Ok the girls are going on 2 weeks & growing like weeds! Is it ok to give them a couple of meal worms during the day in addition to their regular food & grass? I gave them one each, but I don't want to find out (the hard way) it was bad for them. I figured if mama was raising them naturally they...
I am not sure if this post belongs here or in the raising chicks area. At what age can I introduce greens to the chicks? They are 1 week old today and scratching around in their brooder like pros. I have a lot of dandelion greens starting to make an appearance in my yard. Can I give them...
My daughter came to. Visiit yesterday & brought her friends dog with her. (Wrriting on the wall) well the dog seemed okay, but I don't truust dogs I don't know. I no more said the words I don't want that dog in the backyard when I saw it under the chicken tractor going after the girlls. Me in...
Good morning all,
I have 3 chickens that free range in my fenced back yard. The day before yesterday my neighbor woke me up to tell me he had my chickens in his front yard! I surmised they got out by going over the fence. This is the first time they have got out of the yard, but it will be...
I have 3 chickens. (City code). Neighbors have 7 & had a rooster. I digress. Here is my concern. I have 2 BR & 1 RIR. The pair seem to be off on their own most of the day & the RIR is usually kind of a solitary girl. The ruler is 1 of the BR. In the coop the RIR roosts in the nest box & away...
I have a 13 year old Yorkie who I am guessing got bit in the face while trying to kill a rat. It is under his left eye & I found it after it swelled his face up. I ended up popping the darn thing & I clean the wound daily. It is healing nicely & I am happy he is doing well. The rats are from my...
I sleep during the day because I work 12 hour night shifts. Today the egg song from my RIR sounds stunted & pained. I checked on her & she is fine. Not the usual lullabye I am used to. Maybe I need to sleep. All is quiet now. She likes to find the ping pong balls I hide in the coop & she lays...
I was reading a book about farming & in one section it discussed chickens. They group said when the hens do the squat hoping you just might be a rooster, when you give them a nice back scratch it helps to relx them, making the egg laying process easier. Is this something you find to be true...
:heI am in Western Washington & I have a forced air furnace (ancient) that has a coil coming from the fireplace (because the fireplace is tied into the furnace ducts) and it is sending soot through the house when I use either. I had a chimney company come look at it & they won't service it or...
My RIR started laying about 2 weeks ago on the floor of the coop, so I put some ping pong balls in the nesting box to 'encourage' her to lay her eggs there. I opened up the coop one fine morning & found her in the nesting box sitting on the ping pong balls & moving them around underneath her...
2 of my 3 girls is looking like she is trying to lay an egg. She is making quite a fuss this morning! Keeps going in the coop and squaking up a storm! I am so glad I am here to see it! I hope it is soon!
I live 1/2 a block away from my SO. His neighbor lady across the street got chickens and a rooster. (This lady is loud and screams night and day and you can hear every word she is saying to her kids, dog, husband, on the phone, everything! And it is not nice to put it mildly.) I could hear...
We laid our first egg! I could not be more proud if I had laid the darn thing myself! Of course it happened the one day I was gone all day at a union meeting! I came home and the girls were in bed so I opened the coop to say goodnight and there it was! Can you tell I am more excited than the...
2 of the girls will get into the submissive, 'I'm ready' mounting position when I pet them. Does this mean I should start seeing eggs soon? Right now they are mowing the lawn. They are 20 weeks old already. Give me strenght!
Whilst luring my sweet girls back into their run, my oldest BR, stopped, squated for about 2 seconds and then ran in for her treat. I don't know if that was an egg practice squat or a scared squat.
This waiting is killing me... I am almost positive they are 18 weeks old, so I know I may be...
A friend of mine suggested making a box with holes in it for rotting stoff. The holes are for the maggots to fall out for the girls to eat. It sounds plausible, but I am not sure about having rotten stuff around to attract unwanted visitors. I know the girls might like the maggots. Any thoughts...
Another question for everyone. Can I give the girls cooked brown rice as a part of their diet or is this a treat only kind of thing? Can I use it in a flock block? Only after it is cooked, of course. Thanks everyone!
I only have 3 hens, but in the absence of a rooster will the top hen in the pecking order take over watching out for the rest of the flock? My oldest hen seems to be on guard and watching out as the others free range and scratch. Is that part of the process? Thanks!
The girls were out free ranging in the yard this morning and I was having my first cup of coffee. I throw shelled peanuts out for bluejays. This morning the girls were not up to having the extra company! They would chase after the bluejays from across the yard! Raja would come at a dead run with...
Hi everyone!
My girls are eating my day lillies. I am not worried about the lillies, but will they hurt the girls? I shoe them off when they start to pick and tear, but I am a little concerned. They pick at my clematis too and I have a big wood cage around it. Is that bad for them too?
Any...