Yes it is true, but if we have a winter like two years ago , I'll be to busy shoveling to collect eggs! I will just keep 10 fresh pullets, plus the 7 older girls, that leaves room for 7-10 fresh pullets for the following year.By then the oldest girls will be 4. How long does chicken live for if not lost to predators?
WOW!!! Very impressive!!!My patient's vent looks about a thousand times better - the Prep H has shrunk the tissues, and the vent looks normal and pink. She'll be spending a few days in lockup, though, just to make sure things stay that way and to keep the others from pecking at her. Poor little muff-face.
The extra cockerels I'm hatching are destined for freezer camp unless one looks exceptionally cool, so that will cut back on my numbers. I may also be giving a couple of the pullets away to the kid who lives next door to my in-laws in our old apartment. He tried to raise four chicks last year, but made the mistake of putting them in a non-raccoon-proof pen (that house has a LOT of raccoons), so he lost them all. He has learned his lesson, and has built a miniature Fort Knox, but still doesn't have any birds. Alan is going to talk to him and see if he'd like a few of the newbies. My sister is also rapidly succumbing to Morehens. She has seven pullets and a cockerel (supposed to be eight pullets, but SURPRISE!) who aren't even of laying age yet, and she's considering more.
Check out our bee deck. Yes, the bees have their own deck, covered in Astroturf. They're stylin'. The ramp can be put up to complete the fence to keep curious animals and kids out. We seriously overdo things here.
I love my bucket feeders!!! Minimizes waste and I can put enough food in it for 2 days which is really handy on working days. I fill them up the night before and voila! done for two days....unless the stupid chipmunks get in......
My dh has a remedy for our chipmunks....its a high power pellet gun. Works great and keeps his skills sharp! I have only seen 2 so far this year. I dont think the chipmunks can get in the coops as we built them too tight for predators. My girls would probably kill and eat them anyways because they are savages when it comes to fresh meat! Do you hang yours or just put it up on a pedastal? I am thinking of hanging mine. Have to put a cone on it to keep the terrorists from getting on top.
good plan and a good question. I have heard of Sumatra's living to 10 years old. I don't know about large foul. I have a RIR who I have had for 4 years and she was full grown when I got her. She still lay's a few days a week.
A friend of mine got chickens in 1998, and they still have one of their originals left.
That is awesome! How are they doing? Ours seem ok, my friend and "bee-mentor" suggested feed syrup for a while as long as they take it so they can build out comb faster. What are your plans?
