I'm a bit north of you, in Collin County. At present I have 7 laying hens of various types, and 14 pullets that will soon be laying. The pullets are Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, and Golden- and Silver-Laced Wyandottes. Never had the Sussex before, but they are the sweetest, most personable...
I have a friend who has purebred show rabbits (don't know what kinds, except the Lionheads) and she does that frozen ice jugs for them. She sometimes finds some of her chickens snoozing alongside the jugs to keep cool! She had to put a lot of extras out summer 2011, because of the record...
Anyone in or near Collin County that will have Americaunas and/or EEs for sale come spring? Also thinking about getting a few Seabright Bantams (so beautiful), but I need to learn a little more about those. I fell in love with BB Reds, but learned too many don't survive after hatching. Open...
I've noticed most scratch grains are cracked corn & milo or maize. My chickens don't really seem to like them that much. In the summer, I feed my miniature horses a dry mix (no molasses or oil added) grain (I don't like pelleted feed for the horses--if they get into the feed room, which...
Really nice (I think I would have had to use hog-rings instead of lacing baling wire--I just don't have THAT much patience!) You've given me some great ideas on how to do mine!
I live north of Dallas, and my flock, too, has recently shown signs of fowl pox. I have been searching the threads here on Backyard Chickens, and have found a lot of great information! Never had this problem before, but this has been a banner year so far for mosquitos (been worrying about my...
I'm in Princeton, well, Branch, but it's an unincorporated area, and Princeton's the mailing address! We are about 12 miles east-southeast of McKinney. I have 1 rooster and 9 pullets that are 4 months old, and 14 pullets that are 2 months old, along with 6 miniature horses (soon to be 8, as...
Our two RIRs are Ruby and Rosy, but Ruby may soon be called dinner! She's very aggressive--to people! Always heard RIRs were nice tempered, but someone forgot to tell Ruby. My one Buff Orpington, Goldy, is gentle and sweet, and the as-yet-unnamed Silver-Laced Wyandottes (5) and Speckled Sussex...
When we get a great deal of rain (relatively speaking--this is Texas, so 3" at one time is a great deal for us), my horse barn floods. I use pelleted pine bedding, soaks up the water and expands QUICKLY, and breaks down in the compost much quicker than shavings! Works in the chicken coop, too...
My plans changed: I decided not to enlarge the pen in the backyard, which would have added about 200 SF to the pen, but instead, I am using the 6 10' chain link dog run panels to fence off a 16' width of my horses' dry lot. The space will be 16' x 73' for a sf total of 1168, much larger...
Excellent article, and much appreciated information! I have a batch of 7 week old mixed chicks (some are purebreds & some are barnyard mix--I love variety), and was thinking about letting them free range in my horse pasture a while each day. We have hawks in abundance and a few great horned owls...
I removed the wooden eggs immediately after I put her back on the right nest. I don't have facility to isolate her (yet--starting one TODAY).
I went out at noon today to check her, and one of the other hens was sitting on top of her, trying to move her out. I made the other hen leave the...
I have a hen who's been broody for a bit setting on wooden eggs. I got a dozen fertilized eggs from a friend, and she's been setting those.
For some reason, today she moved to another nest, with both wooden & unfertilized eggs. I suspect that when she got up to eat, one of the other hens got...
I can't imagine dealing with a recalcitrant bird of that size! I think my broody hens are pretty formidable! Lol.
But they ARE so beautiful! Worth the exercise in nesting season.
Wonderful photos! You are surrounded by lovely birds, domestic and wild!
Do you find the swans mean? I've always heard they are, but they are SOOO beautiful! Do your exercise you (running from them)?
Thanks for the good advice, y'all. I've been worrying myself over this! I don't have roosters, so the surprise of Brave Lady going broody, and my friend having hatching eggs at the right time, was great! I'm really looking forward to baby chicks again! (And ones I raised here, not bought...
One of my Cuckoo Marans ladies has decided she wants to hatch some eggs! First, she was on a couple of wooden eggs, but I was given a dozen fertilized ones by a friend, and she is now setting them.
They are due to hatch April 26th, and I am building a smaller broodpen w/a ground nestbox...
I have been having the same issue with one of six Cuckoo Marans hens that I have. She has been laying over a month, and has produced over 20 shell-less eggs. I've never seen this before (the outside dogs love them--most don't ever hit the ground when I toss to the dogs!) Most are pecked open...
Anyone know of any reputable breeders of Welsummer or Black Copper Marans? I would like to get some chicks or very young pullets (and 1 rooster) from someone local. I don't have the facilities or room to incubate eggs, and I want to makes sure these chickens are as tame as possible. Show...