My 8 week old Black Marans became lame 5 days ago, in her flock of 18 other pullets. She is the only one exhibiting symptoms. My first guess was Marek's, but I was hoping someone could help me try to figure out what is wrong with her. She is eating and drinking when I feed her by hand, but...
I am reducing my flock of laying hens. The breeds available include: Black Copper Marans, Splash Marans, Blue Copper Marans, Olive Egger, Easter Egger, Delaware, White Cochin, Buff Polish, Blue Andalusian, Gold Laced Wyandotte, Wheaton Ameracauna, Dorking, Gold Star, Leghorn, Welsummer and...
Has anyone ever used the same incubator to hatch two different groups of eggs at the same time? I started on group on this past Sunday night, and want to add another 12 on Thursday night, so they will be four days apart. I don't see any problem until day 18 for the first group. I can take the...
I am very excited that my chicks have begun hatching! I have 24 "viable" eggs in the incubator with two hatched out already. It is very difficult to resist taking those little cuties out of the bator - but I know better! These guys are Olive Eggers (French Black Copper Marans roo x Ameracauna...
I received my new Ovascope today and was finally able to candle my 10 days incubated BCM and Americauna eggs! This is my first time, so I wasn't sure what I was looking at for the first couple of eggs, but I quickly got the hang of it. It is so exciting to see these little babies moving...
This is my first time incubating eggs. I have 36 eggs just placed in my Styrofoam incubator tonight. I think I've set everything up right - temperature, humidity, etc. I'm so excited to experience this. I can see how this can be addictive!!! I wasn't sure about cleaning eggs or not - the...
This is my first time incubating eggs. I have 36 eggs just placed in my Styrofoam incubator tonight. I think I've set everything up right - temperature, humidity, etc. I'm so excited to experience this. I can see how this can be addictive!!! I wasn't sure about cleaning eggs or not - the...
Is anyone familiar with "transitional" feeds? My mill offers them as an alternative to the more expensive Certified Organic feed. They are the same mixes, just from farms that have not yet been certified organic, but are within the required time frame to become Certified Organic. I've been...
I am wondering if anyone has experience with the profitability of raising straight run, all pullet, or all cockerel broilers. Obviously, the cockerals cost a bit more, but they usually dress out heavier too. Any thoughts or experiences?
I'm fairly new to this (since March), and have my first rooster that is 1 month old. I think a couple of my new babies may be roosters also. Can they get along - sharing hens, or do they need to be separated. I suppose I could wait and see what happens when they mature, but I was wondering...
I decided to keep my eight chickens in one of our horse stalls. My husband installed hardware cloth over all of the openings between the boards and bars, and used a tight netting over the top, so that predators can not get in. The stall opens to the outside paddock with a dutch door - so they...
I decided to keep my eight chickens in one of our horse stalls. My husband installed hardware cloth over all of the openings between the boards and bars, and used a tight netting over the top, so that predators can not get in. The stall opens to the outside paddock with a dutch door - so they...