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  1. Vicker

    How to keep my hens cool in the hot summer

    Mine don't care to stand in a pool. They'll gather around a flat storage lid that has a bag of ice on it and will lay on damp ground in the shade. I've had some that enjoyed a mister and others that were afraid of it. I give frozen fruits and vegetables.
  2. Vicker

    Comment by 'Vicker' in article 'How To Tame Chickens from the Start'

    I've learned that the tamest ones are the ones that get picked off by predators, so I no longer set out to make lap chickens. Funny that Black Australorps are on the list, because mine are the least friendly I've ever had. Even more funny is what's going on in the brooder now. We just got...
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  3. Vicker

    Coyote attack in the middle of the day.

    The only daytime coyote we've experienced had something wrong with it, maybe rabies. It wasn't afraid of us. My husband dispatched it. We've had night-time raids on chickens and sheep. After seeing some eat a sheep that was still alive, we now shoot on sight. Portable electric fence netting is...
  4. Vicker

    When do you start adding to your flock- contingency plan

    Gosh. I should have had a plan🤣. I've been "winging it" for 20 years. I get baby chick fever every Spring. Yes, there have been unintended losses, and I did cull some older hens to manage flock size. Mostly, I add a few chicks in the spring and cull the roosters. Since I've been blessed with...
  5. Vicker

    Help! What do I feed my mixed flock??!

    Nutrena Nature Wise All Flock is more economical than Kalbach, although I do like Kalmbach. I offer a tray of oyster shell beside the feeder. I don't trust Purena after so many of us had chickens that stopped laying a couple years back. Egg production resumed after switching brands.
  6. Vicker

    Mixed Flock. Rehomed Chickens.

    I don't give medicated feed at all. And mine are on the small Naturewise all-flock pellets probably by one month, especially if the hen is raising them. It has 20% protein and probiotics. They free range, so they're eating all kinds of stuff besides chick starter when they're just a few days...
  7. Vicker

    If you could communicate a thought to your chickens, what would it be?

    I have your best interest at heart. Let me do what I need to do when I need to do it.
  8. Vicker

    Chicken etiquette?

    When I first got chickens, many moons ago, I loved taming them enough for them to choose to jump on me or allow me to pick them up any time. What I've observed over the years is that the tamest ones were the ones that predators had no problem catching, as well. The ones that squat when you reach...
  9. Vicker

    Is two roos one too many for 13 hens??

    I'm leaning toward it being one too many, but time will tell. Just last month, my #2 rooster made the decision for me after 1-1/2 years with 19 hens. His hormones took over and just created too much stress for the flock. It really can depend on the roosters. Sometimes the behavior of even a...
  10. Vicker

    9 week old roosters becoming mean to other 9 week old hens

    I don't know that it's just a male thing. It's most often my hens that do things like this. Pecking order behavior can appear brutal.
  11. Vicker

    REPOST. Can someone please help me figure out if it’s a young hen or rooster?

    He's either a late bloomer or isn't really 8 months old. He also may not be crowing because he's adjusting to his new home. He might not feel like it's his territory yet.
  12. Vicker

    How do you ferment chicken feed? Is it worth it?

    My knuckleheads won't eat anything special that I make an effort to provide. Whole grain mixes? Pick out what we like and leave the rest. Fermented grains? Not feeling it. Sprouted grains? Meh. Chopped fresh veg? Take it or leave it. Mostly leave it. They're satisfied with what they forage and...
  13. Vicker

    Comment by 'Vicker' in article 'Feeding Your Chickens Oyster Shells'

    Many plant foods have nutritional content that is not absorbed well when digested by animals, including humans. Dark leafy greens that are high in oxalates block calcium absorption. When my goose broke his wing, I took him to an avian vet. She advised me to sprinkle extra calcium powder on his...
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  14. Vicker

    Aggressive 10 week old EE

    His tail feathers in the side shot on the roost clinched my decision that it's a boy.
  15. Vicker

    OMG everybody's Broody!

    Oh those springtime hormones! They do seem to encourage each other to go broody. My broody breaker is a garden wagon made of expandable wire. My husband built a dome top to cover it. If they are really stubborn, I dunk their hot bellies and bottoms in cool water.
  16. Vicker

    They're not eating any of the feed I buy now

    I wouldn't land on the Purina, based on past experience. That's what I used to use when my birds stopped laying. Many others reported the same thing. Maybe Purina (and Dumor) have reverted their formula, but I won't go back. I've been feeding Nutrena All-Flock with great results. Kalmbach is...
  17. Vicker

    Comparing the Maticoopx and the Manna Pro Nurture Right 360

    Thanks for sharing. I bought an incubator after much research. I wanted one without a humidity alarm. Unfortunately, the IncuView All-in-One that I bought had three major issues that contributed to a failed hatch. Customer service was great, but now I'm gun shy on getting something else.
  18. Vicker

    Im not sure what it is?

    I don't know the breed. I like the little fluff on top of his head.
  19. Vicker

    New to this...

    Howdy from Texas!
  20. Vicker

    Hello there

    Hello!
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