Recent content by blacklab

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    No eggs yet????

    We do have fake eggs in the nests. Their combs are getting redder but not bigger. All the chickens go back and forth between both coops and nesting boxes so blocking isn’t really easy. The older hens are using both now! Oh brother!! Each flock does go to their “home” coop to roost though. I’ve...
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    No eggs yet????

    Yes! Always is!
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    No eggs yet????

    Thank you so much for that information! I feel better knowing that about the bielis! I will try to be patient!!
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    No eggs yet????

    My 21 week old Lavendar orpingtons and bieldefelders still aren’t laying. Is this unusual? They have their own coop and nesting boxes. However they share two covered runs with our older hens. The older hens sometimes visit the newer ones’ coop and use their nesting boxes. The younger hens are...
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    Hawk harassing my hens.

    We had a hawk attack, he was thankfully unsuccessful though. But we kept the hens and rooster confined to a covered run for about 6 weeks. After that we let them free range again and have not seen the hawk again. I think they move on, as you said, when food is not as available.
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    Checking-In On Peeps - Post Here To Say Hello!

    Just did this in May as well! We moved them at night and they did fantastic! Off the roost, into the car for 2 hour ride, quietly placed onto the new roost/coop at midnight. Slept like babies and awoke to new coop, never missed a beat in egg laying! So proud of them!!
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    Checking-In On Peeps - Post Here To Say Hello!

    Yes! Been busy, moved, added four new hens, trying to build a house! Then the hawk attack, just when the hens were living life chasing crickets in the fields. Always something!! Thanks for the articles on the “guard goose”. Truly think this hawk may have been deterred by some loud geese this...
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    Bear?

    Had a hawk attack our hens this morning. Now I’m scared to free range anymore. Our hens have open fields as well as woods to free range, which saved them this time. Got them secured in a covered run now but feel so sorry for them! They want out! How can we ever free range again!
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    What eggs to incubate this spring?

    We’d really like to get some different colored eggs and chickens to incubate this spring to add to our aging Buff Orpington and Easter Egger flock of 9 hens. We are only getting 2-3 eggs/day this summer as the hens are not only getting older (most 3 yo only 3 are 1 yo) and hot! What would be the...
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    Air Quality Concerns

    I heard the Canadian wildfire smoke had drifted into NY and VA over last weekend making air quality poor. Probably what has happened to you. Not sure anything can be done however.
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    Advice for overwhelmed soon to be chicken owner!

    The Over E-Z Coop is a very heavy duty and predator safe coop, comes in 2 sizes - well made by the Amish. We love ours and I’d highly recommend.
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    Advice for overwhelmed soon to be chicken owner!

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    Are nipple waterers hard to keep clean?

    I keep an old toothbrush to run over the inside and outside of the nipples when I change the water. Never had a problem-love this style waterer.
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    Bare Butt - Orpingtons

    Our Buff Orpingtons (4 hens 1 rooster) were raised by us from the egg. We love them and they are great egg layers. But our "first born" started out with a quarter sized bare spot below her vent and now in a matter of weeks, it is the size of her whole butt! I am horrified! They are on grower...
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    Comment by 'blacklab' in article 'Feather Picking In Chickens ~ My Experiences'

    Your article was very informative, but I'm still not sure that's the problem we have. Our Buff Orpingtons (4 hens 1 rooster) were raised by us from the egg. We love them and they are great egg layers. But our "first born" started out with a quarter sized bare spot below her vent and now in a...
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