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  1. shaky

    Do I have a coop problem?

    My students and I built a chicken coop in the school courtyard. It looks great, well-done, etc. However, we found out afterward that there is a security light that comes on just before dark that lights the whole courtyard. The coop itself is dark enough, but will they go into it if the...
  2. shaky

    Building a Coop

    I wanted 1. A new, bigger coop that was really easy to use and clean. 2. lightweight and movable. 3. use mostly recycled or repurposed supplies to reduce cost. 4. start raising modern game bantams. 5. bend over as little as possible. 6. both contained and yard accessible. So on bulk trash...
  3. shaky

    Jack J. in Austin

    We've kept chickens for almost 10 years already. We started with 3 orpingtons and 5 random bantams. Right now we have four hens: buff Orp., production red, Delaware, and barred rock. We lost our bantam silkie rooster recently. I'm a science (STEAM) teacher, and also keep /have bred colubrid...
  4. shaky

    new feathers are weird

    One of my flock regrew curly feathers after her molt. It is pretty strange. Could this be a problem? She seems fine otherwise.
  5. shaky

    Chickens stopped laying!!???

    Austin, TX. Summer. My three 2-yr-old Orps have stopped laying. All I can think is it's the weather, but it hasn't gone above 100 yet, and they have a shady run. What could be the problem? I'm out of eggs. Bummer.
  6. shaky

    feeding 6 week olds

    None of our local feed stores carry chick grower feed, only chick starter. They are now 6 weeks. Can I mix 50/50 starter pellets with layer pellets? Should I stick with starter? Can I move up to layer feed?
  7. shaky

    brutalizing low hen

    the low hen in the pecking order (bantam EE) is suddenly the victim of harsh head pecking and feather removal. Her nape was red, almost bloody and de-feathered by three standard Orpingtons. Why would this be? They have been peaceful for 2 years!
  8. shaky

    Snake season is coming

    Time to read up on your local snakes and ID the harmless ones. Pretty good rule of thumb: the venomous ones usually don't climb. There's no good way to keep the snakes away, so its best to know when to be careful and when you can disregard it.
  9. shaky

    Faded earlobes and combs

    My three Orpingtons are laying daily, but the reds are fading to blotchy pink on comb and earlobes. I haven't noticed bleaching anywhere else. Is this due to demands of egg-production? They have oyster shell, but don't seem to want it. All seem healthy.
  10. shaky

    wrong feed

    My baby chicks are big fat hens now and one laid its first egg. Trouble is that they are still eating a mixture of chick starter (I think it's medicated) and scratch. Is this bad? Can we eat the eggs or no? If not, and I get laying food tomorrow, how long to wait before the eggs are safe? Thanks...
  11. shaky

    Snake identification and removal

    As a person with experience in snake removal, I offer a couple of tips on removing snakes from the coop: #1 - Take the time to check on the local snakes. There are MANY websites titled "snakes of your state here". Be familiar with any local venomous ones. Especially check out the local rat...
  12. shaky

    Introducing bantams to Orps

    My Orps are, or course, much larger than my young bantams, so I have given the bantams very little time out in the backyard. However, as long as they have room to roam, the orps don't bother the bantams so far. Trouble is, they need to share the coop soon. The bantams are quickly outgrowing...
  13. shaky

    Beak biting?

    One of our tiny chicks has a habit of biting the others on the beaks, causing bleeding, which makes a big target for everyone else to peck. By 'biting', I mean actually grabbing the other chicks beak in hers and yanking. Its the skin around the nostrils that gets bloody. We separated the...
  14. shaky

    Need a window?

    I built a small coop for my "flock" of 4. Do I need a window, or can it just be dark in there?
  15. shaky

    Please help with IDs

    We could only find "Assorted Bantams" in Austin. We were looking for a few particular bantam breeds, but had to pick from a lot of varied babies running around. The feed store employees obviously buy a shipment of asstd. bants every week or so. Anyway, if its at all possible to ID these guys, I...
  16. shaky

    Adding chickens

    As a complete newbie to owning chickens, I have a few questions: 1. Please recommend an all-around go-to book to follow. 2. We have 3 young Orp. hens. Can I put bantams with the Orps? 3. If so, please recommend a bantam I can keep with the big orps (good with beginners, friendly, decent egg...
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