We recently lost our border collie and are looking for a new pup. We have chickens (of course) and now also...sheep, cows, and are looking into pigs and other poultry (chicken math!!) I'd like breed suggestions for a great all-round farm dog. We want a dog that is highly trainable, very...
Approximately how many weeks old must an avg CX reach before it will likely be contained by 3" electrified poultry netting? I've heard young chicks will just pass through the openings. CX grow so fast, I'm thinking it must not take too long. Thanks!
I recently ordered 12 White Plymouth Rocks (WR), 4 pullets and 12 straight run. Their hatch date was July 17th. So they are about 10 days old and just getting their feathers. Some of the chicks have dark wings and tail feathers, while others have white wings. I've raised WRs before and I...
I just moved to the country and want to start raising large batches of CX on pasture. I want to start with a batch of 50 for my family and perhaps work up to batches of several hundred for sale. Several years ago, we did a test batch of 11 CX, and while the chicken ended up tasting fine....the...
I'm raising my first mini batch of CX. Because I have more freezer than fridge space, I plan to freeze the birds immediately after butcher. I will then let the frozen birds defrost for several days in the fridge prior to cooking to allow rigor to pass. I plan to freeze the organs separately...
Those of you with open-air coops, how much plywood do you use? Where do you place it? If you don't use any, how do you protect from inclement weather (besides the roof)?
We are building an open air coop in Arizona. It will be 12 x12 without an attached run. We plan to free-range during the...
We are building a coop in hot Arizona. Did I mention hot? Due to the heat, we are considering an open air coop design made from hardware cloth. I will build to maximize the shade from trees, plus use shade cloth. I hope to build one structure with different "apartments." Ideally, I'd like one...
We recently relocated from Wyoming to Arizona. While in Wyoming, I researched the best time to start chicks in Arizona and found a site recommending September. September was said to be ideal, as it would be hot for the baby chicks when they first arrived and then gradually cool down. So...
We will soon be starting over with new chicks at our new home and I want to incorporate roosters into our flock. I am completely new to roosters. I am a little afraid of them, but want to have one as my chickens will be free-ranging. I also like the idea of breeding a self-sustaining flock...
Hello, I have questions for desert chicken-keepers. We're moving from WY to AZ's low desert. I assume they'll be some differences in how/when we raise chicks. When is the best time to start chicks? We plan to brood in our garage, which does not have AC. If it is hot out, I suppose we won't...
We are planning to cull and eat one of our 18 month hens. DH is about to do the deed. He is planning to skin it. We want to turn it into soup. Does the chicken have to rest after slaughter before stewing? If so, how long? How long should it simmer when cooking? Do I put the whole carcass in...
In September, I started my first flock with 14 chicks. All was fine with the chicks until six weeks ago when one of the BAs (Cindy) started getting pecked. It got so bad, her SKULL was visible. I thought we'd have to put her down, but lo and behold, she continued eating, walking around, and...
On 9/12 I accidentally hurt one of my australorp chick's legs (1 week old). I was trying to put her in a bucket to take her outside for some sunshine and something went horribly wrong. I feel sick about it. She hops around on one leg with her other leg tucked up underneath her with the foot...
I live on a small lot in-town. Backyard usable for chicks is about 1700 sf. City regulations permit chicks as long as they're housed 20 ft away from other residences. I have a corner lot with a privacy fence, so I'm Ok.
I want to raise meat birds, probably a slower growing version of the CX...