We have four coops of birds, totaling about 35 that free-range during the day together, and all return to their own coops at night. They are all different ages. I try to put them out in the coops in two's or three's so they have a buddy. I lose any roosters who are too spunky. It is fun to...
All hatchaholics know the waiting game of hoping for more pullets than roos. But hatching is SO addicting! I guess it is worth the 50-50 risk, plus people are more likely to take baby chicks off your hands, and you get more skilled at guessing the sex at a younger age as time goes on.
I try to think of something that reminds me of the breed, like:
"China" -a porcelain d'Uccle
"Summer -Welsummer
"Olivia" -olive egger
"Brussel Sprout" -Belgian d'Uccle
"Frisbie" -frizzled cochin
"Lady Hat" -Polish
etc.
One thing that works for me is giving my new chicks a small container of fine, clean sand (I use reptile sand) to eat from the start. This has stopped the pasty bum problem, and they love it.
This is Grizzabella, our red runt frazzle. She is a year old, and our sweet survivor. She snuggles under her best friend, a Hamburg hen to keep warm during the winter. She inspires us to never give up. We don't mind that she doesn't lay eggs. Grizzy always brings a smile.
Okay, racoon in our chimney! Any experience with this? He is in the unused one that drops to our basement (no fireplace at the bottom). He has found a hole into the basement ceiling.
I hatched six Nankin babies from eggs off of ebay. They are adorable, petite, golden birds. My hens have black feathers in their tails. They look just like the Nankin Club pics, so I believe they are pure-bred. Hard to find, but very sweet.
Hi -- I am a hatchaholic. My husband's patience is wearing thin. I can't stop buying eggs!! Is there any help for me?? I do give most of the chicks away. I just love watching them hatch. Will I ever get tired of it??
I hatch button quail and they are the most adorable babies. No one can believe how small they are. I had an orphan button I didn't want to raise alone, so I put him with two newly hatched brassyback chicks. The three are great friends now, the button snuggles and climbs all over the big...