to small birds?

    My brother got me an oil lamp as a gift. It burns "Medallion" Lamp Oil (not citronella or kerosene). Does anyone know if this is safe to use around small birds? Obviously my budgie wont be drinking it or playing in the flame, but I have heard that some candles, etc emit fumes that are toxic to...
  12. merry hens

    What would steal an egg AND a golf ball

    Regarding fake eggs being taken, a similar thing happened to me. One time I was cleaning the coop, and had to leave some stuff out overnight (it got dark before I was finished). I left out 3 LARGE (bigger than life-size, and they were yellow, pink and green) HEAVY MARBLE eggs that I had been...
  13. merry hens

    What!? A rooster that doesnt want to mate? !

    Maybe so! Or maybe romance just isnt his thing... I usually have the opposite problem with roosters.
  14. merry hens

    What!? A rooster that doesnt want to mate? !

    HHAHAHA!!!
  15. merry hens

    What!? A rooster that doesnt want to mate? !

    I really wanted to breed my gorgeous black sumatra rooster but he is showing no interest in mating whatsoever. All the eggs from last spring were infertile. He doesnt do the rooster dance or anything like that. I've never seen him mount a hen, and he's two years old now! Any remedies or is he a...
  16. merry hens

    Those of you who have buckeyes (or Rhode Island reds) !

    I was reading an article about buckeyes and it was saying a difference between rhode island reds and buckeyes is that buckeyes have a slate underfeather color on their backs, while RIRs are red all the way down on their feathers. So, I looked at our buckeyes and the youngsters (3-4 months) all...
  17. merry hens

    Old Wives' Tales???? Temp for girl versus boy...?

    Quote: they may have been thinking of quail ( coturnix) I think I read they only use one ovary and sometimes when that one quits working ( the left one ) they switch over to the right one in the switch they can develops some male coloring rusty chest/breast Hi, I read that article about...
  18. merry hens

    How hard is a "natural" hatching?

    I use natural incubation every chance I get. I have noticed that naturally incubated chicks are always plumper (in the abdomen) and healthier than incubator chicks. They NEVER EVER die during hatching or afterwards. Also, mother hens really know their stuff so they usually have 100% hatch...
  19. merry hens

    Umbilical cord - anyone know about this?

    Hi, One of our Buckeye chicks hatched out yesterday with the thing that attaches the chick to the egg still coming from his abdomen (is it umbilical cord or is there a different terminology?). At first it looked slimy and whitish green but now red. It is starting to dry off except near the...
  20. merry hens

    Natural Incubation - What is a good broody breed?

    Yeah I was thinking giant cochin might be a good one, anyone have experience with those? I'm really not too fond of my silkies. I do have a banty mix that is the best mom ever but she is too finicky to be a foster mom and also she is so dinky. Pheonix, really? Are they flighty?
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