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Don't bother with an electric plucker if you're not going scald. The key to the electric plucker's performance is with the scalding. I think hand plucking dry is your best best unless the kosher suggestions allow for skinning. Dan

Quote: Debris in a compost can kill a chick/chicken If the compost pile is not managed properly, the food can rot and certain bacteria can convert the foodstuffs in a manner that it will contain the botullin toxin. If the chickens get in there and eat the foodstuffs with the toxin, they can...

It could be botulism just setting in. Do the chickens have access to compost piles? Dan

Congrats Tilly! Continue to keep us posted on her recovery. Sure hope it's a full one Dan

Don't start antibiotics unless you know what you are treating. It CAN hurt. It's everyone's responsibility to use anti-b drugs properly. Improper usage can increase the resistance of the germs to the drugs. This is how superbugs are created. Dan

Looks like Iowa chickens are having a rough go of it this year: 228M eggs recalled following salmonella outbreak WASHINGTON — An Iowa egg producer is recalling 228 million eggs after being linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

I'm so glad you finally got some help. Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel yet? As far as the test results..... Dan

Quote: Hey BillT, I have one suggestion for you. Please don't rely on those clips to hold the lights in place! Last year, a neighbor of mine had his coop burn down because he used the exact same lights. The clip slipped and the light fell down onto the litter and ignited. Those lights get...

I just locked everyone in the coop for the night. Dottie jumped up onto the high roost bar, rather than bedding down with the peeps in the broody box. I think that means it's really "official." Dan

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy : How Old Are the chicks? They are four weeks and one day old. I posted a question about 2 weeks ago asking how long broody hens care for their young. The answers I got ranged from 3-6 weeks. Dan

It's been a while since I updated this thread. There hasn't been much going on to really update. Dottie has been very faithful in caring for her 9 remaining peeps. That is until yesterday. I was inside reading a book and heard the peeps through the screen door alarm calling for their mommy...

Congrats Melissa! I'm waiting on the edge of my seat! What day are they sending people over to you? Dan

Thanks for the update Melissa. Take care of yourself and your family first. I hope someone will convince the state vet to take you seriously. Keep good records of your contacts with them. If this turns out to be Newcastles, then having the records of all you've done to try to mobilize the...

My broody hen hatched out some peeps last month, one of which had a leg problem. As best as I could determine, it was a slipped tendon because the hock joint moved forward and backward. It looked so painful. I found this website helpful for a wide variety of leg problems...

If anyone is friends with OP, could you please let us know if everything is ok? I'm pretty worried about this situation. Dan

Very Nice! Keep us posted! Dan

Thank you for those responses. I'll start to keep an eye out in the coming 2 weeks or so for signs that she's done being motherly. I also have some peeps in the brooder that I got from the ranch store to increase the diversity of my flock. Would it be correct to assume that when the broody...

I have a broody hen that hatched chicks about 3 weeks ago. I was wondering how long she will continue to protect and care for them before they are treated like just another member of the flock. Dan

Agreed. Drinking water + being held upside down = drool. Nothing to worry about. Happens all the time. I've even seen chickens drool when they aren't upside down. It just happens. Dan

This site might get you a bit closer to your answer: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/mbta/MBTAProtectedNonprotected.html Dan