Arkansas folks speak up.........

[Puddin Fluff]

Brown eggs are hard to candle if you don't have a super powerful light. Some folks buy a powerful LED flashlight that does the trick. I just use the wait and see method on the really dark ones.

Hawks are a predator of opportunity. They don't seem to bother my chickens unless the are super hungry. I think they prefer to have something they can carry off. Several years ago we saw one right after it had killed one of our sex-links. It didn't even get a chance for a bite. It was sitting on the body in the field and we ran it off. The chicken didn't even have blood anywhere. It was pretty amazing. I think the concussion of the hit and claws must have killed her but she wasn't bleeding anywhere. After that the chickens stayed in the run and only free range when we are outside to observe. We have a family of hawks that stay in our area.

As for your singleton, if you brood some babies, you might get her in with the younger group but getting her into the crowd of the older ones might be a challenge. Most likely she thinks of you as Mama or the Alpha now since you have been protecting her.

 

[RetiredRon]

Brown eggs are hard to candle if you don't have a super powerful light.  Some folks buy a powerful LED flashlight that does the trick.  I just use the wait and see method on the really dark ones.

Hawks are a predator of opportunity.  They don't seem to bother my chickens unless the are super hungry.  I think they prefer to have something they can carry off.  Several years ago we saw one right after it had killed one of our sex-links.  It didn't even get a chance for a bite.  It was sitting on the body in the field and we ran it off.  The chicken didn't even have blood anywhere.  It was pretty amazing.  I think the concussion of the hit and claws must have killed her but she wasn't bleeding anywhere.  After that the chickens stayed in the run and only free range when we are outside to observe.  We have a family of hawks that stay in our area.

As for your singleton, if you brood some babies, you might get her in with the younger group but getting her into the crowd of the older ones might be a challenge.  Most likely she thinks of you as Mama or the Alpha now since you have been protecting her.

My cats are getting jealous of her too. I've created a problem with her. Babe, as I call her, prefers inside now, so I have to convince her to go outside. I have to stay out with her so she will scatch.. right now I'm in the middle of my front yard so I can watch her... I looked up and she is pecking at the sliding glass door to go in.
I'm hoping her mother instinct kicks in in a month or so...

 

[RetiredRon]

I'll have to try the led.

 

[RetiredRon]

I have been told to get an owl statue to help with the hawks... if my own dog wasn't a roamer, I hear he would help.. alas, he is on a chain when he is outside till I dog proof my fence.
The chickens and turkeys are a joy to watch out here...

 

[RetiredRon]

By the way, I have a bared rock cockrell. My cousin was saying his rooster was a dominicker. When I looked at it.. I'm thinking bared rock.. I looked up the difference and sure enough, his is a barred rock.
When I studied them, it really makes me want to raise dominickers. It seems they are a great all around bird.
Anyone know where I can get some fertilized eggs or pullets in the central AR area?

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Everyone is tucking in with expectations of rain!

 

[Free Spirit]

Hi everyone. I'm just popping in to introduce myself and subscribe to this thread.

I live in Pea Ridge, AR. Besides my hubby, I have 3 cats, 4 cochin bantum pullets, 3 maran pullets, 3 Pekin ducks, 1 Saxony duck, 1 Saxony Drake, 2 Chinese geese.

Gearing up for more rain - oh goody

.

 

[MrsEskew]

Hello and welcome. It sounds like you have an awesome flock! I am not looking forward to more rain coming. They way everyone talks we are gonna get hit with some severe stuff. I like a little rain but after a whole lot of it, it makes my chicken run pretty nasty. Yuck.

 

[Free Spirit]

Hello and welcome.

It sounds like you have an awesome flock! I am not looking forward to more rain coming. They way everyone talks we are gonna get hit with some severe stuff. I like a little rain but after a whole lot of it, it makes my chicken run pretty nasty. Yuck.

Thank you.

My 5 acre property is one perpetual slope... not a flat spot to be found. Lucky for me the rain just all flows down hill. But it still can make for a slippery mess when going out to tend to the birds. I just wish the weather would make up it's mind what season it wants to be. My fruit trees are actually budding again and my asparagus is sprouting. I haven't checked on them after these last two mornings of frost.

 

[MrsEskew]

Yeah it would be nice if it would stay one season for a while. My land is flat and my birds don't get to free range much because of dogs and such. I don't think I've ever been to Pea Ridge. I live in Jackson county close to Newport.