California - Northern

[Ali707]

a friend posted this link on my facebook page this morning, it's kind of awfully adorable:
http://www.wimp.com/chickenpolice/

That is strangely entertaining and funny.

I'm so excited!!! I've been randomly putting some eggs from my chickens in the 'bator to see if any were fertile. I checked some of them last night, and they are developing!!

Looks like I might get some chicks from Princess Celestia and Melvin.

Princess Celestia???? As in My Little Ponies??

He is a handsome boy for sure.

It is exciting to hatch chicks from your own flock!

Makes you feel like a homesteader.

I will never get to feel like a homesteader because I can't keep my Roosters. Now I am probably moving to an even smaller patch of earth, but at least this one is mine.

 

[Ali707]

You know, I am tempted to keep only one type of each chicken I have and see if they all get along better. They aren't fighting or anything drastic, but they have their own "clicks". Each group sticks wit their own kind. They were all hatched and raised together. I find it interesting.

Anyone have any idea on how to make a chicken boot? My one Wheatens foot is still turned and it seems to be getting a little worse. If she had a brace of some kind with the toes wrapped around it I am thinking perhaps they would straighten gradually. She can't sit on the roost with the others so she sits in the poop board all by herself.

She is such a sweetie I would like to "fix" her if I can. Or at least try to make it better.

I was thinking Popsicle sticks and wound wrap maybe? I am not sure if they would stay on, but I am just brainstorming right now.....or at least brainmisting. I can't really call it a storm. I haven't had enough coffee for that.

 

[ronott1]

You know, I am tempted to keep only one type of each chicken I have and see if they all get along better. They aren't fighting or anything drastic, but they have their own "clicks". Each group sticks wit their own kind. They were all hatched and raised together. I find it interesting.

Anyone have any idea on how to make a chicken boot? My one Wheatens foot is still turned and it seems to be getting a little worse. If she had a brace of some kind with the toes wrapped around it I am thinking perhaps they would straighten gradually. She can't sit on the roost with the others so she sits in the poop board all by herself.

She is such a sweetie I would like to "fix" her if I can. Or at least try to make it better.

I was thinking Popsicle sticks and wound wrap maybe? I am not sure if they would stay on, but I am just brainstorming right now.....or at least brainmisting. I can't really call it a storm. I haven't had enough coffee for that.

You know, you might get rid of a lot of these behaviors by not letting them out of the coop for three days. That resets them and might just help with the click mentality.

Another idea would be to move one of the aggressive ones to a temporary cage for a couple of days. That would reset the pecking order. Another thing to try would be to add one or two more to the flock which would change the dynamics too.

And lastly, if nothing else works, pick the most aggressive one and give or sell her to someone else. Then the mean girl that is left will not have a friend to help her anymore.

 

[8machines]

I've finally started to get some blue eggs!! I can't wait for the dark layers to start.

I have two EE I am waiting for eggs. That's the only reason I have them. My white Plymouth rocks have started laying brown eggs. It's funny they lay brown when they are all white.

 

[8machines]

Well, thank goodness I was wrong about the "living" in the coop bit - it was just hiding from me there. I think. It departed the coop and my yard, tail held high in warning until it got to a spot it felt safe enough to lower its Stay Away flag whilst skuttling away.

Any other critter and I'd just bash the heck out of it with a two by four right there in the coop. When I first saw it IN the coop, I had turned on the light to make sure I could check on everybody. The skunk was standing on its hind feet, holding onto the bottommost tray of the roll-out nest unit. There was a broody banty hen in the nest just above that one, and she was WIDE awake, scrunched down so only her eyes and the top of her head was visible. She persists in setting there, even though the eggs roll away.....

My contractor friend reiterated his suggestion I buy a shotgun, especially for the new, not-yet-my property, which is in country visited by mountain lion, fox, coyote, bear and rattlesnakes.

Oh my, those are some very scary critters you have there. I think you ought to buy something to be safe.

 

[liz9910]

oops

 

[liz9910]

Quote:
Did you buy a new place? I must have missed something lol

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Will Marans pullet eggs get darker? One of my pullets are laying a pretty light egg for a BCM will it darken?

 

[chiqita]

How long has she been laying? After they get the hang of it so to speak they are as dark as they will ever be. After that they get lighter.

It only has to be a 4 or higher to be a marans. If it does not lay a 4 it is not considered a marans and I'd sell it. People usually are not happy with under 5 if you are selling eggs unless the girls have been laying all year.

 

[Nikon]

I'm not super familiar with the SOP for brahmas, but that is a darn nice looking pullet, especially from a hatchery. And I do agree, she'll be laying very soon!

Thanks! She is the sweetest chicken EVER! Likes to cuddle.