I ordered 4 non sexed Buff Orpington Exhibition Type chicks from Cackle Hatchery that are now 13 weeks old. I really only wanted 1-2 pullets and planned to rehome the rest. I could really use some help identifying the pullets from the cockerels. The website says they obtained their lines from...
Make sure your feed isn't very old and that they are eating primarily that. Has anything changed in their environment or diet since the pale yolks started? Even a change in feed brand? A lot of commercial feeds add things like marigold to darken the yolk so could affect the color you are seeing...
Yes, a good quality feed contains all the nutrition they need and in the correct proportions. Treats and table scraps, even high quality nutritious ones, can throw off the percentage of things like protein, calcium, phosphorus, etc if feed in large quantities. Rule of thumb is to make treats...
Thanks guys. I am aware that roosters are hard to place and what hatcheries do with most of the male chicks. And of course I would give this guy away for free to a good home but the problem with chickens (and pets) is it usually attracts people whom I'm trying to avoid selling to. Those who are...
My “pullet” speckled sussex from the feed store turned out to be a rooster. Figures as it was my favorite chick of the bunch. I can’t have roosters where I live so I need to rehome him but don’t want him going onto someone’s plate or just let loose out into a field to eat bugs until a predator...
My first hens were older pullets before I acquired them and were very flighty and scared of people so I assume they weren't handle much as chicks. Over time they came to learn that people = food and now they run over towards us anytime we open the back door. We even had one plucky gal who would...
I’m trying to come up with a good quail hutch design for a small group (4-6 quail in a 2.5ft x 6ft enclosure raised off the ground. I was thinking that 4ft could be for the run and making the bottom wire and slanted so poop will fall down and eggs will rollout for easy collection. The other 2ft...
I posted about this particular young chicken before and at the time opinons leaned towards roo. Checking in again to see what everyone thinks now.
And this last one cracks me up 😂
This has been going on for almost 2 months where I live. Like you, my biggest concern is for the animals who might receive substandard care by novices who aren’t really interested in taking care of them once they are no longer cute little chicks but still months away from producing eggs. The...
So far so good. Eating and drinking. Gets pushed aside a little by the other chicks when they all congregate around the feeder or waterer but not so bad that she can’t get what she needs.
Yes that does make things very difficult. Do you have a heating pad? I’ve seen people create the same effect as brooder plates with them if so. Here’s some pics I found with a quick google search
I’ve heard a little sugar water can help perk a chick up if you don’t have electrolytes or nutridrench on hand but I’ve never tried it myself. Do you have a heat source for it? Poor thing, sorry I don’t have much to suggest ☹️
Thanks, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the new one. If I didn’t have the others to compare it to I wouldn’t think anything was wrong. Just thought it was interesting more than anything and wondering if it has anything to do with differences in environment as opposed to anything genetic or...
I purchased 4 maran chicks a week ago. Unfortunately one of the chicks had crooked feet and something else wrong with it and died on the 2nd day despite my best efforts 😔
The man I purchased them from felt bad and offered me a replacement chick which I picked up tonight. He said it was from the...
I have this brooder plate and it has worked very well for the chicks I raised (now almost 6 weeks) and the new batch I got last week. Only downside I could see is the number of chicks that can still fit under it by 3 weeks or so. I've only had 4 with each group of chicks so I never had a problem...