This is my first batch of meat birds ever this year. I have cornish as well as rangers. They are 7 weeks old. 5 hours ago I was outside, everyone was moving around and well. Mostly in the shade as it was 83 degrees out today. I just went to shut them in for the night and one was very obviously...
I got some chicks from a local hatchery and don’t think I got what I asked for. I was supposed to have a mystic maran, black copper maran, blue rock, and silverlaced whandotte. 2 of the chicks are black with some complimentary copper. Another is black with some white. And there’s this one. All...
Hello all! I have 36 meat chicks who are almost 2 weeks old now. They have been in my basement brooder and it stiiiiiinks to high hell. I want to get them moved out to my barn but it’s still a bit chilly here in Michigan. Next few days it’s in the low 40s and overnight in the 30s. My barn is...
This is my first time raising meat birds. I have 37 week and a half old chicks right now. I’ve attached a few photos- just noticed today a lot of have these little bald spots on them. Is this normal? Are they pecking at each other bc their brooder is too small? I’ve had them 10 days now and...
This past Friday (4 days ago now) we got 40 meat chicks. They’re a little less than a week old now. Cornish and rangers. Since Friday there have been 3 that have died. I know when you get larger quantities of chicks it’s kinda a numbers game and some losses are expected. But what would be a...
How do I manage a chicken who constantly has poop all over her butt?! I’ve washed it off many many times but she seems to just build it back up again. Is there some magical trick or solution? The only thing I can think of is trimming her feathers back but what happens when they grow back.. I...
Looking for “I wish I had known” advice for a first time meat chicken raiser.
i have a regular layer flock, so I am not looking for newbie chicken advice.
I will feed them 20-24% medicated starter feed.. available 24 hours a day. Heat lamps (since it’s still cool where we live).Supplemental...
Hi all! I’m still probably considered a newbie to chickens. I’ve had my flock of 8 for a year now. Until yesterday I’ve never really notice any of them laying down. Except to lay an egg. Or for a dust bath. I have a cream legbar hen who started laying in a random spot in the coop yesterday...
I am new to chickens this year and just when I think I’ve got the hang of everything one of my olive eggers decides to go broody. I don’t have any roosters nor do I plan to have any roosters. So my questions is what, if any, harm is there just letting her sit on the eggs? She switches between...
This Is going to be my first winter with chickens - while I've read up on plenty of things I need to do, I still have a couple questions for the BYC community. I live in Michigan where winter got down to -17 last year in the polar vortex. Normally it does not get that cold but it's not uncommon...
I have 8 hens, all raised together from day old, who are now about 5 1/2 months old. 7 of the hens are standard sized chickens, various types, and I have one bantam silkie hen who seems to be the outcast. Was just wondering if anyone has had this experience. There are no issues at all, no...
I have 5 ducks and 1 drake - I am trying to find a good all flock feed for them. I found a local feed store that carried a local brand which I loved and the ducks enjoy however it's becoming unrealistic/impossible as the store closes an hour before I get home from work and is not open on...
I have a 4 month old Pekin/white layer cross who just laid her first egg this past week. A couple of months ago she was on antibiotics. So it’s been 2 months antibiotic free. How long do I need to wait- or should I wait to safely consume her egg?
Does anyone have any experience in treating gout in ducks? I changed their feed to lower the calcium intake, but now from what I've read I need to supplement in vitamin a and phosphorus. Any ideas how to do this? I know fish is good for vitamin a so they've gotten canned salmon. Any ideas in any...
I am planning to move my ducks to a new coop. The coop is a renovated to be predator proof children’s playhouse. So there are many windows- all covered, nothing can get in. My question is- you can still see in and out of these windows since it is stapled wire fencing... will it be traumatic to...
I have 3 pekin ducks. 2 are almost a year old and 1 is almost 4 months old. All are coming down with lameness in the legs. And all at different times. My 1 drake started this about March of this year. I, of course, have made very well sure they are all getting enough niacin to start off. There...
We just noticed our female pekin limping today. It’s looking to me like somehow she’s got 2 bumbles in each foot. I’ve not dealt with bumblefoot personally yet. Can someone confirm?
so I just noticed today my 10 month old pekin female bobbing her head in the pool at my 9 week old Cayuga and black Swedish females while they were all swimming together. Anyone know why a female would do this to another female? I know this and have experienced it as a male/female flirting and...
I have two 9 week old pekin drakes that I need to rehome. I have a small flock and with these two drakes, my male/female ratio is way off. They aren't exactly being nice to my three 7 week old ladies either. I hatched these boys. Perfectly healthy - free ranged. Free to a good home. Located in...
I have a pekin drake who seems to have some sort of restless wing thing going on. He's been doing it for a good month + now. It's as if he can't get his wings to rest comfortably against his body so he constantly is shifting them back. Kind of hard to explain so hopefully you guys can somewhat...