On Monday, in broad daylight, something got into the chicken yard and killed our Rachel. Two or three other birds had near misses judging by all the feathers everywhere. We were home and never heard a thing. Hubby went out and found poor Rachel lying dead in the corner of the yard, she was...
I do not have a rooster. This past week I have seen 3 separate occasions of a hen 'standing' on top of a squatting hen. Different birds each time. Today it was the hen at the top of the peck order standing on top of the 2nd in command so to speak, and they put their "parts" together, if you...
I think I finally have a broody hen. When I got home from work, DH said he was unable to get all but 2 of the eggs because one of the Rocks was on the nest sitting on all of them and wouldn't leave. He tried stroking her but she growled at him . I asked if he wanted me to come out and help...
I'm thankful for my family and our good health. I'm also thankful for all the help we've gotten with our new chicken endeavors these past 7 months from the good folks on this board. I hope everyone has a happy healthy holiday!
My 2 Barred Rocks seem to be low girls in the order. I went out to check on something (can't remember what, now) and Rachel was in box #2. Raquel was trying to squeeze in with her. One of them let out a squawk and she fell back onto the floor on her butt. Boy was she P.O'd!! She fluffed...
I know there is a peck order among chickens and that someone has to be on the bottom. I get that. But sometimes it's hard to watch. My 2 barred rocks seem to be the bottom 2. They've lost a lot of the contour feathers at the base of their tails , apparently from being picked at. The lowest...
Rainbow, our 7th and last chicken to lay, has finally given us an egg... and it's GREEN.
She is the EE that DH and I argued over; DH insisted she was a rooster. So, not only do I win a $10 bet with DH, but I have my first green egg on my birthday! it's a good day!!
It's a quiet day which, I thought I'd have all to myself and actually get some chores crossed off my honey-do list. Our hens are just beginning to lay and it has been very exciting. Early in the a.m. DH & I were just finishing up breakfast when we heard what HAD to be the egg song; our first...
What a nice surprise! DH had to be rushed to the hospital yesterday and they made him stay. He was sure there would be an egg when he wasn't there to see it. there wasn't, but when I brought him home today, there was the prettiest little white egg waiting for him. Double surprise....we were...
My girls are going to be 20 weeks on Monday. We have been checking for an egg from week 17 b/c all our literature says the black sex link could lay between 17-20 weeks. Well. Lucy, one of our RIRs has very red and developed combs/wattles and has been so vocal for that past couple weeks. From...
Our pullets are 16 weeks old. Periodically I will see one eat a feather that has been shaken loose from another bird. is this a problem? is there a diet deficiency i should be looking into?
thanks for any insight. have a wonderful week-end, all!
Finally! after 8 long weeks (only 8?) 1 back injury, and how many rainy weekends ?, the coop is done and the girls have moved in! We still have a few minor finishing touches to complete, but by and large it is chicken ready. We moved them in late Saturday afternoon. This morning about 6:30...
Our chicks are 6 weeks old. on nice-weather weekends, while we are working on the coop, i've been bringing them outside in a "playpen". They seem to really enjoy themselves and they are really cute picking around in the grass (no chemicals used on our lawn [for lack of a better word to call...
My chicks are almost 6 weeks old. Bad weather and a back injury have delayed to completion of the coop so they are still housed in a gigantic box inside my house, covered with every screen I could pull from the windows.
When DH & I arrived home from work today, we were horrified to see the...
With warm weather looming, I worry about keeping my 6 pullets comfortable. I've read that dust baths play an important part in summertime comfort. Is it okay to offer DE as a dustbath? i've heard it helps control insect pests and we will be using the deep litter method in the coop.
What does...
DH and I have our first chicks which are 5 weeks old now. They're supposed to be all pullets. We have been having a recurring 'debate' about the EE. DH thinks it is a little boy. Yesterday, we had the girls out in the yard for a few hours for the first time. This a.m. the EE has been...