This winter, a critter of some sort got in my coop and killed all but one bird in my 3 year old flock. We've been planning to repopulate with baby chicks this spring and thought it might be fun to throw some ducks in the mix. Currently, I have the single 3 year old Buff Orpington alone in the...
I live in town and my birds are truly "backyard" chickens. Right now, my yard is fenced but only with 3 foot high chain link. Come spring, I'd love to be able to let the girls out of the run to pick through the grass and the garden whenever I'm outside. I'm certain that I wouldn't feel...
I received my day-old chicks back in June. Between then and now I, like most other first-time chicken owners, have been watching the calendar and cruising the forums, desperately searching for that one encouraging post that says, "Everyone else is wrong. YOUR hens will start laying at 9 weeks...
I don't have any questions or problems. I just want to vent my excitement.
My 9 birds that came in the mail back in June are finally starting to lay. Last Monday, my kids checked on the hens after they got ready for school in the morning and came back worried that one was covered in blood...
I got 5 Australorps and 5 Buff Orpintons from Ideal. Today, they're 5 weeks old. One of the Australorps seems to be developing a comb much more quickly than "her" sisters. I'm starting to suspect this one might end up in the deep freeze instead of laying eggs. What say you?
Well, it's official. We have our first flock. I ordered 5 Australorp and 5 Buff Orpingtons from Ideal Poultry. They shipped a day earlier than scheduled and were at my post office for pick up the morning of the second day after that. I anticipated the inclusion of "males for warmth" but had...
I'll be getting my first batch of chicks in the next couple days. I just put a brooder together today out of materials I had laying around. I plan on using pine shavings as litter, but not for the first few days. Currently, the floor is a piece of rigid foam board, covered in several layers...
Well, Ideal Poultry just sent me an email, letting me know my chicks have shipped. I might be more excited than the kids. I built a brooder today and am about 80% done with the coop and run out back. This will be our first experience with chickens. I would have had a flock much earlier, but...