IIRC, they also need to do a partial or full molt as well. My RIR's are the deep mahogany, and take longer than 20 weeks (5months) to lay. They will do a partial molt, then lay after their feathers grow back. They are very prolific layers!
That is why I do not keep chickens as pets. They are for eggs only. I had a roo try to dominate, but a nice fat stick convinced him otherwise. This was years ago.
My current flock does come to the fence and do call for me to throw food. But, when I go into the pen, they scatter. I have 3...
How tall is the fence? I had to make mine 8 feet tall. That stopped the coyotes. The coons climbed the fence and killed two of my birds. An electric fence at 4 feet stopped that issue.
Sounds like a coon to me. I had that issue until I added an electric fence. I'm still trying to catch that coon. It's the size of a medium sized dog. Once I do catch it, it will be shot.
One day she was fine, next day, could not stand. She would just flop, and then stay on her back. Never seen that before, and none of the others are showing any illness.
Any ideas?
She was eating normally the day before, no discharges, no sour crop, etc.
Thanks!
Anything that gets caught in the trap I am using, gets shot. I have killed 4 coons in as many days, last year. Got a fair share of possums and one skunk.
I have been baiting a trap, and nothing goes in. A coyote will not fit, but a fox should, and big coons do also.
There is an eagle sanctuary about 40 miles east of here.
Thanks for the info!
I live just west of Greenville, TX.
I am now down to just one RIR hen. It all started about a month ago...I bought two younger RIR hens and one Golden Silkie
A week ago, I found what was left of my silkie. At that point I cut back the elm tree that was touching the top of the coop.
I added flashing around all the trees last...
Hi,
I have a 15 week old Buff Orphington pullet that has matted eyes with what apper to be an eye discharge that smells like a wet dog.
She does eat and drink, and her poop is normal. I used a warm, wet paper towel to soak and wipe her eyes.
Breating is normal, and no noises. She does...
Go with the .22. I have a Marlin .22 semi auto that uses .22LR. I like the .22LR because you can use .22LR hollow points. This gun was bought in 1982 when I was in High School. I paid $70 for it brand new a K-Mart.
A pellet gun can be more accurate than a BB gun.
I lost 5 last night, it was as if they never existed.
I do know that hawks tend to leave a mess of feathers. Coyotes and foxes do not. I do not know about eagles though. We have them about 25 miles southest of us.