One of our hens was straining in the nest box today. No egg. Of course, we are going out of town for a week tomorrow. She's still eating, drinking, perky, and otherwise acting normal, so I really hope she's not egg bound.
I was just wondering if it is common for hens to occasionally...
This is Sweet Pea. She's our roo's favorite hen. Poor thing had to put on an apron (DH calls it a chicken bikini) for the first time. She's indignant! LOL
Our roo has been fine all day, but suddenly tonight, tried to crow several times, but nothing comes out. He sounded a little wheezy when I was feeling his throat, but that may have been because I was messing with it. He's still clucking and eating, but no crowing. I felt his throat, and can...
We're on 10 acres, and there isn't a good way to get power all the way out to the chicken pen. Has anyone tried to make a cookie tin heater with something like this? It's a portable, rechargeable, battery powered hand warmer. I wonder if it might have enough warmth to keep water from...
I just opened a carton of eggs and many of them have what looks like a white fuzzy mold on them. They are probably a month old. They are from our girls, and I don't wash the eggs before storing. Of course, any that have poo on them are washed and used - I don't store them. I usually store...
I ask because our rooster attacks anyone but me. On occasion, I have to go out of town for about a week, so no one would be going inside to clean. Would a droppings board about 4x6 feet for 7 birds be ok for a week if I leave a good layer of shavings on it? The birds are pretty big - BOs and BRs.
We will be getting our chicks in about a month, so we have some time and I'm brain-storming coop/run ideas. I'm thinking we may use our son's playhouse, raised up on some boards, for the coop. We'll add nesting boxes and roosts. For the run, I'm thinking a 10x10 dog kennel so we can walk in...
We will be getting our first chicks ever next month! We recently moved onto 10 acres, so we have plenty of room. As much as I'd LOVE to free range our chickens, we have lots of coyotes, hawks and the like around here. Neighbors have had trouble keeping their chickens alive.
I'm thinking...
Now that we have acreage, we can't wait to get our first chicks! Tractor Supply and Meyer Hatchery have been recommended to us. Is there any advantage in going with one over the other? I think we will get Buff Orpingtons, since my 6 year old will be helping to care for them, and they will...
Hi all, I am about to venture into the backyard chicken world, Lord help me! We would probably only have 2 chickens (buff orpingtons I think). We have a wooded play set that has a slide attached to a platform. I'm wondering if the space under that is enough for a couple of chickens. The...