Recent content by Ridgerunner

  1. Ridgerunner

    Pre-built shed to replace old Coop?

    Interesting that they are about the same size and cost. You'd think a lot more labor and hardware costs goes into building that coop so why are the prices similar? Different materials maybe? Is one preassembled? Shipping costs maybe? I feel like I'm missing something important. For the...
  2. Ridgerunner

    Meat bird question

    There are many different ways you can raise meat chickens. A tractor is only one way.
  3. Ridgerunner

    Has anyone hatched a first laid egg?

    :thumbsup I like to hatch in February to put meat in the freezer in early Summer as the meat starts to run out. That includes eggs from mature hens and eggs from pullets just starting to lay. One year I had two pullets that had just started to lay. I hatched 5 out or 6 eggs from one, and...
  4. Ridgerunner

    Rooster Managing Hens But Not Mating Them?

    With any of these the answer could possibly be yes. Him being a cockerel could have an affect. If the girls are not laying they probably have pale combs and wattles instead of bright red. Bright red is a sexual stimulant so if their combs and wattles are pink or yellow they are less...
  5. Ridgerunner

    Has anyone hatched a first laid egg?

    I don't think I have ever hatched a "first laid egg", the very first egg that a pullet laid. I may have but I did not keep track that it was her very first egg. I have hatched eggs laid right after they started, just a few days after they started. Sometimes I get very good hatch rates...
  6. Ridgerunner

    Has anyone hatched a first laid egg?

    Of course it can. All it takes is a male capable of fertilizing the egg to mate with the pullet a few days before that first egg is laid. You can check to see if it is fertile by cracking the egg and looking for the bull's eye. This link tells you what to look for. Crack the egg in a small...
  7. Ridgerunner

    Help chick be less lonely during healing

    Sometimes a mirror will help keep them form being so lonely.
  8. Ridgerunner

    chicken isolation

    I would like to know what the offense is, more about flock dynamics, and what your plans for the flock are before I made a decision. If you are sure you are taking that young cockerel to auction it is probably best to isolate him. If you are getting rid of him, I'd do it sooner rather than...
  9. Ridgerunner

    Is it safe to eat eggs from Vaccinated Chickens

    Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined! Usually I'd start my answer asking which vaccine but that's not necessary for this question. The eggs will be perfectly safe.
  10. Ridgerunner

    Nesting boxes & coop

    Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined! Yes, you have seen it both ways. Either way can work. "Best" is going to depend on your specific situation. Some of the things I'd consider are: You want the nests to stay dry whether they are inside the coop or outside. How you build them could...
  11. Ridgerunner

    Rehoming roosters 🐓 😢

    Some good suggestions above. You might also try: 1. Call your county extension office and chat with them. They are probably involved with 4-H and may know other possibilities for rehoming. 2. Find your state thread in the "Where an I? Where are you!" section of this forum and chat with your...
  12. Ridgerunner

    Wiggling ond Day 17

    Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined! I would lockdown now and increase humidity. It is a little early but they are wiggling because they are getting close to starting the hatching process. You want the humidity raised before they pip so they don't lose excess moisture after they pip...
  13. Ridgerunner

    Weighing chickens

    Not sure what your kitchen scale looks like but weigh yourself holding him on the bathroom scale and weigh yourself immediately while dressed the same without holding him. Subtract to find the difference. That way you don't have to buy anything.
  14. Ridgerunner

    How to deal with h broody hen when it's cold?

    How cold is it? If it is well below 0 Fahrenheit (-18 C) you could have issues but if the broody buster is out of a direct wind she should be OK. I've seen chickens sleeping in trees colder than 0 F by themselves. Once they feather out they can stay warm from the insulation of their...
  15. Ridgerunner

    Advice about coop, roosting bars, chicken math, etc

    In NW North Carolina they should have access to the outside most days, even in the dead of winter. It's not like they are out there with their tape measure marking off their private 4 square feet in the coop and daring anyone else to intrude. Having enough room is more about being able to...
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