My understanding is that a raccoon can reach through that size mesh, but cannot climb entirely through.
If you put a roost near the edge, a raccoon might reach through and grab a sleeping chicken, unless you cover the sides with hardware cloth in that area.
Or if you put a roost near the...
It may depend on the store, but I think the usual idea is that you can get just a few, because they get shipped with the larger order the store is placing for themselves. I've done it once, enough years ago that the details are a bit fuzzy by now, but I don't remember having to care about any...
What do you think would make the main coop different from the others?
In your climate, the chickens probably prefer to have it mostly open so they get plenty of air movement.
I would probably put a roof on the whole thing to keep out rain and provide shade from the sun. I apparently think like...
Yes, he does look very much like her!
I tried to figure out what breed he is-- no luck. There was a link to a thread with the picture
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ended-winner-announced-chicken-comb-contest-2016-strawberry.1109074/
He is in post #3
The owner listed his breed as...
Maybe that's why I can't think of it. It probably is a kind of chicken that is not available from US hatcheries. Being further north, hatcheries in Canada would have more reason to develop more chickens with cushion combs, as compared with hatcheries in the US.
Maybe you could ask the store...
Thanks!
That sure does look like a cushion comb.
It is wide enough I am sure it has the rose comb gene.
And the small size, combined with the lack of obvious wattles, makes me pretty sure it has the pea comb gene as well.
I wonder if some hatchery is developing Black Chanteclers? (I doubt it...
My understanding is that napping is not itself a problem.
The main problem is if you slip into a coma and no-one notices.
If you are awake, it's obvious that you are not in a coma. If you are asleep, it's not so obvious.
So if there is a responsible person available, it's fine for the person...
I see it has been many months, but there are no responses to this question, so I'll add one now. Better late than never, hopefully.
If you breed a Blue Birchen rooster to a Wheaten Marans hen, you will not get any Wheaten or Blue Wheaten chicks. You will get chicks that look like some sort of a...
Pine is generally safe enough to use for chickens. By "safe enough," I mean you will probably not see any symptoms of any problems during the normal lifespan of a chicken.
If you are allergic to shavings, you may be allergic to the pellets too. You might want to check that before you try...
To revisit this, if the chick came from a store:
chicks that will be solid black, and chicks that have white barring (like Barred Rocks) do look quite similar when they are young.
BUT, there is a light dot on top of the head for the ones that will be barred, and not for the ones that will be...
Yes, with a rose comb (not cushion).
Yes, I listed them with Silkies and Ayam Cemani as having the genes for black skin and meat and everything else.
Oh, your chick came from a farm store? For some reason I thought she hatched from an egg from someone's backyard flock. Coming from a farm...
I just thought of another way to figure it out: use pieces of paper. One sheet of graph paper, and one strip cut to be 16 "feet" according to whatever scale you're using on the graph paper. For example, graph paper with 1/4" square, figure one inch = one foot, cut a strip 16" long and curve it...
It seems to depend on the hen. Range is anywhere from 3 weeks or maybe less, up to many months.
Yes, if you want to separate the chicks and move them on to a new home, you can do it when they have enough feathers to stay warm in the weather you are having. (Or earlier, if the new owner provides...
The genes that cause black feathers can also make black appear on the top of the feet. I think they can also affect the color of the comb sometimes. Example: Black Sexlink pullets, typically produced by crossing a Barred Rock hen with a Rhode Island Red rooster (or New Hampshire or something...
Thank you so much for updating! And for telling which things were most helpful, so we can all learn from your experience.
Almost 97 degrees Fahrenheit, for those of us who aren't used to Celsius.
Yes, that is definitely hot weather!
Sexing chicks: watch for males to get bigger combs & wattles...
Have you considered cutting the big turkey into pieces, to eat at different times? Once or twice I've cut up a turkey into a bunch of pieces: one leg/thigh is one package, one big slice of breast is another package, one or two wings makes one package, and eventually the remaining bony parts go...
You could get two each of the Sussex and Marans.
I don't see Orpingtons on the list, but yes an Orpington has a good chance of getting along with Sussex and Marans.
I think Ameraucanas could also work well with them, if you want another egg color.
I would probably avoid the Silkies for a mixed...