Search results for query: *

All flock with oyster shells is fine and there is no harm in feeding everyone starter. Some people do that anyways 'cause of the higher protein although I would feed unmediated just 'cause the adults don't need the medicine - the chicks don't really either, but I'd rather not open the medicated...

Can you post a picture of him crowing? A tiny chick crowing sounds adorable :3

What type of feed do you feed them, how much protein does it have and do they get any treats? It's possible they aren't getting enough protein or more likely calcium. Do you provide oyster shells? If not, put some out for them and see if that helps

I would also gently let your friend know of the problem as she might be unaware of the problem and will need to treat her flock as lice are not good for chickens of any age

A complete feed is a feed that will provide at least the bare minimum amount of nutrition to keep an animal alive and in fairly good health when fed as the only thing the animal eats. They're making optimizations when they talk about making it more complete

The amount of speculation one can do on the causes of their condition is exactly the point. There are too many variables at play to say anything scientifically

That is entirely besides the point. The amount of research in question of layer feed vs broiler feed does not change the fact that commercial layers are kept in a very different environment than backyard layers and the the fact that the differences in their care and environment are not...

Generally once they leave the nest mother hens won't accept new chicks. To have any chance of her adopting chicks you have to slip them under her after she's been broody for a while and even then she still might not accept them

An experiment where other factors aren't accounted for and controlled won't produce scientifically useful results. The living situation of backyard and commercial chickens are so wildly different that you can't just say x caused y. That would be comparing apples to oranges. To say it's the feed...

I also feed pellets 'cause they produce less waste. I am feeding kalmbach flock raiser rn but once everyone is laying they'll get nutrena naturewise 21% layer feed

I don't think you're doing anything wrong, you just wound up with chicks that were frailer than usual and they got too stressed. You just got plain unlucky this year. Just keep on doing what you've been doing and hope the sickly ones make it. Ik it's not easy, but don't give up!

The reason battery hens are culled at a year and a half to 2 years old is they're past their peak production. Pretty much all hens will lay less after that point. Production breeds in particular tend to drop off quite a bit 'cause they're bred to lay a lot of eggs. That's not to say they can't...

Generally flocks like to roost together, it certainly *can* work in some flocks but for most flocks it won't work particularly well 'cause they'll want to be in the same coop

I'm generally more willing to give mean hens a chance to shape up, but if there are kids, especially toddlers involved, she needs to removed like yesterday. In general though, when integrating chicks, what's acceptable is a chick gets in an adult's space, adult pecks, chick runs off and that's...

I would get the coop sorted first and then get day olds. Up to you whether you brood inside or outside but I would make sure the coop is 100% predator proof regardless and I would also suggest making a larger coop than you think you'll need as you'll probably want more birds later and will have...

I think there is hope for the guy I talked to as him asking me that was part of a larger conversation as he actually wants to have his family eventually be self-sufficient so I told him about some of the finer details of livestock management. We all start somewhere, I just brought it up to point...

I agree with you, I think those who are able to raise at least a few egg birds should at least consider it. Ik i'm preaching to the choir here, but chickens are easy once you have the right infrastructure up, and are cool animals to be around. I also think people are too disconnected from where...

Considering there's no telling how long she may live and you'll have to give her away eventually anyways I'd find someone to take her in. 5 certainly is older but with luck she may have a few more good years left in her and it wouldn't be good for her to spend those years alone

In my extended family? No, not at all. In my immediate family? Yes. My parents never had chickens but several other relatives keep chickens

100% check for mites and up protein just because that's good to do anyways, but chicks go through several molts and I suspect that's what's going on here. My 12 week olds are going through a juvenile molt and it looks like they're having pillow fights when i'm not looking lol