I've spent the past 3 hours researching freakin' mareks disease trying to decide if I should have mcmurray vacc my order. I've researched via BYC and google. I still can't decide. I've read several BYC threads.
We have wild turkey on my land.. is that reason enough to vaccinate? We didn't...
We've just moved back to Western North Carolina from Alaska. What diseases should I be concerned with here? I imagine since it's warmer and humid in the summers I'm looking at more of a challenge with our birds. We never had disease in Alaska.
I'm placing an order for chicks soon and I wonder...
First, we live in Alaska. There is about 5 feet of snow on the ground, it was -4 yesterday, but that's unusual. It is usually 10-35F all winter. Our turkeys have plenty of covered, snow free area that they share with the ducks and chickens. They also have the duck house in which they prefer to...
I found one of our americaunas dead in the coop last night. We found she had a green crop! Ew, what in the world? Any ideas? Someone mentioned to me access to clean water. They definitely have that. Hmmm
So a few of my hens are hiding out in the coop. One is scratched/cut up pretty badly. I put a saddle on her. They are in there all day. I have three roosters and 39 hens. I'm thinking about just culling two of the roosters that are severely over mating this handful of hens. Can they have...
I have googled and searched backyard chickens and many other websites. I can’t seem to really understand a wire floor for poults and ducks.
Is it basically a framed in piece of galvanized wire (small gauge) about 2 inches off of the floor? I’ve never raised my ducklings on it. This is the...
I'm down to one drake I kept because I really like him. I have new girls growing up. Will he be able to wait 8wks until they are full grown? Will he wander away? I know he'll be lonely. I'm hoping he can hold out two months before he starts mating my chickens. How soon could I integrate them...
I have three drake cayugas. They are free range. They are locked up at night. This year they drowned a hen in the pond (a kiddie pool). Then, I had a drake (recovered from an injury), that they also drown 3 days after I reintro-d him to the flock. We turned that pool upside down after I finally...
I guess I want to know from other more experienced duck owners, it this duck is going to recover, or if he needs to be seen by a vet/get the wing taken off.
My birds free range. I was gone for about 20 minutes yesterday morning. When I came back, one duck was missing, one was 'sickly' looking...
So, I have about 40 hens... and 4 roos. One roo was an 'accident' and he is a little silver leghorn. He is very nice, but much smaller than the other roos (a BR EE and a Wyandotte mix). So, he doesn't get any hens. He just hangs out behind the house.. usually by himself. He's not allowed to hang...
To me, this seems unusual;
Plymouth Rock goes broody on about 6 eggs. I mark the calendar "around" that time. We have two coops, one is older and smaller. This is where she starting sitting. To makes things less complicated and stressful, I closed this penned in area off from the other birds...
This is Nugget. She is about 3 years old. We got her in a mixed handful of pullets from our neighbor. We really like this chicken and want more. I thought she was a RIR... however, looking them up, she's not that dark, and she is certainly not aggressive. She is a big chicken. We have a few...
Hello... just today one of my hens started heeeeee--hawwww... over and over again. It's pretty loud. She's been doing it for maybe two hours. It took me forever to figure out what it was (we have a lot of crows/magpies here).
I haven't been able to catch her.
I gave them some egg shells this...
So, I knew he was a he when he started getting his comb. He is almost 2 months. He is crowing in the morning. Super friendly.
Not a breed I recognize.. any one know? If you all know the hen too.. that would be great.. I've got quite a few of those.. they bully the smaller ones but are okay...
So, because of the hatchery schedule, half of my new chicks are a few weeks older than the second half. They are all outside now. I brought the 5wk olds out and the 7 wks olds are bullying BADLY! And the younger ones are barred rocks and EE's. They just let it happen. They don't defend...
So, one of my hens disappeared. They are free range, so after a few days I gave up, thinking she was 'gotten.' Yesterday we found her under a tarp covering some lumber. I looked here for her! But not well enough obviously.
She is missing quite a few wing feathers on one wing... neatly.. as if...
We are still working on the string/netting top to the pen/coop addition. All the young birds are outside. My cross beak (very rambunctious/curious) has been escaping and following me around (she is always looking for food), and I put her back in each time. I was outside when I heard something...
One of my chickens (5 weeks?) I JUST noticed somehow has a crooked beak. It looks like she's eating. She barely opens it really and is pretty skittish.. I've never experienced this and I would love people's take on it. Put her down? I have never put down an animal in my life. I guess that might...
Anyone have the link to the thread on small dosing for 6 ducklings? I can't find it! i'm not sure how to whittle down the directions on the package that say 1/4 tsp to 1.5 gallons...