Search results for query: *

A sunny day in January made for a happy flock

Oh, wow, I had no idea! Thanks for the clarification.

What does that actually mean? I'm not familiar with the term in this context.

Thank you! I think parenting is difficult work for human children and animal "children" alike-- hard love is always going to be difficult to mete out, but one hopes for happy and healthy children in the end who may (or may not) appreciate your efforts.

I appreciate the full range of suggestions with the understanding that there may be different approaches and different experiences for everyone. I also don't take much as absolute-- rather, I try to synthesize what others say and adapt it to my circumstances using my common sense and instinct...

Good to know about the hen/chick bonding period. Marans are supposed to be very good mothers, but I don't know how the bonding issue might affect that. Yeah, I'm OK with processing adult chickens that will also end up as dinner, but I think I'm too much of a wuss to kill chicks myself. If I...

That's probably exactly what I would do if it was the end of winter, but I fear more serious cold is coming.

Agreed! I look forward to chicks, but would prefer spring so I can avoid some of the issues cold weather introduces. While I derive no joy from it, I accept processing as one of my responsibilities as a chicken keeper, but if I can avoid unnecessary cockerels that would be best. You've been...

That's great info to have-- I had no idea it was an issue of body temp regulation! There's definitely a learning curve to this, but having little "emergencies" helps to move up that curve a lot faster. Thanks!

UPDATE: I just took my hen out of her nest and am able to add a few more "yes" answers to the broody question list: she pecked and growled at me, fluffed herself up and did the tail thing once she was on the ground, and was clucking non-stop. There was also a "normal" size egg for her in the...

Really? I hadn't heard of this method. It certainly can't hurt to try. Thank you!