Oh do they! We've had chickens for 4 years now and I love them, but that was my biggest battle, especially in the summer. Either it was full of "stuff" from their scratching, or it was hot and moldy from the sun. I finally convinced hubby to install a nipple system, and it has been wonderful...
I would not EVER recommend insulation in a chicken coop! We built our coop about 4 years ago, and insulation was insisted upon by some family members (who will not be named). This year the mice have been bad in the coop, so hubby went out and tore out a section of the wall to see what was...
I am not a part of the Easter HAL because I didn't have a brood at the time, and I LOVE hatching chicks by broody. But when I went out to get eggs the last few days one of my silkies has been sitting on them. So I just closed up the area where she was setting last night and will hope for the...
I live N of Clinton, but I know people who live in Clinton and Camanche, and per their city ordinances, you can have a small flock of hens. I would think DeWitt would be the same. But I would call your local county building and just ask for the person who has any info about keeping chickens...
Schlecht Hatchery in Miles, IA. It's one of the few hatcheries left that you can go and pick up chicks. She's always got sex links from about now till fall. And sometimes, (if you don't mind paying more), she'll have some that are 10-12 weeks old. The four I currently have, I got at 10 weeks...
I have been hearing a lot about Iowa Blues on here. Are they good egg production birds? I'm looking to get more good egg production birds, like leghorns and red stars, but they are kind of boring to look at after a while. I love the look of the Iowa Blues, and live in Iowa, so would love to...
Some of my most favorite chickens, (and best layers), have been barnyard chickens! Will try to get some pics next week and post them. Too cold this week. But very thankful there is no snow to accompany this cold and wind.
Hey all. I have had chickens for about 3 years now, and have just been dabbling in all sorts of breeds to see what I like best. I really haven't found any that I favor, other than the Wyandotte's. Especially the gold laced and silver laced. We have finally figured out that we need 14 laying...
Thanks for the advice. I saw the pics of your new building. Amazing!!! Would LOVE a set-up like that! We would probably do LF chickens, so if we had extras, we could always put them in the freezer. I have a cochin bantam rooster that was given to us as a chick. He just started crowing this...
Hello all Iowans!! My family lives on an just over an acre of land in Eastern Iowa. We have been tossing around the idea of starting a small "hatchery" as a side business. I was looking for advice from anyone who does this, or knows someone who does? Also, what kinds of breeds ya'll think...
I'm so sorry for your loss. I too have lost silkies to a predator. But mine is always a mink. It only comes around about twice a year, and always seems to find a way in. I have yet to trap him/her. The first time was last summer, it got one silkie and three 10-12 week old babies we'd...
I was wondering what the dimensions are for your coop? We are looking to build a new coop so we can have silkies, but don't want another big one like for our LF hens. The kids and I really like your design!
I'm new to this tread, and to silkies. No one around here has them, unless you order. I got lucky enough to have a relative fine me 4. 1 partridge, 1 white, 1 blue and 1 splash. Unfortunately a mink got the splash early on. But my partridge has hatched 3 times in a year all with 85%...