I am both sad and mad. The neighbor who moved in this summer, has made a practice of letting their dogs run the neighborhood. Daily someone comes close to running them down on the road. Today one of their dogs came into my back yard, into my fenced in run and took one of my favorite hens. Animal...
What tweaks to your system are you having to make due to cold weather? It’s been below zero for awhile (before wind chill is factored in) and will be for the next week at least. I had to switch from fermented feed to regular for now as it’s freezing rock solid in minutes. The light bulb in a...
I’ve noticed lately a few of my hens have dirty bum feathers. I did a vent check and no signs of anything other than apparently not being able to get the feathers out of the way when pooing. It’s freezing so running around with wet washed bums isn’t a great idea. Can I just trim all around the...
Yesterday I found a giant dark brown egg in the nest and it was a double yolker. Today a light brown double yolker. The entire flock is about 6.5 months old and looking great. Is this something I need to worry about (good grief the eggs were large) or just enjoy when it happens?
I have noticed that one of the hens, I don't know which one but I only get one a day) is laying eggs with a chalky surface. Not every day but a few times a week. Otherwise the egg is perfect shaped and hard shelled. I googled and read that it can be caused by stress. I had three next boxes (15...
I went out this am and collected 9 eggs. We have 2 easter eggers out of 15 total chickens. We saw the one that lays a blueish egg had already laid and I told the kids maybe the other one that lays olive green eggs would lay later today. I went out a couple hours later and found 3 more eggs, 2...
I have a flock of 17, 2 rooster and 15 hens, all about 5.5 months old. One rooster, the alpha, is my favorite. Hes a EE mutt looking thing, but he has beautiful tail feathers and has always been the boss. Lately though he is a bit of a butthead. Jumping on all the ladies, trying to attack both...
This morning when I let the chickens out I noticed the Rooster is wheezing with every breath and unable to crow (he sounds like he’s being strangled). His eyes are clear, he is running all over, hopping up on their logs, chasing other chickens, eating, preening etc.
They have a 80sq coop and a...
For the first time in 2 years we had a predator attack. Completely my fault, I keep the coop doors open about 6-8 inches during the day (just enough for a hen to walk through). I completely forgot to shut them the other night. The next day I got up and went out to feed them and found feathers...
Morning! I've noticed recently that my 18 chickens are eating less, I'm wondering if it's because they've finally seem to have stopped growing so rapidly? Background info: I have always fed this particular flock FF, they have grown quickly and are bright eyed, very active, free of lice/mites etc...
I thought if there's anyone who, like us, were given a metal shed and turned it into a coop, the following might be helpful to know. I went and got the Rustoleum (i think it's called) spray paint in white, uv resistant, outdoor paint. I covered the entire top of the shed, it was brown...
Quick question: how do you approach leaving out fermented feed when it’s 90-100 degrees out? We don’t have to deal with this heat on a regular basis in Michigan, but we are in a hot hot spell. The chickens are doing great, they don’t have all their feather yet (4.5 weeks old) so they are...
I have 18 chicks that are 4 weeks old. 17 pullets (***pretty sure that won't change but I leave room for surprise! lol) and 1 buff orp cockerel. This last week he's become a bit of a butt head. The 17 ladies will go chirping and screaming to the end of the brooder (where they quickly calm and a...
I don’t know exactly where to post this. I’m giving the 4 week old chicks a good look over as we prepare to transition from the brooder box to the coop, and I noticed some with weird looking backs. I mean, they are all kinda awkward looking, half in between fuzzy and feathered lol. Bright eyes...
I've been reading through different post about treating lice or mites or scale mites (?) think i said that right. Anyway, I'd like to know the best practices to avoid them to begin with! What has worked for you???
Last time we had baby chicks I kept the brooder as sterile as possible. This time I’m trying to introduce them to things more like they’d experience if they were with their momma. They love having a dirt clump with grass attached in their brooder and peck at it a lot. Today I added a small bowl...
I'm super new to fermented feed, and I went over every thread I could fine on the topic here and on other sites. I settled on a 1:1 ratio, mixing equal amounts of Purina Flock Raiser and water. The first time I left it 3 days (stirring twice a day) and OH MY WORD. By day 3 and 4 it was so strong...