I let a 1 yr chocolate orpington and 3 week chick see/hear each other and was surprised when the hen on hearing the chick started doing the egg song loudly. Wondering what this behavior means.
(Chick was never put with the hen and at risk, just to clarify that)
Are these eggs safe to consume? One hen had an injury above vent/prolapse? and bled all over the eggs in the laying box. I assume blood would've gotten through the bloom as it dried so I've been hesitant to use them.
If not for human consumption, just scramble and feed to hens?
So I have a Barred Rock (about 22 weeks) being picked upon by a Rhode Island Red (18 mos). Both female. I have observed the former being trapped and pinned by the latter and pecked. No injuries noticed. I'm a bit surprised this is happening because the BR is almost twice as bulky as the RIR but...
So my silver Wyandotte has been acting way off and I'm not sure exactly what she needs.
Her back end seems to be heavier, maybe a mass or something and she's been straining to poop and drinking a lot of water, less intetest in eating.
Last night I gave her a warm Epsom salt soak and a tums. She...
Are there any probable death causes for what seemed to be a perfectly healthy hen the day before?
I found my gold laced Wyandotte (18 mos) dead flat on her back this morning in the run. This was one of my reliable layers (every second or third day) and had no symptoms at all yesterday - doing...
Hopefully this isn't a ridiculous question... can too many bugs make confined chickens fat? Mine have been loving cicada season and the pictured hen (unofficially Colby since I shouldn't name them :p) seems to grab all the cicadas I toss in and downs them in two gulps.
If I could free-range, I...
Not sure what's wrong with this hen. Alert, but just sitting and brooding (note, NOT broody) with neck pulled in. This one is usually one of the more vocal ones but she hasn't been lately. Only hen not laying for awhile (about 16 mos old). I thought she might be eggbound so I gave her half an...
I was unsure where to put this one .
So situation is we have chicks in a coop next to the large hen coop since Sunday. Last night we lost a chick to a raccoon and previous day I realized later that another chick had been prey to a raccoon (this one had to be put down, so two total are gone)...
These two chicks were purchased at the same feed store (was told they came from Hoover Hatchery) but the barring is slightly different and one seems to have a bigger and redder comb and longer tail feathers. They should both be female.
Would love to hear from members on here. How much care is required for crossbeaks and when do you make the decision to put down?
I'm conflicted between keeping if minimal care is adequate or running out to get a replacement chick. So far the chick seems to be growing and playing with its friends...
Two and a half week Americauna chick suddenly has crossbeak today. She did not look like this yesterday. Anything that can be done? (First experience with this)
Couldn't resist the mystery chick (from Hoover Hatchery) and haven't been able to identify it yet. The darker one next to it should be a Chocolate Orpington. *Purchased from feed store, not directly from hatchery*
Chickens are feather plucking. All but one (Australorp) has a bare patch at base of tail. The worst offender seems to be a Rhode Island Red. It went right up to a dust bathing chicken (same breed) and started pulling out and eating feathers. I don't think this is the head chicken but it seems to...
What do I do when my chickens peck at the blue kote that is supposed to cover their injuries?? Two bullies were pecking up a spot of it in the run.
One chicken's sudden bare backside (Wyandotte) was fully covered in the spray (it really doesn't look much different than the chickens normal...
I noticed a hen was acting oddly in warm weather - sitting hunched up and puffed out. Checked today and noticed solid poop was blocking her vent so removed and noticed her abdomen is squishy. Poop was hardened, sort of yellow and green and smelly. Hen hasn't been laying during winter (normal)...
Gardening help.
So we have a great garden plot which we had high hopes for, but due to a baby, was not given enough maintenence. It was tilled initially and mostly cleared but weeds and a lovely harvest of prairie grass resulted instead. 🤭
Looking for suggestive on how to prepare for spring...
Considering ordering a couple Orpington chicks for spring. What should I know about the breed? Pros and cons? Do the different varieties (looking at chocolate and lavender) have the same breed problems (tendency to broodiness, etc.)?