Well, I'm reading this with interest wondering what could be done. . . We're lucky living in Vermont as we have a well and an endless supply of water we don't have to pay for. So, pretty much--in the summer--after the pond gets filled with pollen, cattails and the like-our ducks revert to just...
Our rooster died last year so we got baby chicks this year from our local Farmers Union. It's been 8 years since we had to raise our own without a mom to raise them herself. Anyway, we only got 10. We needed a few more because the 9 remaining ones we had are getting close to retirement age (We...
Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place. . . has anyone ever heard of raising roosters together? Is it possible? These three guys were all hatched together, with 5 other chicks, in May of this year. They all hang out together, free range together and roost on the same beam in the coop...
Yes-- I think there's a possibility she still feels needed, but in the past few days they are almost exclusively hanging out with the older ducks. Though, still.... There are moments you look outside and there she is right beside them. And, sigh....she went in the duck coop with them tonight...
Thanks--it is beautiful to watch. Well, tonight, I have to report that the "babies" went in the duck coop with the big ducks and Mama Skye went out to the nursery coop in the backyard and got in there and settled right in--all by herself. She had zero interest in joining the other chickens in...
We have a Blue Maran hen, Skye, who has hatched at least 4 broods for us. She's a wonderful mommy and loves taking care of chicks. On August 21st, she hatched four ducklings from our ducks (but, at the time, only one drake--a Black and White Swedish). She's been taking excellent care of them...
I be been sick and unable to go out to coop. When I went out this evening with my husband, I found two of my hens Losing feathers and looking awful. There are no bugs or moving things in them, but their feathers have a kind of white dust-like substance all over them. I really need help because...
I did find out that it is up to a month that the egg laid can still be fertile. So, guess there's a chance that Louise is sitting on only --one left--turkey. I have also learned that the reason she didn't lay too many eggs was because this was her first time and she's still young. But, we're...
Poor Louise. She gets off of the nest only a few minutes a day to take a dirt bath and nose around, but she has still managed to break two of her eggs. Actually, I think one of our sheep got in there and broke one. She has been so vigilant, though, I hate for her not to have a turkey...
Just an update---So, Louise
is staying on her nest all day now. She only has 3 eggs, but she seems to want to stay on them. We did get her an 18" tire and it does make a perfect nest!
If you have to move a hen, you should ONLY move her at night. You have to gently pick her up, get the eggs--put her in the new place, place the eggs under her--all in the dark. I've had to move a hen and her eggs before and was very successful doing it at night. However, I really don't recommend...
I will keep you posted; thanks. Someone suggested a tire for her nest. We got her one and she has put her feathers and straw in it. She has laid three more eggs. She doesn't stay on them all day, but goes back to nest in the afternoon and stays. She doesn't weigh too much -- maybe 20 lbs? We've...
I have a white broad breasted hen who has made a nest in her coop and has two eggs in it. She has taken all the feathers off of her chest and stomach and has some of those in her nest. We have a bronze broad breasted tom. I understand they are not able to mate naturally, but we did see them mate...
This one is supposed to be a Red Sex Link. We got her (?) at the same time as 6 others--but, she is half again bigger than the rest of them and the only one with developing wattles--which is what makes me wonder if it's a rooster instead of a hen?
Oh, I hope you're right!! I do so want to keep this one. We just love our rooster, King Arthur--and our only Speckled Sussex hen is Guenivere. We had a rooster from him earlier this year and kept him as he is gorgeous (probably a RIR was his mom)--so, we just can't have another rooster.
Anyone...
I'm pretty sure it's ALL Speckled Sussex. Our rooster is a p
speckled Sussex and we have just one Speckled Sussex hen. So this pullet/rooster? appears to have gotten hatched from our one and only SS hen. He looks exactly like his father down to the white on bottom of wings. But, if he is a...