Recent content by springvalley123

It's probably already in this thread, but baby chicks can't tolerate ANY amount of hotter than the target. For day olds, they can't handle the heat. Remember they only need to be able to get AS WARM AS for as long as they want, they must be able to get much cooler. I once hoped my Andalusians...

It's mating season. There must be a duck (which is a female) around, maybe nearby. Even if you are sure there isn't a female nearby that you're aware of, you need to separate them or it'll keep happening.

I've used that on sheets of plywood both flat and sloped like a roof should be, it worked fine.

I've cut the tin metal roofing sheets with tin snips, yes it leaves sharp edges. I think the poly carbonate roofs (see link below) cut with a table saw, circular saw, etc but probably a right and very wrong way to do it. For all of them, use the recommended washer/foam type screws, and...

Now that I'm in the Valley, I only have coturnix quail. They've been panting a bit. I'm using a small cottage cheese tub half filled with ice, dumped onto a plant pot tray. They took right to it. When I had chickens I used trays similar to what you have, plus some smaller/shallower. But I just...

Well I did have one white leghorn from Ideal that took FOREVER to get a big floppy comb--so much so I thought I had an easter egger! I had a male silver phoenix with an assortment once, they should be smaller than the leghorn, not the other way around. Could she just be a runt, or bantam silver...

I agree. It's hard to recognize the difference between egg song and the alarm even having heard both of them. Almost a feeling.

Having observed my chickens over the years, they often use the blocks/stairs to get up onto the roost, but never to get down. So it'd have to be a ramp, but a ramp long enough to get all the way up, might not fit in that coop.

FWIW, I'm a newer quail owner, after having flocks of chickens and ducks for several years. My 6 jumbo coturnix females, ready to lay any time now, are in a 12 sq ft (26 inch by 6 ft) outdoor cage/pen. No wire floor, just peat moss, dirt, and pine pellets. I give it a once over daily. They're...

I haven't tried to block with anything but shade cloth (which is highly visible). But, chicken wire gives. I imagine they'll try to roost, hit their head on the chicken wire, and eventually give up and go roost on the next highest place. The only other choices other than chicken wire, would be...

I used to have a brooder plate (it failed with no indication or warning though). There should be two settings: Horizontal, if your chicks can all fit under it, would be low wattage, I think 40W. Vertical, works like a space heater, using 400 watts, almost as much (or more) than brooder heat...

You could also get a lower wattage bulb. Does the duckling have a flockmate?

If it's the .5% peppermint oil it should be fine. I haven't used it. I have successfully used my own mix of essential oils: mint, cedar, rosemary, cinnamon. Not necessarily all at once, but at least get the mint and/or cedar. It has worked to deter the return of some rodent that previously...

Welcome! There are many open air coops. I used to use a dirt floor. The birds could dig dust baths, if your coop is large, a coop-run hybrid. Here's a design I love by igorsmistress: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/a-desert-oasis-updated-03-2024.75224/

I see from the posted pictures that her toenails are white/pink so she has white skin if that helps. I believe the Ameraucauna have that color skin, so that's consistent with her being an easter egger based on any spelling of americana.