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PEKIN DUCKS SUMMARY Lots of lessons learned this spring/summer about raising Pekin Ducks. 1) Fifty square foot brooder is OK for the first week for 10 ducks. After that the mess of spilled water and poop is very difficult to keep up with. Eventually resorted to a modified deep litter...

My free run is being taken over by golden rod. Originally it was all grass, clover and alfalfa. Now 1/3 is goldenrod. The chickens love it for day time shelter from the sun but don't eat it. Planning to get 10 Pekin Ducks next spring. Will they eat Goldenrod? If not, would geese eat it?

I have a 10x40 yard free range that I have kept meat birds chickens in every summer. I tilled and planted alfalfa and clover 5 years ago. Now it is 50% grass, 25% clover, 25% various wild meadow weeds. I can raise 25 Grazers (Freedom Rangers) and they do well without destroying the habitat I...

I’m lucky that I still have a chicken coop and outdoor run. This guy came through about 7AM this morning. He was mostly interested in tearing down my bird feeders and eating sunflower seeds. Chicken was not on the menu today.

They have a bird called Berg's Grazer this spring at Berg's Hatchery in Manitoba It is supposed to be like a Cornish x in size and shape. But they grow slower and can be sent to free range. Any comments or experience with birds like that?

I am fencing a little over 1/8 acre (6400 sq feet)of old hay meadow to free range some meat birds. From Bergs hatchery in Manitoba, I plan to get 15 of their Bergs Grazers. They are Cornish X size but grow a bit more slowly. I hope the plot will be well grazed by the birds by the end of the...

Why are some of my hens losing feathers on their mid backs just in front of the tail. They look healthy and are laying lots of eggs. There are nine hens and one rooster cooped up for the winter in an 8x8 coop with an 8 foot roosting bar. I’ve watched for a while but have not seen the rooster...

Do eat eat more in the winter? It is -15C (5F) at night. The coop is insulted and early morning temps inside have been as low as -4C (25F) In the last two weeks the amount of food disappearing has substantially increased. TheY look healthy. Nine hens are averaging 7 eggs daily. No obvious...

I think a rooster has a sprain or possibly a break. 21 week old Buff Orp has a bad limp. Started one week ago. Suddenly, one afternoon, it did not want to walk. It can, but it limps badly on the right leg. I did not see the injury happen but I figure it flew into the wire of the chicken run and...

Hey, any of you Minnesota chicken keepers. I want to know what you do and how effective it is for wintering your birds. I live just north of International Falls, Minnesota. A month of nights going down to –35C (-30F) is normal for January. Occasionally we get –40. My coop is an 8x8 shed. The...

My twelve and a half week old Buff Orpington roosters are starting to crow loud and frequently. At least two are chasing hens and biting their back feathers. The problem with crowing is that I live with neighbours who may not appreciate the noise. I have 7 roosters and 9 pullets. The coop is 60...

How many days should I make grit available before letting my 3 1/2 week old BO's have treats? There will be no way to confirm they are all eating grit. Does this matter? What happens if a bird gets a grape or strawberry and hasn't had grit first? What is the best type of container to put grit...

My 7 day old Buff Orp chicks have started to spend a lot of time resting. The first 5 days they were busy running around in the brooder. Now they spend lots of time near or under the lamp lying down but with their heads up looking around. They look healthy but seem lazy compared to the first 5...

First time for chicks for me. One day old BO's arrive tomorrow. I have another temperature question about brooders. I have stabilized the temperature under the lamp at 95F. But it is just 70F at the edges. The brooder is oval 2feet x 4feet. Are the cooler edges a problem or will the chicks be...

My brooder temperature is not stable throughout the day. House style, pets and space force me to use an insulated shed to put the brooder in. There is no alternative. Trouble is, during the hot day the temperature under the red heat lamp soars to 105F. Late at night, it is down to 90F. I’ve...