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  1. ralleia

    Accidentally got some liquid medicine in the lungs

    I took two of our older hens to the vet for different undiagnosed issues today. The vet prescribed both a one-week course of antibiotics and painkiller to see if some of the symptoms would improve. Neither bird has anything acutely wrong at this point though. It's my first time administering...
  2. ralleia

    Source for standard silkies (non-bantam) in the U.S.?

    Is there somewhere to buy standard silkies in the U.S.? I haven't been able to find a source in my searches thus far.
  3. ralleia

    Chicks reared by hen v. brooded "artificially"

    Ever since we established our first batch of hens about 10 years ago, I have allowed a broody to rear all the chicks. We would order chicks to arrive around the time that a broody's eggs would hatch and then have her adopt the whole batch. It has worked out well and is significantly less work...
  4. ralleia

    Winter-only lean-to coop attached to permanent hoophouse?

    We have a 20' x 24' hoophouse that is used year-round. This summer I plan to install electricity and perhaps a frost-proof hydrant. Our old wooden coop needs to be retired so we need new housing. I plan to use a three-season mobile "hoop coop," and for winter only, a stationary coop. The...
  5. ralleia

    Managing old hens with a chicken-attached daughter

    We've had chickens ever since my daughter was born, which was about ten years ago. A few times we have raised some heavy standard breed cockerels to be processed into the freezer, but our daughter came to view the hens almost as "pets." I've wanted to process the old hens for a couple years...
  6. ralleia

    Monster egg....

    My seven-year-old found this in the nestboxes today and was so proud. No, I don't have small hands--my fingers span an octave plus one key. This monster egg weighs a full four ounces. I'd have to say that the hens are appreciating all the fresh mealworms we're growing, plus the fresh veggie...
  7. ralleia

    Uncooked bread dough?

    Having only ever made my own bread dough in the past, I didn't know what I was getting into when I agreed to buy a bag of the frozen stuff for my seven-year-old to make "bread bears." She lost interest, and when I got tired of seeing it in the freezer I moved it to the fridge, figuring it should...
  8. ralleia

    Those @#$*!&*#$!!! chickens! How to protect flower gardens?

    I LOVE to let my chickens free-range and get much entertainment by watching them scratch. However, I'd like them to *NOT* scratch an area of a few hundred square feet around the front walks, as they throw mulch everywhere and expose/damage my newly-planted bedding flowers. Fencing off the...
  9. ralleia

    Barred rock rooster is really sweet

    We have a barred rock roo that I spared from butchering day last fall because he exhibited exemplary chicken courage and intelligence (another story). He's always been protective of the hens and non-aggressive to the humans. Now that spring is here, I've find yummy treats in my garden--a...
  10. ralleia

    Paper wasps appear to be very bad this year

    Paper wasps have built multiple nests around my home and somewhere in the chicken coop. I'm having trouble using two of the three doors to my house and trouble going into the chicken coop. They appear to be mostly the imported European paper wasp (black & yellow, more aggressive than the...
  11. ralleia

    Hanger-on broody hen???

    I have two black australorps who have gone broody. Last night I tried unsuccessfully to move them to private quarters--they busted out of my makeshift arrangements and are now back on nestboxes--will try again today. The question I have relates to a THIRD black australorp. This one is often...
  12. ralleia

    UPDATE: Daughter flushed varmint out of the chicken coop tonight. Cat?

    or coon? We had to run to the grocery store tonight, and it was just starting to get dark and chickens were going in to the coop after free-ranging this afternoon. When we got home it was full dark and she went to lock up the coop while I unlocked and started to unload. She came running up to...
  13. ralleia

    Wasp spray, anyone?

    For the first time in seven years, I've killed three American paper wasps (thin-waist, black/dark-red-brown striping) in my chicken coop. I suppose they were trying to set up a nest, but I haven't found the nest yet. If one of the wasps I killed was the queen, the problem might be nipped in the...
  14. ralleia

    Best footing for use in temporary chicken run

    Our chicken coop is located a bit too far from the house and also down a hill that I have gotten tired of falling down in the deep snow and ice. We plan on building a new coop closer to the house either this summer or next and planting windbreak trees where the current coop is. In the interim...
  15. ralleia

    This forum is a dangerous place to hang out...

    I'm a veteran chicken owner, but new to the forum, having just joined yesterday. I've been posting like crazy, and now have begun to feel the first serious pangs of CHICK FEVER. I can feel it in my chest..like a fist around my heart... I already have FORTY-TWO CHICKENS!!! All happy and...
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