I live in a place with sandy soil, so I give them that. I also sift out the regular grit and give them the small pieces out of it after they are a couple of weeks old. I don't buy the chick-specific grit.
Welcome to BYC and congrats on your new chicks!
Make sure to offer grit alongside any non-feed treats and to limit the amount of treats so that most of their diet is regular feed. I wait until 2-3 weeks old, but it's worth noting that very young chicks eat bugs/plants/etc. when they are raised...
I agree with @StinkyAcres that this is a predator resistant rather than a predator proof run, but this run should be more than sufficient against typical daytime predators like hawks.
One more thing: I suspect this wound will heal well and quickly, but it's always important to keep a close eye out for signs of infection and to take quick action when infection is noted. I give my chickens antibiotics if necessary.
Fortunately chickens usually heal well from flesh wounds! I would clean and disinfect with chlorhexidine regularly rather than wrapping, which can cause entanglement and keep her out of beak's reach of the other chickens until it dries up and looks less tempting for them to pick at. You may be...
I'm sorry your family member was scammed, these look like someone's older production hens. Definitely quarantine them away from any other birds you may have. It might be tricky to figure out what is wrong with these hens. It could be disease, or it may just be that they were kept in very poor...
That's an interesting question. I have a few other friends with chickens and it hasn't been an issue. I haven't intentionally done anything to increase my biosecurity, but it might help that my "backyard" shoes that I am usually wearing around my own chickens are different than the shoes I wear...
I agree that he looks like a barred Plymouth rock. The fact that he's a cockerel will become increasingly clear with time; the option to switch for a pullet is nice!
Welcome to BYC!
1. As long as the chicks are mostly feathered, you can wean them off of heat and work on transitioning them to an outdoor coop.
2. Always make sure to provide plenty of water, especially when it's hot. Chickens won't get in the water to cool off, but they will use the dirt for...
Also, try not to worry too much if your hen's appetite is off for awhile. Like humans, it's fairly normal for chickens to get skinny with an illness. Chickens can go quite a long time without eating and be okay as long as they are drinking.
I just try to pull out as many of those hair thingies as I can, some people will also carefully burn them off. I find that they disappear when they bird is cooked, so I don't put in that much effort since it's for personal consumption.
The organs need to be detached from the membrane on the...