My chicks are almost 7 weeks old. None of them have a red comb, many have no discernible comb at all. A couple have very small combs and a few small combs with a tinge of pink at the base. A few have pink-dark pink skin wear their wattles will be but no wattles actually hanging down at all. My...
I'm a newbie, I've only been at this a few weeks. I have enough knowledge to be seriously ticked at some strangers though.
I just went to the P.O.. It was 1:30PM. There were chicks peeping in the back. LOUDLY. Postmistress has already called twice and the people say they 'will be down in a few...
The chicks outgrew my slap-dash brooders as expected. I decided to just bite the bullet and build one. I went a little overboard. Well, go big or go home, right?
25 3 week olds now have 64 sq ft of brooder space to run around in. Their games of keep away are really hysterical now as they can get...
We will start building the chicken coop this weekend. The only thing I am still iffy on is what to use for the roof.
We live in S. TX with some very intense sun and heat. The coop will be under trees but will still get sun.
I'm confused about the polycarbonate panels (like SunTuf) I'm getting...
This is Violet. She is my very sweet BO. She *likes* to be held and is just a very laid back chicken. Violet will walk up my arm and sit on my shoulder. Maybe she thinks she is a parrot?
This is Lavinia. She is a RIR and right now has a face only a mother could love. She is a funny little...
This is Violet. She is my very sweet BO. She *likes* to be held and is just a very laid back chicken.
This is Lavinia. She is a RIR and right now has a face only a mother could love. She is a funny little thing and so easy going that you can look past her funky chicken looks.
Here we...
After trying quite a few different "treats" I finally gave my chicks hard boiled egg. To say they like it is an understatement.
For anyone who cares about details. There are 2 week old chicks from Ideal.
I have 25 chicks that are 2 weeks old. I am keeping 10 and selling the rest after they are fully feathered. I'd like thoughts on how to pick which ones to keep. I have 5 each of BR, BO, RIR, EE and Lorps. There are a couple that I know I want, like the BO that hops on my hand when I put it in...
So far, so good. Culled that one little cross beak (BO) but all the others are doing well. Had a wee bit of pasty butt on a couple their last day on paper towels but now that they are on shavings everyone has clean fuzzy butts. They are flying and perching well.
Some have almost completely...
I put down my little one eyed crossbeak. Finally admitted to myself it wasn't in her best interest to let nature take it's course. She was going to starve and dehydrate to death and had no chance at any kind of decent life. So I manned up and put her down. It was a bit of baptism, by fire but...
I got the call at 6AM from our postmistress that the chicks were ready to be picked up. My 9 and 12 year olds were already up waiting for the phone to ring. We hopped in the car and made the 10 mile drive to the PO. We went to the back door and while we waited for them to locate our chicks...
We plan on keeping 10 hens. Today I was thinking about names and it dawned on me...maybe Downed on me...
Cora
Edith
Cybil
Violet
Lavinia
I can't be the only Downton Dork here on BYC
I'll let the kids name the other 5. They will probably end up with Lord of the Rings names.
Eowyn
Arwen...
I've been happily posting away in the forums, I thought it was about time I introduce myself.
My name is Karen, I live outside San Antonio. I have 10 children. My oldest is in college in Dallas, but currently studying in Rome. The rest are still at home although my son is a senior and will be...
Chicks are coming in a little less than 2 weeks. I am headed to the feed store to get supplies.
-chick starter (w/antibiotic)
-grit
What else?
shavings I'll get at Petco and Bragg's ACV at HEB.
What are the other "must have on hand when chicks arrive" essentials?
At what age can you identify roosters?
While I ordered pullets I know I will probably end up with at least a couple roosters and I'm curious at how soon I'll be able to tell.
I ordered my chicks from McMurray because I heard over and over how great they were. Now I am having second thoughts.
I have looked at Ideal and they are here in TX and I know the chicks would be far less stressed as the journey would be a fraction of the one from IA.
Should I cancel my...
Has anyone successfully introduced a cat to chicks/young chickens?
Our chicks will be in a brooder in a secure location that our two cats (one indoor/outdoor, another outdoor/semi-feral) cannot access.
Here's the thing.
My indoor/outdoor cat has almost zero prey response. The only things he...
We are planning a coop with enclosed run like this one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/rancho-chickacabra
the dimensions will be the coop itself: 4'x8'
the run: 12'x8'
We are hoping to let the girls free-range some since we have lots of bugs and such they would feast on and we'd...