Search results for query: *

  1. WisconsinGardenChick

    Why do you keep chickens?

    I studied a lot of women’s history in college, and something that interested me was women’s income generating activities during the Great Depression. Women’s egg (and butter, in some places) money was crucial to the survival of their families at that time. Many older women I know who were born...
  2. WisconsinGardenChick

    Do you keep your birds in the coop when it's cold, or let them decide?

    I keep waffling over what to do. Today it was 6F outside, 20F in their coop, yet they stay out in their pen. The pen is covered on the north and west sides with plastic to keep the wind and snow out. This is my first year with chickens, and although I read as much as I can to learn how to...
  3. WisconsinGardenChick

    Coalition of Animal Sanctuaries Urges Ban on Backyard Chickens

    A coalition of animal sanctuaries has issued a position paper urging municipalities throughout the U.S. not to allow backyard flocks and exhorting those that are already zoned for this practice to establish and enforce strict regulations for the care of these birds. The coalition doesn't...
  4. WisconsinGardenChick

    Who is your poultry extension specialist?

    A poster here at BYC who is also from Wisconsin emailed me to ask for contact info for our poultry extension specialist. It occurred to me that other people from Wisconsin might want that info, and that a thread inviting posters from different states to post their extension specialist contact...
  5. WisconsinGardenChick

    At what age should chickens be harvested?

    I have dual purpose breeds - Barred Rocks and RIRs. I planned to keep them for eggs, but one of the reds is causing trouble/starting fights. We're thinking it may be better to remove her. They are 24 weeks old, and started laying 3 weeks ago. Aren't you supposed to harvest them before they...
  6. WisconsinGardenChick

    Dark spots on comb - should I be worried?

    One of our Barred Rocks today has some dark spots on her previously perfect comb. At first, I thought it might just be a little dirt, but it doesn’t come off. She doesn’t act like it bothers her for us to touch the spots. They just feel dry and a bit rough. I don’t think it can be frostbite...
  7. WisconsinGardenChick

    Blood on pullet egg - should I worry?

    Our hens are just starting to lay, and today, one of the BRs laid an egg with just a little blood streak on it. She had a time of it- she was trying to pass that thing yesterday! Went up in the nest box a couple of times, but couldn't manage to do the deed. Today it took her a couple of times...
  8. WisconsinGardenChick

    Compost Feathers?

    Not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but, what do you do with the feathers? I thought I had a great little eco-system figured out - have the birds eat the bugs plaguing my garden, compost the manure and bedding to fertilize the garden, and have eggs to eat! Now that I have...
  9. WisconsinGardenChick

    Is A Coop Ever REALLY Finished??

    Is A Chicken Coop Ever REALLY Finished? We’ve been working on ours since May! Strictly speaking, we haven’t really worked on it all that time. It was nearly done mid-June, when my husband had to leave for a business trip. He put a temporary roof on it and that worked so well, he saw no...
  10. WisconsinGardenChick

    Hello, from Wisconsin

    I'm new to raising chickens (heck, I'm new to ownership of ANY animal!) and have lurked at BYC for months. This site been invaulable for helping me get through the early months (I just got my first baby chicks in May). I found the site through google and love reading through the message...
Back
Top Bottom