Illinois...

[BReeder!]

https://valleyhatchery.com/all-live-poultry/

I thought this was interesting. They are a bit pricier than some others, but have a minimum as low as 3 chicks.

 

[BReeder!]

My lovely drake popped out after escorting his ladies to the feeder inside for some fresh food I just put in it. He stands watch outside the pop door while they eat inside.

 

[Molpet]

https://valleyhatchery.com/all-live-poultry/

I thought this was interesting. They are a bit pricier than some others, but have a minimum as low as 3 chicks.

High shipping

 

[Justso]

I had a visitor last night. Didn't get in but he was checking out the run.
Maybe fox?
View attachment 2494535View attachment 2494536

Coyote.
Fox prints are about as large as a cat print

 

[Justso]

https://valleyhatchery.com/all-live-poultry/

I thought this was interesting. They are a bit pricier than some others, but have a minimum as low as 3 chicks.

Nice selection!

 

[Faraday40]

I had my 1st scare with an egg-bound hen last Sunday. I wanted to share my experience in case anyone else sees this.

Sunday morning, our little black serama was not interested in some eggshell crumbles. (Normally chickens attack any treats given, and that was the only unusual symptom.)

Sunday after dinner, DD came running to me with the very sick serama. Lethargic, not walking, using wings slightly to balance, closing eyes sometimes, vent pulsing/pushing, moments of panting, no interest in food/drink. At first I thought it was vent prolapse, but she pulled everything back in to normal. Eyes were clear, no respiratory noises, comb was normal red color.

I gave her a 20 min warm Epsom salt soak, wrapped her towel, put her in a temporary ICU with a heating pad under the storage tote. I also gave her a dusting for mites, and forced some electrolytes. No improvement Sunday night and I surely thought she'd be dead by morning.

I woke up around 4:30am and checked on her. Surprised and thankful she was alive! She even walked out of her towel to eat/drink a tiny bit. I went back to bed and returned at 7:30am to give her another Epsom salt soak. (towel, heating pad, etc) She had more energy and did not stay wrapped in the towel. About 10 min later, DD walked by her cage and noticed there was yolk all over her feet & shavings. Not sure if it came out as a soft egg (then broke/eaten) or if egg burst inside. She was acting normally. Because the two house hens are very bonded and were seriously stressed, we put them back together about 8 hours after the egg. Both were pacing and screaming for each other.

As a preventative, all the chickens got dusted for mites and given dewormer on Monday - even the 2 house chickens who have never been outside.

So far, I got 2 eggs from their cage, but unsure who made them. The little black hen is not really eating calcium which worries me. In my panicked grief on Sunday when I thought she was dying, I quickly gathered all the serama eggs from the week and put them in the incubator. Oops. Maybe it was an over-reaction.....

I'm thankful she survived. It was so scary how quickly she declined. I don't know if it will happen again. I believe some hens can have a predisposition for it. That's why I wish she would eat more calcium. We'll definitely be watching her more closely.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

My CX are not bad layers. I have 3 and get about 12 eggs a week. Including monsters like this one. My biggest egg yet by 2 grams.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Also I think my australorp comet mix is laying. This is astounding because she in only 17 weeks ish. She is also gorgeous but hard to get pics of. She is bottom of the pecking order and I have not been able to get close, she runs constantly. I wish the raccoon didn't take my little cockerel, he was even better.

 

[Faraday40]

My flock is also picking up production. Today I got:
2 Leghorns eggs ( No surprise there. They've been laying all winter.)
Bantams: 2 serama & 1 silkie eggs (My adorable "useless chickens")
and 3 Orpington eggs



Edit to add: In total, I have 2 Leghorns, 3 seramas, 1 silkie, and 5 Orpingtons laying. My poor Sebright and Spitzhauben are molting and looking pathetic.

 

[SnootyHen]

I'm getting no more than 4 a day but most are 2-3. A few zero egg days (but not too many). I have 6 layers, 1 freeloader the same age as them and the 5 babies are almost 4 months now. 2 of my layers haven't laid since November 30th. 1 has been molting badly and is almost done. The other didn't seem to be molting much, just a little but they all were a little. But she's the one who had her tail feathers pecked off a couple of weeks ago (which still doesn't explain no laying for weeks before, but...) Pretty sure those babies are going to stay laying before my freeloading bully Wanda Beth. We go through a dozen eggs a day here easily, so Target is getting way too much of my egg money for someone with a dozen chickens.