My chickens have mites! I had not noticed any symptoms, but I found bugs on an egg and then checked their vents, and they sure do have mites all right. I have ordered Prozap Garden and Poultry Duster to treat the birds and coop, but I am not sure whether I need to also treat areas they spend...
I have two 1-year-old hens (Norska and Teckla) and two 8-week-old pullets (Dragon and Phoenix). The hens have a coop with a 7' x 7.5' enclosed run attached. The pullets have been living under the coop (inside the run) in an old dog crate since they moved out of the brooder. I've let all four...
At 12:15, I was out in the yard and heard Teckla (Black Australorp, just over 1 year old) in the nest box, making distressed noises and straining. I decided I'd give her 10 minutes, and went in to review egg binding symptoms and treatments. She lays quite large, so I was concerned.
After 10...
Our first hen has been laying for a few weeks now, a little more often than every other day. We're pretty sure it's just the black Australorp that's laying so far (but the Wyandotte has started making a lot more noise, so she should be catching up soon). A lot of the eggs have been cracked a...
I brought my first chicks home today. Here are Norska (silver-laced Wyandotte) and Teckla (black Australorp) enjoying the heat lamp after the ride:
They are noisier than I expected! Very twittery little creatures.
Hello, Back Yard Chickens! I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I am planning to get some chickens this spring. They will mostly be pets, but we'll enjoy the eggs, too! I've decided that the breeds I think sound most promising are silver or gold laced Wyandottes, light Brahmas, or black...