MIght be a tough sell. (We moved out to the county to get away from a HOA ) As much as I love having chickens, I do have to concede the noise and predator magnet points.
This might be of interest...
They are not just pestering. They are attacking, killing, eating.
Lots of people seem to think that this is very unusual raven behavior, but none the less, it is what our local ones are doing. I have been observing them closely, and have just had to put my girls in lock-down to try and break...
ok, so a week after the two chicks hatched out mama gave up sitting and started pecking the remaining eggs (caught her pecking open one and offering the yolk to the two chicks.
So I took the remaining eggs and put them under another girl who was sitting in a different location.
At the time, I...
Three shetland, one Gotland/Finn/Shetland and one Romney/Icelandic/CVM
Their fleeces are all unique, but mostly fall into the "medium wool" category for fineness. I like having a variety of natural colors and differenet textures to play with
I have five sheep and process all their wool. I spin, knit and dabble in weaving.
Right now I'm mostly getting stuff together for "fiber day" at a local farmers market- yarn and hats mostly.
@aart I haven't lifted up mama other than to move her and the brood to the nursery on Sunday. I only noticed the issue because the egg was out from underneath her. Agree that lifting a hen to check is not a good idea.
The reason I was concerned that the chick was stuck was it seemed that the shell membrane was starting to dry out and harden. I used a fine mist of water to make it pliable and gently helped the chick get free. I know that interfering is a dicey proposition, but it appears that it worked out...
Chickie update: One chick had been trying to get hatched all day sunday- by the evening I was getting concerned that she wasn't going to make it, so I helped out. I was initially a little concerned that mama wouldn't take her back, but it seems that all is well. Now I have two very fluffy and...
Still just the one chick this morning, but other eggs are peeping (forgot to count eggs, but probably about 10 total?). Moved momma/chick/eggs to nursery and placed chick food and water close. She was pretty put out while the move was in progress, but I think everyone made it ok, and she's...
Hi there-
New member from WA state. Have had chickens since 2010, but only recently have had girls intent on hatching out chicks (are speckled sussex always this way?)
Anyway, we've got sheep and 14 hens of various breeds, ranging in age from about 1 to probably 6 years (?)+ 1 guinea and two...
ok, she's in a shelf of a repurposed bookcase (on it's side), up off the ground. I've placed a chick waterer in the cubbie with her, but no food (as it might attract undesirable elements). I'll check again in the morning. I've got "the nursery" all set up and ready for her, but would hate to...
Hi there-
I'm new on the forum. I have a speckled sussex girl who has been sitting on eggs in our coop for a while now. I've been checking on her twice a day to see if anyone has hatched out. Well, finally tonight I saw the first of her brood- pretty sure that there is only one hatched out at...