Our run is 40 x 40 approximately. They have plenty of space. They don't get fruit/veg every day. Only once in awhile. If the weather is too yucky or windy to let them out I'll buy a bag of spinach or other dark leafy greens as I feel the grass they eat is just as important as their feed.
I meant to say I only have 9 hens, one passed last weekend 🙁 He and 5 of the hens are 1 year, the other 4 hens are 2 years. He does this both in the run and out free ranging. Maybe they are bored? I started a job off the farm last fall so they don't get out as much as they did. My hubby is home...
I'm feeding a layer crumble, 17% protein. I also supplement with veggie and fruit scraps as well as a mix of oats and flax seeds with their usual feed once a week. Is he not getting what he needs? I let them out in the yard once a day to forage for grass and bugs.
I have 10 hens now and one rooster. Recently I've noticed him picking on a few of the girls. He'll come up behind them and peck at their tail end and then walk away. We like having a rooster because we try and let them roam the yard as much as possible (and hopefully hatch our own eggs one day)...
Unfortunately my dear Marsha has passed away 😭 I went to check on her again just now and she was gone. Thank you for your responses and help. Hopefully this won't happen again to another hen but if it does, I'll be more prepared. ❤
Update: I tried soaking her again but she is so tired out and weak. Her breathing is labored and she was falling asleep in the bath. I didn't want to stress her too much so I brought her out and dried her. I then carefully felt for the egg again as I couldn't see it and some light yellow...
Hello all, I have a hen who is in her 2nd season of laying. She has an egg right at the exit of her vent but the poor thing can't pass it! I discovered it thus morning after noticing what I thought was a constipation problem was not resolved. I inspected very carefully with a lubed glove and...
Definitely a roo. That's what happened to both our batches from TSC, and they weren't even a straight run! We ended up with two this year, same early signs as yours with the pronounced comb.
Thank you! This is really helpful actually. I will try to pick him up and give him extra love when he gets feisty. I certainly will not resort to abusing him! I've never believed that sort of behavior is good for any creature. I will "comb" through the rooster section and keep an eye out for...
We just got a new batch of chicks this spring. One of our Asian Black chicks turned out to be a rooster. For a few months he has been a good rooster. We let the young ones out to range for the first time and he stayed with the older girls when they did their thing. He's never attacked my husband...
Fabio is the perfect name! We had 3 SF but two died on their 2nd day We named our girl Drama because she seems to panic over nothing but she is so sweet. Poor girl gets bullied sometimes and I have to help her. Our SF were supposed to be the straight run but the pullets turned up two roosters...
Thanks everyone! Texas Kiki I Googled what chicken poop should look like I just gave them too many grapes. Rookie mistake.
Dobie Lover we have 5 Amber White, one Cinnamon Queen, 3 Rhode Island Red (one is a rooster), 3 Asian Black (one is also a rooster) and one poor, lonely Salmon Faverolle...