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  1. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    Even with this crazy cold - I got 10 eggs thus far today! (7 were frozen, 3 frozen UNDER a hen!) Even though the sunshine is bright, I elected to lock my flock indoors today. Gave them two bags of spinach (which partially froze on the way to the coop) sprinkled about the litter to give them...
  2. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    :frow So sorry to have been away for a while - busy with indoor work (weaving). Our flock of Black Java's and Swedish Flower Hens are doing well. The SFH cockerels have developed nicely - have 2 to choose from for this spring's hatch. The Black Java cockerel is the boss though, and for some...
  3. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    In this house, we call that a "pocket omlette"! Just remember to let the pocket dry out - BEFORE putting your gloves back in there. BTDT...I had pocket omlette glove, ewwww!
  4. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    BReeder, Buns....We began a trio project in a very large outdoor enclosure (colony style). Constructed a basic Quonset hut out of a discarded trampoline metal base. 1/4" Hardware cloth along entire bottom, up sides to 4' high, then 2" wire along top - used plastic roofing for sides and...
  5. Life is Good!

    What predator just eats the head and a little more?

    :hugs So sorry for your losses. We too are being hit hard this season with predators. Have had chickens now for 10yrs on the same property, in the same coops (ok, we added another coop - chicken math!)...so it's not like this is a new scenario. We're in N. IL about 2 blocks from a river, in a...
  6. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    Molpet - Re: turkey troubles! As for when to process your turkeys for Thanksgiving - Check over on the meat bird section of the forums...I know I've seen this over there before (usually about this time). If memory is accurate, turkeys take a bit longer to rest than a chicken...maybe another...
  7. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    Pretty sure it was possum...earlier this fall we felled a very very small possum who was in this same coop. We have four coops, so I think it's partly design flaw on this one coop. The pop door is protected from view by the back of the barn - so I suspect I need to install better lighting in...
  8. Life is Good!

    discolored testicle in heritage mix... cause?

    Agreed! I do hope something like this doesn't show up in our flocks again!
  9. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    Stepping up to rant a bit...:rant...Please understand, it's been a rough night here... How do the predator's know EXACTLY which cockeral you're looking to keep? :he Possum attack tonight - lost the Swedish flower hen cockeral who looked most promising. Also lost three pullets, 1 Swedish, 2...
  10. Life is Good!

    discolored testicle in heritage mix... cause?

    Yes, I have seen this kind of thing before... Just last spring, we processed a very large, active alpha-rooster (who decided it would be ok to fight me over his hens?! Not so much....). And his were like this - off-color and kinda strange. We've processed many chickens (about 25-50/yr for...
  11. Life is Good!

    Are there seasons predators are more common??

    I've begun to gauge the upcoming seasonal changes by the predator pressure on our flock. We are semi-suburban (meaning housing creep has set in) and with it the predators are changing. All summer we have had red tail Hawks using our fields to hunt in, and to teach their chick to hunt also...
  12. Life is Good!

    Our Predator Story...

    Is it me, or are the predators getting larger and bolder? Dozen years ago, it was rare to see coyotes - now there are wolf/coyote mixes in the region that we can hear in the dead of winter. And I have trailcam photos of huge coyotes in our garden... Thinking an electric fence might be a good...
  13. Life is Good!

    Tired of This

    I sympathize with your aggravation and pain. This is our 9th fall with chickens - and the predators seem a bit more determined this year than in past. Thus far, it's all young critters, newly out on their own. I call that 'natural selection' - they select to be in my coop/run/yard, I select...
  14. Life is Good!

    Swedish Flower Hen Thread

    I don't think he looks grumpy, he's just having a really bad crest day! Can't do a thing to it....not mousse, not gel, not round brush.....
  15. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    One of two missing chicks was found! The other is still missing. With yesterday's heat, I do not hold out any hope for it. :hit But we still have way too many new chicks, so in a way, it's okay. Just kicking myself this morning. Chicks are going to be secured in their coop for at least...
  16. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    Sleepy here, two chicks missing from their first day outside with the bigger chicks. Spent a lot of time considering where they are. :fl Hoping to hear their cheeping when I get out into the coop.... :barnie
  17. Life is Good!

    Swedish Flower Hen Thread

    For we all know, it's vitally important to match one's beak with one's legs this season! You wouldn't want to be caught clashing now would you? But remember, white isn't allowed after Labor Day, so someone should get in with that cockerals and give him some self-tanning lotion! LOL
  18. Life is Good!

    Black Java layers N. IL

    Hard decisions have been made, too many broodies with too many chicks this spring....no more room in the coop! 1 yo - 2 yo Black Java layers available for $15 each. Origins are through Garfield Farm, LaFox and their annual Rare Breed show sales. Up to 6 hens available. Photos of individual...
  19. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    Anyone here interested in a purebred Black Java hen or two or three? Layers between 1 and 2 yrs old... Our 9 yo layer still lays every other day! Each hen averages 4 eggs/ week, year round. I took a good hard look in the coop last night and realized chicken math had struck! Too many...
  20. Life is Good!

    Illinois...

    Just a few of us donate eggs to be hatched at the Fair, so we can pretty much tell whose chicks are whose. You might have noticed the eggs are marked - date anticipated hatch, owners initials and a 'y' for yes, fertile. Last year someone hatched out ducks... this year were some quail...every...
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