So, we were having a hard time keeping the little hatchlings alive. Not sure if it was a cat or dog killing them, probably one of the horse boarder's dogs when she wasn't looking, as we'd just find little carcasses around the yard. I didn't want to lose the whole clutch, so I had my girlfriend...
My broody hen just gave up tonight, those eggs were due to hatch in two days. Is there anything I can do? I do not know anyone with an incubator and don't have any other broody hens right now.
Anybody have a chart anywhere showing standard heavy breed chicken growth rates? It's been a while since I last had chickens, and I was just curious how much larger my chicks are going to get. They're 8-9 week old Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Jersey Giants, and Brahmas.
Since I've been letting the chicks free range, (the last 3 weeks or so-they are 8 and 9 weeks old), they've hardly touched their feed. Should I assume that they are getting all they need and more outside? If I were to guess, I'd assume the forages they find outside would be short on a few...
I'm pretty sure that this isn't what a Silver Laced Wyandotte is supposed to look like. I got them from Murdoch's, who I think gets their chicks from McMurray, or at least the pictures and descriptions look like theirs that they have posted on the chick tubs.
Anyway, here's a not great pic at...
So, after two weeks of free ranging, landlord(rent an apartment on a farm) comes up to tell me his dog killed one of the chicks (6 week old Jersey Giant). I had factored in 20% losses to our dogs, and had been shocked that my bird dog has been as good as he had been (but then I'm not above...
The chicks finally put themselves away this afternoon. At 6 weeks old and being let out most days, it's been difficult getting the to go to bed at night. We had a good thunderstorm this afternoon, and I went out and assumed they'd be huddled under the spruce tree, and miracle of all miracles...
So, I'm almost out of medicated chick starter, and the only nonmedicated stuff I can find was in 25 lb bags. Except there are several types of gamebird turkey and meatbird feeds without medication. Is there any danger in using the full leaded stuff? Obviously, it's more expensive, but I got...
My little black Jersey Giants are about 4 weeks old now. I got several other breeds at the same time, including Light Brahmas, Buff Orpingtons and Silver Laced Wyandottes. The Gold Laced Wyandottes are about 6 weeks. But my question/concern is the Jersey Giants are teeny weenie little runts...
Today was about 70 degrees here in Colorado. Can the chicks be outside for too long? Mine are mostly pushing 3 weeks old. Is there a chance that they will fill up on lower quality foods that will stunt their growth or that their bodies can't digest yet? When I hand feed them after they've...
So, in an effort to reduce the frequency with which I have to change the water due to it filling up with shavings, I moved it to the second "floor" of my ferret cage brooder. All the bigger chicks run up and down it all day long and it's obvious they have found the water. But I'm not sure...
Does handling chicks actually tame them at all? Or is it better to just leave them alone and be quiet around them as much as possible? I'd like to have calm chickens, but it seems that just the process of picking one up to grab seems to stress them out.
So a buddy and I bought some chicks together yesterday. My brooder wasn't set up yet, so I left my chicks with him yesterday. Today I picked them up, but I'm not sure I grabbed the right ones. He bought 10 Light Brahmas and 10 Black Jersey Giants. I bought 3 Jersey Giants, 3 Silver Laced...
Can I mix them when they're older?
Do quail ever domesticate like chickens? Meaning can I let them out for the day and expect them to return in the evening?
I don't have either yet, but I've heard conflicting information so far, and am looking for more conflicting info. I'd prefer quail with my chickens, and I realize that I'd have to separate them as chicks. And from reading ag extension stuff, it seems like quail disease is the big problem with...