Due to several circumstances I will be getting rid of my tiny flock soon. Not something I especially want to do but sometimes you just have to face things. My question is this: I have 12 laying hens that are almost 3 years old and a pr. of Bantams. How do I go about getting rid of them. Are the...
I am considering changing from Purina Sunfresh to Prince feed simply because of price (and the supplier says the results are better with Prince), but I am not sure. Prince has animal protein and I have tried to stay away from that with my girls. Any opinions?
Thanks, Gram
We had a single Buff Braham Bantam that was desperately lonely, and broody, since the death of her companion. I purchased bantam eggs from Heavenly Springs and over the weekend our bantam hatched 4 of the eggs. She is very happy and such a good caring mother hen. It was just what she needed. I...
Long story short - I would like a few (2-4) Bantam eggs for my Buff Brahma Bantam to hatch and raise. Is this possible? I have only boughten baby chicks and never started with eggs. I am really a novice in this area. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Gram
Of Black Australorps, NH Reds and Barred Rocks, who lays the darkest brown eggs. We cannot catch who lays what, but love the big, dark eggs and would like to get some more of those chicks if we can figure it out.
We also have BO's but they are older and we know they lay the off-white eggs.
Any...
Last fall out chickens were beautiful, not a feather missing. After a cold winter and I am sure a lot of stress they look like they have mange. Feathers missing on their rear ends, a bare ring around the tail feathers and even breast feathers missing. We treated them during the winter - they...
1. I have 14 standard hens. 2 are being pecked on. We applied Blue Lotion on Sat. and now they are at them again. I do not want to separate them. Do we just keep the Blue Lotionn on or take other steps?
2. I have 2 Buff Brahma Banties. Very sweet, laying. They currently are residing in our...
We purchased two Buff Braham Bantams at the poultry show in Lebanon a couple weeks ago. We quarantined them for two weeks. Sat. we put them in a wire cage in the hen house with 14 grown, but young, standards. Yesterday we let them all together and it was near disaster. The standards went after...
Did anyone get anything? I did. Got two Buff Brahma Bantams. Wish I had gotten three or four, but didn't want to overdue it the first time. They are really sweet. Will have to live in a pet carrier for a couple weeks for quarantine, but think they are healthy. Now my problem is - can they be...
We would like to put the girls outdoor pen over the garden and let them go to town, BUT in June hubby put fertilizer 12.12.12 on the garden. It was mulched sereral times and we had good rains in June & July. Is it safe for them? They would love to be in there, but only if it is safe.
Gram
I have never been to a poultry show/exhibit, but plan on attending one in Lebanon, IN in Oct. and maybe the one in Columbus, OH in Nov. Are there opportunities to purchase birds at these events? Or is it just appreciating great chickens? Thanks for any info.
Gram
Yesterday I went to the chicken pen to give them a treat of a tomato and there on the ground was their first egg! I was so excited, I ran (actually walked fast) to the house to show hubby. It was from one of my five Buffs. We fried it and ate it - yum! Today hubby was slow to put them out as we...
I am combining my two flocks in a few weeks. The younger ones are will be 10 weeks old. The older flock is ready to lay (but haven't). Will the younger ones eat the oyster shell if they aren't ready for it yet? Will it hurt them if they do? So far they will eat anything! TIA for any help.
Gram
How often do you clean the bedding out of your hen houses? We have an 8x10 house with staw over a previously laid vinly floor. My hubby wants to do it once a month, but I try and hold out longer. Right now it is divided for big chicks and babies. The big chicks go out every day in a pen, but the...
My question is about switching nest boxes. Our pullets are 19 weeks old this weekend and we have to get the next boxes in their house. The problem is the house has been temporarily divided due to new chicks. This should remain another 4-6 weeks. We do not have room for the large nest box we...
My 9 new chicks are 3 weeks old today. Saturday we knew we had to do something drastic. They were in a tote in the garage. The tote was fast becoming to small. Hubby was brainstorming about what to do. I finally decided the simplest thing to do was somehow divide the hen house, where 6 16 week...
If I get guineas how many should I start with. I only wanted 1 or 2, but find that ordering might be an issue. Don't think I can get that few. We have 2 acres and the chickens are penned, not completely free-range. Do baby guineas require the same care as chicks? Can they live with the chickens...
Can a dust bath be made out of sand or does it need to be dirt? Our pullets scratch at tiny holes in the grass until they make a bare place to lay. We would like to put in a container of clean (not beach) sand if it is OK.
Gram