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A question for the distinguished assemblage: The hen who has been broody twice this year was sitting on the nest last night. Since I am new here, what is the worst broody? 3 times a year? 4 times a year? This is assuming you let her hatch and raise chicks. Her spring set was 21 chicks...

I have a hen that went broody and I set eggs. How many chicks can a broody raise on average? I understand that each is an individual and this one is doing better than the last one. I set 34 eggs. How many could she raise? @casportpony @Ursuline Chick - any chance you would offer an opinion?

I dug sweet potatoes this last weekend and several were past their prime. The chickens got one and I put one in with the quail. They are rather enjoying it and it is slowly disappearing. Add sweet potatoes to the list of supplementary foods. This was a raw one straight from the dirt with a...

Have a black chicken. Barnyard surprise so best guess is a Production Black or Australorp hen, turning 1 year old this month, that is laying cracked eggs. The cracks are on both sides of the egg. Lay an egg on its side and push down. Both sides buckle. She has been doing this for over a...

@wtxgrl - I've seen this before, but couldn't find the thread. Top tips: Start small. 2-5 birds the first time. Don't rush and go slow and methodically. Relax. The birds had a good life with only 1 bad day. If you get flustered, stop. This is a learning process and we want it pleasant...

I've got a backyard with fowl. The chickens are loud and no roosters. Meat bird raising is intense and last year we raised 2 groups, so I'm trying quail this year. I'm keeping quail for meat and as a hobby. The options for a backyard breeder are have some friends to swap genetics with, buy...

Anyone care to guess? Need buddies for single Rouen who flew into my life. 1 year old. $15 each.

Since I am new at chickens and hatching, I asked Chicken Rancher at work for a mess of fertile eggs. The 8 put under the broody last year gave 4 infertile. 2 killed by hen and 2 hatchings. Resulting in 1 pullet and 1 cockerel. The hen is happily laying small brown eggs almost daily. She...

<Graphic Warning> Almost 2 year old Leghorn has been slowly getting worse. Poopy butt. Meaning nasty, unkempt, smelly runny diarrhea hanging on the feathers. Today was green. Green, I've found, is the warning sign that bad things are happening. Palpation of the abdomen showed a large...

I am planning and building our first quail cage. Done quite a bit of research. Need opinions from people who have done this before. From research, 2 foot deep is best. Allows you to reach to the other side. Using dimensional lumber is 6 foot long easier to manage or should I go for the...

I have chickens and want to try quail. I'm starting fresh and have a blank slate. I'm seeing a lot of static hutches. I was leaning towards a tractor to spread the manure. The tractor would have to be moved to disperse the goodness. I'm not a big fan of shoveling ... good fertilizer...

Cockerel or pullet? First one is 'yellow'. Second is 'big cheeks'

From Wiki and USDA: Jumbo eggs are 2.5 oz, XL are 2.25, L 2.0, M 1.75, S 1.5, PeeWee 1.25 oz I am getting 1-3 small eggs daily. Cute little buggers. So I eat those for breakfast the next day. Try to put the larger ones aside for customers. These are large by rating, so we are good, but I...

@Birdinhand thank you for the inspiration and knowing what to expect. I received 6 — 2 week old CX due to spring break plans a buddy ordered some and I ordered 10 and we discovered predators in his brooder. Rats and snakes that can get into and through and around the best built brooder...

Houston had a real humdinger last night. Booms, light shows and all that. The flock that was laying 15 eggs from 17 hens spit out 9 today. I was curious when this would happen and here it is. I even searched the flight cage for another nest. Nope, just the 9. What causes your egg...

Pardon my question. I have a bunch of Ideal Hatchery stock. The Barred Rocks and red girls (production reds?) have a poofy backside. Looking at other pictures, these are the only ones that poof like this. Is this peculiar to Ideal? Or am I being self conscious? Talking about the small back...

I thought y'all were a little off when talking about trimming chicken butt fluff. Well, I joined you. Had a light red hen that was accumulating quite the poop ball. After a week, it hadn't been shed and I'll blame the cold weather. Finally christened a pair of scissors the poopy butt ball...

Have an 8 month old leghorn (Ideal 236) cross. She is one of the top hens and feisty. 3 days ago she was not acting normally. I caught and felt her abdomen and there is an egg there. Massaged and rubbed. She is eating and pooping - witnessed both and her bottom is dirty and getting dirtier...

Terrible picture, but 4 month old birds. What breed are these? I'll guess cockerel on left and pullet on the right. These are Ideal special straight run birds, so whatever Ideal hatched that week is possible. Appreciate the help!

Gonna try meat birds next spring. I'd like to know how the Ideal CX are. Do you have to limit feed from day one? How did they turn out? Would you recommend? If not, why not? Healthy? I'm staying away from the broilers b/c of the crowing in the neighborhood. Don't want to announce to the...