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  1. Ridgerunner

    Integrating my birds

    The young ones are about 13 weeks old, still several weeks before they lay. Two young pullets and eight older pullets that are probably laying. I have no idea how many coops or runs you may have or how big any of them are. Others get different results, but in my flock the pullets stay...
  2. Ridgerunner

    Below Freezing Care

    One morning when the temperature was around -4 F I opened the pop door and gave them the option of staying in or going outside. They immediately went outside. That might tell you what they think of cold weather, not a big deal. That morning was bright and sunny without any wind, as it often...
  3. Ridgerunner

    First time letting a broody hen hatch chicks….

    So about 6 to 7 weeks old. I can't argue about the predator risk. That is something we all have to come to terms with on our own. I'll not criticize you for your decision. If they are used to sleeping in one spot they typically very strongly want to return to that spot to sleep. You do...
  4. Ridgerunner

    Coop Temperature confusion

    The coldest I've had chickens was -10 F (-18 C) so I have not experienced the temperatures you will see. I've worked in similar climates, down to -20 F (-29 C) but did not keep chickens then. Your record low in East Central Minnesota is probably around -50 F (-46 C) but I'd expect most years...
  5. Ridgerunner

    Live worms

    Is it possible? Yes. Many critters like earthworms, grubs, flies, beetles, and such can possibly give you chickens parasites. That does not mean they will, the parasite has to be in your area for your chickens to get it. Most of us do not have those problems, even if we free range our...
  6. Ridgerunner

    Blind, Half-Deaf, Small Chick Died

    Some chicks hatch with birth defects. The potential reasons are many. It could have to do with genetics, something about how the egg was put together inside the hen, or something that happened during storage, shipping, or incubation. It can be very hard to determine exactly why this happened...
  7. Ridgerunner

    Why to NEVER leave dead eggs in the incubator.

    The reason an egg gets rotten like that is bacteria gets inside and multiplies. The egg material is a perfect food for many bacteria and incubation temperatures are what many bacteria need to do really well. I agree, when that happens the smell is horrible. If that rotten egg stuff gets on...
  8. Ridgerunner

    Below Freezing Care

    I use a red heat lamp in my brooder. The simple answer is no, the red light does not disrupt their sleep cycle. How cold can it actually get? What is your record cold temperature? Averages don't matter, it is the extremes where you run into problems if you design for averages. I'll...
  9. Ridgerunner

    Winterize coop questions

    It looks like you sealed off those window openings so they now get no ventilation through them. Is the only ventilation, up where your corrugated roof panels meet the top of the walls? Chickens were first domesticated thousands of years ago. Records of exactly where are not known but northern...
  10. Ridgerunner

    These chicks have me stumped about bedtime

    They did not use the heat plate (except for a few) and they survived. Think about that. What does that tell you about how much they need the heat plate? With that many chicks they can keep each other warm, even in those temperatures. I'd leave it in there as added insurance but they all...
  11. Ridgerunner

    Smart lightbulbs

    Thanks for your patience in answering questions. Sometimes the hardest thing on here is finding out what the real question is. It can get frustrating for both of us. I've never used those bulbs. From what I've read online I could not find anything that would stop me from using them as you...
  12. Ridgerunner

    9 week old chicks not going into run

    Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined! How long has this been going on? Sometimes when I open the door to let the chicks out of my grow-out coop they are all on the ground in 15 minutes. Sometimes it takes 3 days before they all hit the ground for the first time. I have food and water...
  13. Ridgerunner

    Smart lightbulbs

    Why would you want bulbs that can change colors? You'd want bulbs that replicate natural light for those purposes. I have not compared costs for those versus "normal" bulbs. Are these less expensive or do they last longer than normal LED bulbs? I assume you would somehow use the App to...
  14. Ridgerunner

    I have a bully hen

    Excellent questions, just excellent. Where and what time of day does this being "mean" happen? Is it to all of the others or just certain ones? Are you positive that production red is a female? It is easier to respond to these things if we have an idea of what you are actually dealing with...
  15. Ridgerunner

    Smart lightbulbs

    How would you be using the light bulbs and how would you be using the app? They would like they could be fun for holiday decorations around your house but how would you use them in anything chicken related?
  16. Ridgerunner

    Resuming Light during Molt

    I agree. It should not bother the slow molters. It could easily bring those pullets into lay if they are not molting.
  17. Ridgerunner

    Wire flooring ok for chicks?

    I'm not sure how high off of the ground that cage is. I elevated my brooder in the coop and my grow-out coop and made the floor 1/2" hardware cloth. It is elevated enough that I can rake the poop out from underneath. When the chicks get to be about 12 to 15 weeks old the poop gets big enough...
  18. Ridgerunner

    Broody Hen

    I've had great success with first time broody hens. I've had issues with some hens that were great the first time but not the second. You never get guarantees with living animals but I would not be concerned if it were her first time going broody or her fourth time. One concern I'd have is...
  19. Ridgerunner

    metal shed to coop

    Lots of people use them. In South Carolina you don't have to worry about them getting too cold, but heat can be a problem. That means good ventilation. From what I can see that does not have a ridge vent, a shame. Also the window does not open. Having it in the shade is a definite help...
  20. Ridgerunner

    Mystery Egg ?!?!

    Do any of your hens lay green eggs, even if they are a different shade? Basic color cannot change but the shade certainly can. Does that mean you opened it? What did it look like inside? A tiny yolk with the right proportion of egg whites, all yolk, or all egg whites? It is possible for a...
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