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I have a young roo (about 5-6 months, uncertain as he was rescued from a public trail) who crows easily 100 times every morning. This is my first time with a rooster, but I read they crow on average 10-20 times a day. He also crows off and on during the day and again quite a bit in the evening...

Hi there! We have started up a (as of now unofficial) small sanctuary on our land. We started off with some chickens since we already have experience with them. However, as soon as we got the first five hens integrated and happy, an abandoned roo was found and we brought him here. He is...

I have A 3-yo light Brahma who just quit roosting at night. She wants to sleep on the coop floor. At first, I picked her up and put her on the roost, but she clearly does not want to go up. I treated her recently for scaly leg mites— could her feet still be uncomfortable? She is otherwise...

I’ve switched from free feeding to feeding twice a day, due to a mouse problem. They seem to be adapting just fine, but I read that now allowing them to free feed can affect egg production. They’re just starting to lay again after winter hiatus. Has anyone noticed this or should they lay as...

I'm looking for advice on switching from free feeding to an AM feed only. I'm mainly considering this due to an ongoing mouse problem. How do you know how much to give, and can my flock thrive like this? I have nine hens ranging from a little silver spangled hamburg to some large brahmas.

Good morning. I have two issues with my young pullets that I have never experienced with my older flock. One, a brand new layer is laying in the bushes instead of in the nesting box. The older gals are not laying right now due to molting, with one exception. I also have a fake egg in the nesting...

My silver spangled hamburg has just had her comb fill out at 5 months. The front edges are black, while the rest of the comb is bright red. Is this always a sign of heart disease? I'll try to get a photo later.

My 14-week old silver spangled hamburg appears to have just a flat space where her comb should be. Mo other two babies are starting have their combs oink up, but hers is very flat and lacks any pigment really. I will try to get a pic to attach later today, but has anyone ever seen something like...

Hello. I have three 14-week old pullets who are pretty much integrated into my flock of six 2-yo hens EXCEPT for at night. They tried to join them for a few days, but my lowest-ranking hen was bullying them. Now I go down every evening to find them roosting on top of their baby coop so I...

I have a flock of six 2-year-old hens and am raising three pullets who are almost 12 weeks. The babies have a small coop and run within the main run and sleep separately. They have been ranging with the big girls for a week or so, and all has been fine. The hen who is lowest in pecking order...

Hi! I have a flock of six two-year-old hens and now I have four 5-week old chicks, one of whom is a roo. Right now, the babies are in a small coop/run within the main run during the day, while the big ladies range or are occasionally also in the run. I have been doing this for 1.5 weeks or so. I...

I've got two Olive Eggers that have single combs and are currently mostly black. According the the hatchery they are americauna x copper Marans. Anyone have this combination?

My flock basically looks and acts well. However, there are a couple of concerns. Several of my hens (all are ~16 months old) have very ragged tail feathers and one has been molting/ experiencing feather loss on her chest only for a couple months. A different one had watery diarrhea off and on...

We have a flock of six one-year-old hens, having recently lost one to sour crop. We would like to round our flock out to 8, but I have a couple questions. 1) is there any reason to not raise just two babies? I have a secure indoor brooder set-up. 2) at 6-7 weeks, I plan to move them into a...

Can anyone recommend hatcheries in the western US? Seems like they are mostly on the east coast and I just feel awful about shipping chicks that far. We are in Santa Fe, NM.

A friend gave me some fertile eggs for my broody gal. She mentioned that when the chicks hatch, if you flip them on their back, pullets will curl up their legs and cockerels will splay their legs wide. Now, this is funny and typical of so many species, but is there any basis in fact?

My white Plymouth rock, Sweet Dee, has gone broody four times in a couple months. We were able to procure some fertile eggs this time, so she is currently sitting on them. Important things to know? I know we should check in 25 days. I worry about her eating and drinking enough, especially with...

Lately, several of my girls have had poo crusted up in their fluffy butt area. Their vents look fine. I’ve been trimming the poo off, but I’m wondering what could be causing it? Could I be giving them too many veggies causing runny poo? They are laying well and they always have a clean coop.

My ladies are 16 weeks today. I’m going to open access to their nesting boxes next week and put in some fake eggs, but I know it might be a while, especially since the days are getting shorter and shorter. Should I start them on layer feed soon, or wait until someone lays an egg? I understand...

I currently have sand in my coop and have been experimenting with deep littler in my run. All based on advice I’ve received here, I should mention. I have alfalfa hay and pine pellets to “start” my deep litter. I know many people say NOT to do deep litter in the run, but my plain dirt run was...