Whenever I process chickens I always scrape out this gross, dark red glandular looking tissue from the low back area. I assume it's some sort of organ but I don't really know. What is it?
So I had to cull my young flock about a month ago due to what I'm pretty sure was choryza. I want to start over but want to do this right to try and stop this from happening again.
I plan on completely scrubbing the coop and run. I'm removing all organic material down to the dirt in the run...
Hi, my flock has been battling but slowly surviving bronchitis. This one hen however has this giant lump on her face. It actually pulls her lower jaw askew. Her eye is completely sealed shut. She is still eating and drinking but obviously suffering. I thought maybe an abscess so I attempted...
I found this cockerel ( I'm pretty sure it's male) this morning on the floor of the coop. He can barely walk (kind of stumbles), keeps his neck and head very low to the ground and his wings hang down.
I felt and looked all over him and cannot find any obvious injury. I can pull his wings out...
My flock is starting to dwindle. I've lost two hens and another is starting to cough. I'm guessing bronchitis or similar. I've noticed watery whites in the eggs and my sisters flock 1/2 mile down the road was also infected. I'm thinking that's where my chickens got it (when my sister visited)...
I had two hens hatch out a total of 21 chicks. One batch is 4 weeks and the other just hatched today. I want to plan ahead. Daddy was a BO and the mothers varied from EEs barred rocks, wyandottes and welsummers. I plan on dispatching all the cockerels and possibly some of the pullets. I will...
I have a mama hen with 9 chicks (3 weeks old) that have been segregated from the rest of the flock since hatching. The rest of the flock of 15 hens and one roo free range on a half acre.
When can I integrate the mama hen and chicks with the rest of the flock? I'm not worried about the flock...
I discovered one of my SLW was broody (mean as hell) so I moved her out of the nesting box one night onto a clutch of eggs. I separated her in her own little maternity ward in a dog kennel in a corner of the run. She has been sitting without budging since wednesday night. So far so good...
My formally peaceful BO roo and SLWyandotte roo went at it yesterday. It wasn't pretty. Luckily no serious injuries just bloodied up combs and wattles. Anyway I'm keeping the BO but need to re-home the Wyandotte or else I'll have to dispatch him. I hate to do that, he is beautiful and nice to...
I have a mixed flock of BR, Welsummer, Easter egger, and silver laced wyandotte hens. I also have one buff Orpington roo who does the bulk of the breeding and a silver laced Wyandotte roo who mates when he can sneak by the other roo. I'm curious about the potential offspring of these matings and...
I live in so. California and want to know when is a good time to order meat birds. I have an outdoor run set up for the chicks and would like to start them directly outside. I can provide a heat lamp If necessary but would really like to avoid having to start them in a brooder
Im culling a particularly nasty psycho roo this weekend and want to know how best to prepare the meat. Brine or buttermilk or can/should I do both (not at the same time of course). The rooster is young, about 20 weeks, but I think still old enough to be tough. Will he be too old to fry?
He is...
I currently have 12 red production hens (3+ years) 3 BO Roos (about 5 months) and 20 chicks of varying breeds that range from about 3 weeks to 8 weeks of age. The hens and the Roos free range together on 1/2 acre and roost together in the coop at night. The chicks are in a grow out section of...
So I'm the proud mama of 6 new barred rock pullets about 2 weeks old. Pretty little things. I bought them because they were available and I like the color. I'm curious about their temperament, laying habits etc from other barred owners.
I couldn't take it anymore!! I have 3 buff Orpington chicks that are now 8 weeks old. They have been living in a run and coming in to the brooder at night. The weather has warmed up and the night temps are in the 50s. They did just fine and are thriving. Now I gave to figure out when I can...
I live where summers are dry with triple digit temps. I have a flock of what I think are red sex linked hens. They fair actually really well by staying in shade and drinking a lot. I want to add to my flock but am wondering if there are some breeds better suited for heat and some that can't cope?
I have a flock of 12 hens which I believe are red sex linked (I bought them at a feed store). I am raising a buff Orpington roo that will be introduced soon. I want more variety and plan on adding a few EE, marans, and maybe some rocks. I wanted to know if there is any truth to the idea that...
I have three 5 week old cockerels that will be competing to become lord and master to my 12 hens. I would love any advice on how to pick the right one. Am I right in assuming I should wait until sexual maturity to see how they treat the hens and how the hens respond? What sort of roo behaviors...