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I have one four-year-old Rhode Island Red, the remaining hen from my original flock that I raised from chicks. Last October we added four new hens who are about 9 months old and who are laying well. Everyone is friendly. My RIR has always been a very reliable layer but she has not laid an egg...

Brought home these four beauties last weekend. They are 10 week old “Ameraucanas”. All have small, pale combs. The black one has the largest but still looks like a single row of tissue. They all look like girls to my very untrained eye. Other opinions? Many thanks.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote and asked about adding new birds to my existing flock. At that time we had lost 2 of 4 hens and I was wondering about adding additional pullets. Everyone was in agreement that it was better to do it sooner rather than later so three days ago, we brought home four...

We raised four chicks in spring 2020 and all have happily co-existed. In the last month we have lost our two Buff Orpingtons leaving a RR and Australorp. I am uncertain whether to add additional chickens at this time. From what I've read, integration can be a lengthy process and may be...

I have four chickens, all 2 years old and all raised together since they were chicks. They have lived peacably together until this week when I noticed some comb damage on one of my Buff Orps. Since then I have observed the other three chickens ganging up on her, pecking and forcing her to the...

One of our Buff Orps has a broken beak. The break is near the top of the beak, not the tip. It looks like a piece has cracked but is still attached. I have an appointment with an avian vet first thing in the morning. I fed her a scrambled egg which she ate, and she has access to water and...

I would appreciate any advice on this topic. About a month ago, I discovered a shell-less egg in our nest box. We have four hens, but I am not sure which one laid this egg. There has always been one hen who lays eggs with thinner shells than the rest but again, I have not determined which...

I have a 15 month old Buff Orpington who has problems with roosting. She is a very large bird and has always been exceedingly clumsy, tripping and falling over, for instance. We have two roosting bars in our coop and in the past she has typically slept on the top roast but most mornings she is...

I could use some advice on closing up my coop now that cold weather is setting in. I understand that the goal is to prevent drafts while providing plenty of ventilation to reduce moisture inside the coop. I am located in Central Virginia where the temps are currently in the 70s during the day...

I have four hens (2 Buff Orps, 1 Black A'lorp, 1 RIR) who are 13 weeks old. They were born late in the season (May 31) so they won't reach laying age until October so I am prepared that they may not lay at all until next spring. We live in Central Virginia. Do I need to offer oyster shell...

Before I re-home this beauty, making sure the consensus is that he's a Cockerel. 13-weeks old today.

I purchased this sexed chick at 1 week old. She was billed as an Ameraucana but I know she's likely not, more likely an Easter Egger. I've had little doubt of her gender until this week (she's 9 weeks old) when her comb started to change. No wattles. She is one of the more dominant chicks. Would...

We have two Black Australorp chicks that are 5 weeks old exactly. These were sexed chicks from a reputable breeder in our area, all supposedly pullets. They are both so similar in appearance we have had trouble telling the two apart. They are the same size, same body shape, same leg...

We have six 4.5-week-old chicks, and it has been a peaceable kingdom until today. Our smallest, friendliest, most docile Buff Orpington, Goldie, suddenly started chasing and pecking our biggest, most confident Ameraucana, Dawn (who I was sure was going to be top hen). We've carefully looked...

I have read every thread and article on ventilation available on this website, paying particular attention to the one by @patandchickens. I could use some specific advice on the approximately 25 square foot coop we are currently building to house 6 chickens. The coop will attach to a fully...

New chicken enthusiasts here, had hoped to start our adventure with older chicks/pullets but due to scarcity this year it looks like we will be raising chicks. The current plan is to pick them up next weekend when they will be 5-6 days old. It is early June in Central Virginia where daytime...

We have just finished building our enclosed run and are getting ready to get our first chickens next week. We decided to go with pullets for our first experience and bypass chick rearing until we are more familiar with the process. This late in the season it is difficult to find coop-ready...

New chicken enthusiast, currently building run and preparing coop and I'm looking for some advice. I've read dozens of posts on the subject of providing roosts in a small coop but I have a very specific question I'm hoping someone will tackle. We can easily place two roosts at about 6 inches...