They lay when they're ready- it's very individual. My bantam wasn't supposed to lay for 9 mos but she started at 6 1/2. My buff orpington was supposed to start at 7 but waited until 10. It's hard to believe but eventually it will happen.
I have placed the decoy eggs back in the coop. They currently lay their eggs under the porch (which I just discovered today). They started doing that when three of them got broody at once and there was no room in the coop. Their eggs have always been perfect and even the shell remnants I did...
I'm on day 3 of a brooding cochin and I worry that she's not eating or drinking enough. I would be sick if she died. She's one of my favorite birds. I put some banana and grapes by her nest today. When I pick her up now she's pretty limp- not fighting me at all. Should I be forcing her out...
Thank you all for your prompt responses. I live in Portland and am not allowed to have a roo. If I get fertilized eggs for her to hatch what will I do with the baby quails, ducks, turkeys, peacocks, turtles, etc.? And where do I find fertilized eggs? If it means her mood will improve then by...
My 22-week old red cochin has been laying nearly daily for about 3 weeks. Now she sits on her egg almost all day and today, even after I took the egg from her, she kept returning to the coop to sit in her empty nest. She barely ate at all. She's also making screeching noises at me when I open...
Laying schedules must be highly individualized because my littlest pullet- a red cochin was the first of my flock to lay at about 19 weeks. My other red cochin still hasn't laid after about 22 weeks. I figure each will lay when she's ready.
I handled my chicks alot as babies. I sang to them, picked them up every day, and let them climb, sleep and poop all over me. Now they are four to six weeks old and while they perk up at the sound of my voice they have chicken things to do. However they are not afraid of people much and...
I have five chicks- 3 are about the same age (a little over 3 weeks). One of my red cochin bantam chicks is so passive. S(he) doesn't fly up to the side of the nursery when I remove the top when all of the others do.
S(he) really only "socializes" with the other red cochin bantam chick...
Hi Brian. Deciding on a coop design is a very personal and fun decision. The sky is the limit as far as shape and features. Have fun looking though books and at web sites to find what will meet your needs. I am currently planning and building my first coop and it's so much fun! I started...
Okay, one of the chicks is pretty rambunctious and even aggressive towards all of the other chicks (even the one that is 3 time it's size). I've been told by one individual that future roosters may exhibit these traits. My other one is so sweet and docile. I will keep you posted.
I'm thinking 1 hr of free ranging everyday is more reasonable for my circumstances. I work full-time and I have some possums and raccoons in my hood so they will not be free-ranging without supervision.
I started giving worms to my babies when they were less than a week old and you'd think I gave them drugs! I give them to them maybe once daily so it's a huge treat and they go wild for them! Like a good mother hen I feed them by hand. It's been a week since I started this and they seem happy...