When I first started with chickens a few years ago, all the eggs were very hard shelled. Almost never had a broken egg. Now I'm losing eggs to breakage like crazy and several are thin shelled. I have always had free choice oyster crushed shell and feed a good quality organic layer pellet feed...
When I built my coop a few years ago, I built it with four nesting boxes and started out with 8 hens. Of course the laying hens only wanted to use one or on occasion, two of the available boxes. I never had a problem with eggs laid outside of the nesting boxes or in the run. I now have 20 hens...
My growing pullets are housed and feed together with my adult birds. There currently is no practical way to separate their feeding. I was feeding the younguns chick starter crumbles and the adults layer pellets in separate feeders. The adults would/will raid the chick feeder and now that the...
My growing pullets are housed and feed together with my adult birds. There currently is no practical way to separate their feeding. I was feeding the younguns chick starter crumbles and the adults layer pellets in separate feeders. The adults would/will raid the chick feeder and now that the...
Is it normal for a broody hen to loose it's feathers on it's belly? Other than being broody, one of my Buff Orps looks normal otherwise. The bare area without feathers looks healthy. Do they naturally do this so as to conduct their body heat more efficiently to the eggs that they are sitting on?
Just started keeping chickens about a year ago, this is my first time dealing with a broody hen. Of my seven hens, only one is broody, one of two Buff Orpingtons. She stays on the nest even without any eggs. I understand that opinions vary as to how to deal with this. Should I intervene or just...
Is it the general consensus that ANY bloody stool in chickens should be considered enough proof to treat for coccidosis? My chickens appear healthy, are about 5 1/2 months old and some have begun laying. I have seen a bloody stool once or twice. Is it unusual for chickens of this age to have...
I'm considering using some wild bird seed mixture instead of chicken scratch to supplement their layer feed as well as free ranging. Any reason not to?
This is my first year keeping chickens and I'm just starting to get eggs. Although I had heard of "the egg laying song" chickens produce when laying, I didn't realize it would be so loud and boisterous! Are mature egg layers as noisy as new laying hens?
We have several 4 ft x 8 ft planter boxes around our courtyard, each about 30 in. tall. We grow our vegetables and herbs in them and they are a decorative border to our courtyard, in which we spend a fair amount of time in during nice weather. Of course our free-ranging chickens delight in...
My first hen to lay eggs is a Barred Rock. I got my first egg on Sept 1st and she has layed an egg each day since. But they are all very small eggs. How long before I can expect to get full sized eggs?
One of my Buff Orpingtons has lost the claws on both of her middle toes. Her toes and legs otherwise look normal and it does not seem to slow her down any. Is it unusual for chickens to loose claws? Will it grow back like a toenail? She is probably 16 to 18 weeks old.
Not sure if this is the place to discuss this, but I'm wondering about comb development and egg laying maturity. I have three Buff Orps, two Barred Rocks, Two EEs and a Production Red. They are about 14 + weeks old? Wondering what to expect along these lines re: comb development. How much comb...
I get conflicting info on when to supply chicks with grit. Bought some at Tractor Supply Co. and the package states to start them at 2 wks. Mine are about 6 wks old, no adult birds yet. I threw a very small amount in their feeder along with the chick starter feed and some on the ground in the...
I put my new flock into my new coop about a week ago. I have a nipple watering system attached to a 5 gal bucket. Anticipating some stress for the chicks upon removing them from the brooder and putting them outdoors in their new home, I added one packet of SavaChick electrolyte powder for a...
I have a new mixed flock of birds appox 5 weeks old. I have no older birds. My sole Production Red has a strip of missing feathers along the side of his neck that is only apparent when he stretches his neck out. The skin does not look raw. I have not noticed any of my flock of eight birds...
I initially bought some sav A chick electrolyte mix to get started but would like a more economical solution for long term. Any DIY mix recipes you can recommend? I have well water, so minerals should not be a problem. I'll periodically add some ACV as well. My chicks are probably about 3 weeks...
What are the causes and prevalence of sudden chick deaths? We have had our chicks a little over a week, so they are probably two to three weeks old? Had a seemingly healthy chick die, maybe suffocated by others while huddling together? Is this a common occurrence/cause? They were inside in a...
I posted a similar question in the feed and watering section. Are any medications OK for organic chickens to receive, and still be able to claim that your chickens are "organic"?