I found my beautiful Buff Orpinton hen 1 1/2 year old dead today. She didn't show any signs of illness, was healthy by any standard I could see. She did molt her first Autumn and she seemed to scare a little easier than the rest. All the other girls (5) were unfazed by her death inside and...
I so paitiently waited to see the blue or green egg that she would lay, but they are brown with little white dots. Any chance they will change color? She's the sweetest girl, but I'm so bummed.
My first molt on only one of my 6 girls. She is doing well, but her comb is very pale pink. Is that common? She is eating, energetic, no eggs and all the feathers are about back. It was quick, about the beginning of November, she stopped laying completely.
Thank you!
For some reason, I though chickens skip the molt before they are about a year old. It looks like one of my 8 month old hens is molting. Is that typical?
My hens seem perfectly healthy except they all have darkening areas only on the front of their combs and waddles. I did think I'd heard a sneeze sound a few times, but nothing much. One of my hens hasn't laid an egg in a week, so I started searching for reasons. Now I am a little worried. I...
I am really curious about what is going on!
Twice now I have found two eggs at once broken on the ground. Both are very pale brown with extremely thin shells. My RIR and BO both have laid each day I found the other two and their eggs are strong and dark. What is more likely that two such...
I have two chickens laying nearly daily, I also have one that is a Light Brahma, she doesn't seem close to laying, they are all about 22 weeks old. I have three at 15 weeks, 2 Barred Rocks and one EE. A few days ago, I found a very pale and thin shelled egg broken in one of the nests. I also...
I know they all start small. About how long until the eggs get normal to big in size? I've only had two so far and the second was a little bigger. Is that just how it goes???
I'm getting a little concerned. My hen just layed her first egg yesterday. Now she is on the nest and hasn't laid the egg for about 1 hour. It's very hot here. She's panting. I checked to see if I could see any egg emerging, but didn't want to upset her. Should I be concerned? All the...
I wanted chickens for so long and with my husband's help, I now have a beautiful coop and 6 adorable hens. I recently read a very sweet little book by Alice Walker called "The Chicken Chronicles". She relates to her life in memories of her duties of chicken raising as a child and how she...
I have a beautiful Americauna. She is about 10 weeks old. She is brown with grey. I looked at the Americauna Breeder website but couldn't find her coloring. She came from a breeder and should be identifiable. What does that sound like? (I am unable to post a photo).
Thank you!
I have been in the process of merging my 9 week olds with my 16 week olds for about 1 1/2 weeks. It's not too bad except that the majority of the time, the young girls are hiding, as the older girls keep them from food and water etc. There is no co-mingling as I have hiding places etc. I...
I just introduced 8 week old girls to 16 week girls, 3 to 3 ratio. I know I should expect some pecking, and it's hard to watch and not intervene. When is too much just too much, before any blood shed?
They've been together but separated since Sunday and I put them together at dark in the coop...
My litter is very dry. What is the problem is the litter is too dry? I am reluctant to spray it because it seems to be doing well. It doesn't smell, no flies etc.
Please give me your advice!
Thank you!
:heIs it possible to use the deep litter method over a vinyl coop floor? If I can't how often should I completely change the bedding? I have been racking it weekly and removing the majority under the roosts. I have not smelled amonia, but I don't like the smell, I am sure you know what I...
I've read a lot about introducing new chickens to existing, but haven't really seen alot about the age difference and the breeds. I have a BO, RIR and LB who are now 10 weeks old and living happily in thier coop and run. I have three more that are only 6 weeks younger, a Americauna and 2 BR's...