I just got 12 adult Barred Rock hens from a friend who is moving.
One of the hens has a foot with a big swelling on the side of her toe.
In looking at it more closely, it seems to have the "plug" classic for bumblefoot.
Her toe is grossly crooked to the side with a big swelling off to the one...
I got roped into raising bobwhite quail for a friend of my husband's...
250 teeny tiny cuties! But I don't know much about them and I feel badly about it.
BUT - how do I keep them from piling up?
I have them in a brooder at 95 degrees.
They have warm water with electrolytes and game crumble...
So - I bought a used Dickey hatcher from a lady - has the manual thermostat.
I had her turn it on, so that it was up to temp and running when I arrived and it was fine - perfect 99.5 degrees, 30% humidity.
I turned it on yesterday to get ready for it's maiden voyage and I can't get it up to...
So...this is my first year with different breeding sets.
I've always just had a big layer pen with everyone free ranging.
I've read several different posts where people combine their flock for the winter.
So....how is it done?
I can see the hens figuring it out, eventually.
BUT - what about...
One of my 7wk BCM chicks appears to have really tight wings.
By this, I mean that when her wings are normally folded, the tips of her flight feathers pop up between her wings up by her shoulders.
Is there anything I can do for her?
We just completed the cutest little coop and run this weekend!
The coop is 4x4, insulated, with plenty of ventilation and a 8Lx4wx3h run.
Just need to complete the inside - I want to put in the 4" PVC pipes for food and water.
Right now have a 1 gallon chicken nipple bucket hung inside and a...
My beautiful 3 mth BCM boss hen is gasping for air!
I brought her inside and put her in an isolation cage, gave water with vitamins and electrolytes, as well as feed.
In the coop, her only symptoms were half closed eyes and an occasional gasp for air (pump handle)
She was moving about normally...
I think I'm an EE, have the great facial feathers, but also have yellow legs - came from a girl who said her chickens were hatchery Americauna.
I'm 6 weeks old - barely any wattles to speak of yet. Her brother (?) has larger, redder wattles with scalloped edges (also has a straight comb)...
So - after a lot of reading, I think I want to mix my own feed:
Some will be fed dry and some will be sprouted
I understand about free-choice calcium.
BUT how do they balance their calcium-phosphorus levels?
I also understand a lot of people add in kelp for the nutritional benefits.
BUT -...
Yesterday morning, I noticed one of my almost 2 week old chicks started itching her eyes - so much that she made irritated areas just behind her eye (feathers rubbed off, made a scab, no bleeding)
Yesterday evening, she was itching so much, her right eye was swollen and inflamed and was drawing...
I'm looking into building some auto waterers with the chicken nipples!!
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but do the nipple waterers have to have a tight lid to work correctly (not leak)??
I need to be able to fill the waterer with a hose or little pail - cannot carry/lift a full 5 gal...
I'm silvery yellow, plain silvery yellow head, with a black body w/ silvery yellow chipmunk stripes, yellow belly, and slate grey legs??
What am I?
(I came from McMurray in a "rainbow layers" assortment, if that helps at all??)
Thanks!
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Need opinions:
I'm looking to invest in a cabinet incubator BUT, due to the differing humidity needs for incubating eggs vs. hatching eggs, is it better to hatch in a separate incubator??
or
will the other chicks be fine in the increased humidity.
I know you can do either - but is one Much...
My little BCM with the VERY crooked leg has turned out great!!
I guess the hobbles, vitamins, and tincture of time is what she needed!
Before:
After (3 weeks old):
My chickies are here - need some help finding out just what they are!!
I'm too curious to wait a couple weeks for feathers!!
Mixed in there somewhere are also 6 SLW (ordered on purpose!)
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#1 black with silver stripes and crazy patchwork head - rose comb?(are these my Silver...
I live up in the mountains and have fairly cold and wet winters - up to 3.5' of snow on the ground at most (I hope!!)
Snow on the ground for most of the winter - maybe 2'
We live on a VERY wet property...high water table.
The area where the coop will be already has 18" pipe swale to help with...
My laying henhouse is like a little house - sides like ours, very cute, with an uncovered (net) roof.
I'm starting into breeding and want to keep my breeds separate....so - can you all show me designs to hold more than one breed, as well as the attached runs??
Pics would be great!
the only...
So - doubt I'll ever have the $$ to buy a cabinet incubator, but what about building one out of a wine cooler?
I would think it it air sealed, which would be good for humidity and temp control, but what about fresh air?
Any opinions, advice??
If you've done it before, give me a clue on how to...