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Sad to hear about the dropped egg...Some folks don't candle their eggs I did b/c a hen doesn't always kick a rotten egg out of the nest. While it's rare, eggs have been known to "pop" or "explode" when the gas inside builds up. This is a smelly mess to clean up and it happens if bacteria gets...

Lots of good info...remember after 21 days of this she WILL look a bit tattered. Weight loss isn't uncommon. Read up on egg candling, it is a REAL challenge for those of us who are new to it, I had a heck of a time trying to see inside the brown eggs!! My cellphone light wasn't quite bright...

There is no need to feel bad about having favorites, I think if we were all honest, we all have a few that we like the most. Keep an eye on the poop amount. You may not be able to see how much she eats/drinks, but she should be pooping each day. Sometimes it is runny (like someone else...

While these last few posts are "mostly true" People tend to forget that domestic chickens are NOT the same Red Jungle Fowl that lived in the wilds of Southeast Asia for millions of years, but they have been specifically bred to human needs. Whole-genome sequencing has shown that the chicken was...

If you are dedicated to this, you should mark the eggs (to know that no other hen is sneaking newer eggs in, and learn to candle the eggs. Sometimes in a darkened coop, a cellphone flashlight can shine through an egg. If you see movement or a large embryo, great. If at 1 week or so you see...

If you truly want chicks, you will have to endure a long period of difficult times. Chickens often lose feathers, weight, health, and sometimes their lives when broody. I had a broody Orpington who I allowed to sit the whole time, she would get off once a day, run around like a crazy hen, poop a...

As a healthcare professional, I'm constantly telling horrified parents that just b/c your child has lice/scabies/etc. doesn't mean that they are not clean or you are a poor parent. Kids (and chickens) go into the real world where there are parasites. having a clean home/coop can't prevent 100%...

I quickly glanced over the thread again, it's been a while since it was active. My Bard Rock is still around- I didn't give her away and she has lessened her bullying. The SLW is still shabby-looking but finally seems to be getting back some of her feathers. Have you considered parasites? Some...

Mat10, I mean I'm getting rid of the Bard Rock. I won't allow one hen to bully another. I've tried separating her in a cage for a while, adding distractions to the run, but nothing worked. I've given her many chances to get tired of the bullying and she hasn't. Ridgerunner, I agree "mostly"...

I've had almost the exact same problem for 6 months since we adopted a few new hens. All integrated into the original flock except a SLW who came to us small and shabby. No infestations noted, no diseases, but she is always on the outskirts of the flock. They mostly ignore her EXCEPT a Bard Rock...

During the Pandemic I met with "naysayers" who refused inoculations against COVID b/c It wasn't 'natural" or "organic" They believed that herbs, faith, and other pseudoscience would protect them. Unfortunately, I stood at many a bedside as their pseudoscience failed and they died. I'm NOT...

Thanks for the clarification. Yeah, those who get pleasure from watching any animal fight should be locked in a cage about 5X5, fed dog food (or chicken food), and let out occasionally to fight each other to the death. I never felt like our aggressive rooster was being mean, he just didn't want...

LOL, you got a lot of constructive opinions. If you choose to "interview" a new rooster for gentleness, or just do without one, you will be fine...just PLEASE don't let children chase hens around no matter if they have a roo or not. It is traumatic. I cringe when I see videos of kids...

Glad you clarified that...hens have enough of a hard time without 4 year olds chasing them around. :wee:wee

Several years ago I heard our rooster carrying on like I'd never heard before. warning song on overdrive, I immediately ran out back to see a coyote carrying our buff orpington off in his mouth. I screamed and ran at the predator, who was so shocked he dropped her and ran off. Aside from being...

We also had a nasty rooster who spurred me once too often. We rehomed him and got another who was a bit younger than the hens we had. He is gentle and afraid of humans so won't attack anyone. Having a rooster has its benefits, he keeps a constant eye out for predators and saved the life of...

I think people are misusing "purebred" as a term. The modern chicken breeds did not exist in nature. About 4000-8000 years ago people in Southeast Asia began domesticating the wild ancestor of a chicken for the eggs and meat. This practice spread, and other cultures also brought chickens to...

I go through the same problem this time of year. Rain constantly but then in summer when our garden needs it, no rain. Anyway, I found a man who does woodworking and he bags up the sawdust into huge industrial garbage bags and gives them to my neighbor and me. The run got mucky about 2 weeks...

In nature, animals breed based on their perception of health/strength in their partner. The goal is to have offspring that have the best survival potential. When humans get involved, they force-breed animals for traits that the humans want, color, size, shape, "cuteness" etc. These offspring...

I've seen a hen stare up at an occupied box for a while, then jump up and try to squeeze in beside the other hen while there are 2 other empty boxes. They definitely have their preferences. the box closest to the window rarely is used.