The longest 21 days ever.
I too, thought it was a hidden nest. Mine will lay dutifully in their nests like pros, and then one day, hide a nest. For me, a sudden drop in production is always a hidden nest.
Thing is, the other hens will want to lay their too, and will go back and add eggs if...
Often times it is one or two that are the leaders and the rest just follow along. But it is not peaceful and kind of ruins the fun of watching them.
I do know exactly what you mean about the victims almost bringing it on, so aggravating.
I would put the four big girls in pin less peepers. That...
I would not put the cockerel with the chicks. I would put the chicks with the hens, I generally do that 3-4 weeks of age, but I have a lot of clutter, a lot of escapes for chicks, and a safety zone, and a lot of space.
I would put the cockerel in what you had the chicks in. I would get him gone...
I was thinking this very thing. Take her off the roost or off the floor in the near dark. The are nearly comatose at that time even if they are healthy.
The broomstick method is very quick. To warn you, no matter how you do it, the death throes generally scare people half to death because they...
Ugh! I have a BA too, she does not prevent them from entering the nest boxes, but she herself would rather lay on the floor, and everyone follows her lead!
Chicks do die sometimes, it is called failure to thrive, it generally happens between 3 -6 days old. It does bother me about the second one, and that you stated that the water, and food are close by. What does this area look like?
I think that they need space to exercise, exercise helps with...
Stop and consider, when I did this, it kind of changed my whole thinking on chicks. They have come to you, barely dried off in a box shipping across country, and they are alive. They are sturdier than you think. Remember if huge amounts of them died, this would not be financially feasible and...
Really it is not your roos that you have to watch. Watch your pullets. Is the flock calm, just walking around, pecking the ground, peaceful? Or is there a lot of chasing, pullets are up on roosts, or hid out a lot of the time.
Is there tension in the flock, do they seem hyper alert? That is...
Well you can cull the Plymouth, either by putting her in soup or giving her to another flock. By confining her, you have peace in the flock, I try and solve for that.
You could try pin less peepers on her. These have worked well for a lot of people with smaller flocks.
Or you can keep her...
I would send the one with the pullets sooner than later. And the one going by himself later, IF I HAD a place to keep him if he gets out of line with my pullets.
Really I have numerous times been totally surprised. The whole toe does not fall off, just the end. It looks kind of pink, and totally healed.
I know it sounds like I don’t keep them well, or pay attention but I do see them every day, I would notice limping or pain in walking. But it really...