NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

. Boiling hot water down the hole..? at night ...you may have to do it a couple of times ..then fill in the hole good ..
So another bee colony doesnt move in

 

[Gramma Chick]

INTERESTING tHINGS AT NIGHT AROUND THE COOP !
1 a RAT ...Havent seen it since then...suspect it is still around ..
I Set up a rat trap in the baby coop ...they are up in cages with the mommas .
and behind the big dog cage for the evening ..the Cat is in the main coop again
2) Last night I went in with the flash light ...saw something moving ..
On close inspection - some black beetles where rolling a dried blob of chicken poop ..SO Strange !
3) this eve one of the broody hens was making contrary noise ...
So I walked around the back of the coop with the flash light ..
Heard a rustle in the grass ...out POPS a Opossum !
It took one look at me and kept going past the back of the coop and beyond ..

 

[Sutherland906]

I'm about ready to enter the crazy chicken world... I'll also be raising the girls completely organic (free range/ feed as needed). The goal is to mix my own feed. There are some decent prices out there on various sites, however shipping kills the deal. I'm looking for a source upstate for corn, wheat, peas, etc. Located in Broadalbin, but willing to travel a decent distance.

 

[Beau Garden]

Sad day! I got a straight run earlier this spring of silkies. I got 5 out of 6 were roosters. I rehome 2 and have been taking my time before I turn them to stock hoping to find two more a home. I had decided I was going to keep the smallest rooster because he was super sweet and had a very quiet crow. Plus, my silkie hen loved him. They were always together and roost together. They were inseparable. Yesterday morning my husband went out to set them free for the day and my big roosters had killed the little guy I was planning on keeping. The saddest part is my little hen was still snuggled up next to his dead body. Their time is up. Today I'm harvesting chickens. What *** holes.

 

[Beau Garden]

They also tripped my son and attacked him the other day. The rooster had pecked him so hard it broke the skin. I'm not having luck with roosters.

 

[Pyxis]

They also tripped my son and attacked him the other day. The rooster had pecked him so hard it broke the skin. I'm not having luck with roosters.

Sorry you lost your rooster I agree, it does sound like those other ones need to go - attacking anyone is just not acceptable behavior. I'm sure if you do decide you want another rooster, someone here would be happy to give you one that's well behaved.

 

[Beau Garden]

Sorry you lost your rooster I agree, it does sound like those other ones need to go - attacking anyone is just not acceptable behavior. I'm sure if you do decide you want another rooster, someone here would be happy to give you one that's well behaved.

I have 4 chicks that are only 6 weeks old. I'm hoping at least one will be a rooster. I can handle one but 5 was a bit much. I'm assuming that's why they were so aggressive. Too many cocks and not enough hens.

 

[Pyxis]

I have 4 chicks that are only 6 weeks old. I'm hoping at least one will be a rooster. I can handle one but 5 was a bit much. I'm assuming that's why they were so aggressive. Too many cocks and not enough hens.

What breed are they? If you post pictures we might be able to tell you if you have any cockerels now - a lot of breeds you can tell by six weeks old

 

[Pyxis]

Just as a quick heads up, does everyone know that a bunch of over the counter animal medications are going to go to only being available by vet prescription in 2017? Things like tetracycline, penicillin, and erythromycin are on that list, so you may want to stock up if you're worried - I think if you buy tetracycline now it doesn't expire until 2018, but after that you'd be out of luck.

You can check out this topic for more info: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1119575/meds-being-taken-off-the-shelf-in-2017

 

[rancher hicks]

Sad day! I got a straight run earlier this spring of silkies. I got 5 out of 6 were roosters. I rehome 2 and have been taking my time before I turn them to stock hoping to find two more a home. I had decided I was going to keep the smallest rooster because he was super sweet and had a very quiet crow. Plus, my silkie hen loved him. They were always together and roost together. They were inseparable. Yesterday morning my husband went out to set them free for the day and my big roosters had killed the little guy I was planning on keeping. The saddest part is my little hen was still snuggled up next to his dead body. Their time is up. Today I'm harvesting chickens. What *** holes.

Now now, you don't want to give up so quickly. While I'm not fond of Silkie aliens they can make nice pets. Lots of things can affect chickens in aggressiveness. Breeding being one. Not sure where you got your chicks but you might consider Waiting until your girl is broody and have her hatch a clutch of eggs. You can buy fertile eggs I'm sure.

If you decide silkies are not for you, try Cochins. They're said to be another friendly breed. This is Frenchy. She's a a bantam frizzle and very freindly. While I don't pick her up often she is nice. She's over 8 and hatched a clutch of three just about 8 weeks ago.