Recent content by Ridgerunner

  1. Ridgerunner

    Adult hens getting into medicated chick crumbles?

    I always want to know what the medicine is in "medicated" feed before I say too much. If it is Amprolium there are no withdrawal periods for either eggs or meat. If it's something else there might be. But you are not getting eggs or butchering them for meat so there will be no ill effects...
  2. Ridgerunner

    Checking frequency for sick or injured chickens

    My thoughts on raising healthy chickens from chicks. Feed an age appropriate feed. Everybody seems to have their own thoughts on what that is whether free ranging with a broody hen or in a brooder. Basic food or treats. Supplements and additives or not. In a brooder, mine they get their...
  3. Ridgerunner

    Giving chicks soil to build immunity to coccidiosis, but doesn’t that expose them to worms as well?

    My chickens have never had roundworms so I haven't studied them in that much detail. I butcher several times each year. Part of my butchering process is to split some of the intestines open to look for worms, never seen any. I'm not sure where you are located (country) so not sure what is...
  4. Ridgerunner

    is it normal a 9 month old splash Orpington has not start laying?

    I've had pullets start laying as early as 16 weeks, usually in the summer but after the summer solstice. I've had pullets not start laying until 9 months, this time of the year. I'm in the northern hemisphere so those started laying on the shortest days of the year. I assume you are in the...
  5. Ridgerunner

    Late in the day egg laying…

    There are different triggers that tell a hen when to release the yolk and start the internal egg making process. One of those triggers is daylight. This helps time it so the egg is laid after daylight but before dark. Another trigger is when they release the previous egg, the yolk for the...
  6. Ridgerunner

    Outside chicks at 3 weeks

    My brooder is in the coop. I put chicks straight in there from the post office or the incubator, whether the outside temperature is below freezing or very warm. As long as the area the chicks are in is warm enough, has adequate ventilation, and wind protection they should be fine. My brooder...
  7. Ridgerunner

    Turkey meat used for broth?

    I would give it to them. They will probably eat it and it still contains some decent nutrition for them.
  8. Ridgerunner

    Topic of the Week - Heat Sources: Yes or No?

    Whenever you wish. They will decide if they want to use it or not. What could make them happier than to have that power to control.
  9. Ridgerunner

    Rooster attacking former head hen?

    It's a familiar scenario. Cockerels are raised with the flock. When a cockerel matures to the point that he tries to take over as flock master, the head hen objects. They fight. Every year I have a new flock master, a cockerel raised in the flock. Most of the time the handover of flock...
  10. Ridgerunner

    Brooder Material

    Why wouldn't they fit? Lots of people use heat lamps, heat plates, or heating mats for older chicks, whether they need them or not. A lot of the time the chicks choose not to use them because they really don't need them. I just don't understand your limitations.
  11. Ridgerunner

    Acclimating 6 week old chicks

    Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined! It sounds like they will have decent ventilation and no direct wind. They should be OK with that heat plate in there but if you want to acclimate them as Rosemary mentioned it won't hurt them.
  12. Ridgerunner

    Why does my garage feel colder than the outside?

    :thumbsup Why is a good question. The more you can tell us about your chickens the more likely we can offer helpful suggestions. How old are they, how many do you have, and how are they housed outside for example. I'm not sure you even have a question. You may be looking for assurance more...
  13. Ridgerunner

    Brooder Material

    Some of the dust I don't think you can do much about. It's dried bits of shed skin and bits from feathers and down. If you are feeding dry feed consider making a damp mash instead. Their scratching can shred the wood flakes and create dust. Maybe switch to wood chips or something that...
  14. Ridgerunner

    hens waking up in middle of the night

    My first thoughts are light. Is some motion detector light coming on and shining in through a window. Less likely but are lights from passing automobiles waking them up? Maybe some type of security light? You said it is pitch black but is it really? Is it a moonlit night? They may think...
  15. Ridgerunner

    How long before New Hampshires are ready for slaughter

    I have not raised New Hampshire for meat but have a couple of comments. Before the CX took over NH were a major meat breed. But since the 1950's few people have been been breeding them for meat, they are more of a dual purpose breed. If you get your NH from most hatcheries they are not going...
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