Who are the really good breeders who are contactable to get stock from? I am especially interested in crele. I went to the OEG club website hoping to find a breeders directory like the Ameraucana club has, but couldn't find any. I would love some leads.
I've been to a couple (not showing) but mostly came in the middle of the day, and there weren't too many people around, and I didn't get to meet anyone whose birds I was looking at. I mean people were there, but only really near the display tables and not too many by the cages, except for the...
I bought 4" pipe at the hardware store, but it's sewer pipe, not water pipe. I know PVC water pipe is made not to leach chemical nasties, so it would be safe for a chicken feeder, but what about sewer pipe? Since it's only formulated to carry waste, is it made not to leach any chemical nasties...
I love the idea of a seasonal house that can be dismantled for my grow-out pens. I could put them on grass, grow the birds on pasture, then take them apart and store them for winter.
There are plans for a portable poultry house that comes apart from the University of California Extension...
I just don't understand how a little thingie with a timer and a motor that lifts a light piece of aluminum or wood cost so much money. Cheapest option is the add a motor at $90.
But after that the prices seem to run in the 180 - 324.99 (!!!!) range.
Seriously. I can buy a remote control...
I've read so many posts here about people who made coops from free wooden shipping crates, but I can't find any. I have checked:
Freecycle
Craigslist
Museums (I heard they get items shipped to them in them, and they said they do but then they return the box)
Art galleries (They thought I was...
This is so embarrassing to admit, but I can't grow duckweed. I'm actually a really good gardener and I can't grow one of the planets most noxious weeds. I have tried it in a stock tank and in a small plastic container, I have tried using organic liquid fish fertilizer and then Pete's...
So I was reading this old thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=386263&p=1
and I'm almost convinced to start raising the scary looking, icky things.
But a couple of questions. I don't know if Pet Duck Boy is still around but maybe other people here raise them.
1)...
I bought these eggs as Black Copper Marans, and the following chicks hatched out. I am not going to keep them as a Marans flock, but I've been puzzling about what the heck is in these birds. I know the very light ones are wheaten, but as for the rest? Here are the pics
Bird 1...
I'm looking for good info from the Silkie folks! I am looking for Blue/Black/Splash, but I am flexible about bearded vs. nonbearded. I would like a good line to work with, but I'm not going to be showing anytime soon. I am very interested in broodiness and motherliness - that's the main thing...
I contacted a breeder in December about getting a rooster from him. He was recommended to me by someone I really trust and he has an official position in the poultry world, so I thought I had a good contact. He was extremely nice, said he had something for me but wanted to wait for better...
I'm tempted to buy this water heater because it would fit so nicely in my bantam coop (it's only 9" diameter) , but it's basically a metal cylinder with a 40 watt bulb in it. I dunno, what if it tips and comes into contact with the shavings? Here it it, it's from Foy's Pigeon Supply...
Anyone have any recent experience with Greenfire? Are they doing o.k. with getting their orders out on the date they are supposed to be out? By the way, anyone know why Marans were taken off their list of breeds on their home page? They had a deal with Bev and were sending out birds from her...
I've got hand turned eggs in the incubator and I have to travel for a family emergency. They were set a week ago. I won't be able to turn them for about a day and a half. The only alternative I have is to try to take the incubator with me plugged into the car cigarette lighter (I have an...
I started a mealworm farm at the end of last summer with 2000 meal worms. They are on wheat bran in a rubber made tub with occasional carrots or potatoes for moisture.
I have consistently seen beetles active at the top, but hardly ever a meal worm - only one or two. I know this is impossible...
I would really like to get some silkies to use as living incubators, but I live in a really cold climate. It's nothing for it to be below 20 F and stay that way forever, and for it to be below 0 with the wind chill.
Here's the weather we're talking about, only a little worse because of our...
I am a brand new mom (4 weeks) who has a huge garden, four chicken coops, a small orchard and various other projects.
So far, all I am doing is nursing and changing diapers, and DH has taken over all my chores for the time being.
But, once I get more in the swing of things, I want to get back...
I am experimenting with growing duckweed in containers in the house to feed my chickens in winter.
Duckweed thrives on nitrogen, and I am starting to think that instead of adding fertilizer, it might be fun to add feeder fish, like guppies or something, so the fish poo can be the nitrogen...
I have a 1.5 yr old bantam ameraucana who is standing about with her wings slightly down, and when she walks it is stiffly with a bit of a penguin waddle.
Her vent is healthy looking. In all other ways, she looks healthy, although I think she has lost weight since yesterday. I have felt her...
I'm getting frustrated with trying to buy hardware cloth locally. Local sources sell dinky little lengths - like 10-20', for a lot of $$$$$$.
I need at least 100' to finish a run. I'm thinking maybe I can get a deal online if I look hard enough, especially if I find a 'free shipping' special...