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Out of my flock of 83 birds, I’m only getting about a dozen eggs. I know winter slows them down, but it wasn’t much better in the summer. I have various breeds ranging from 4 months - 6 years. What are your guys’ methods for choosing who to thin from the flock? I’m thinking of getting rid of any...

So I stumbled across a broody hen in the long grass this evening as I was putting away chickens. I have no idea how long she has been there. I am conflicted between letting her hatch or not. Is it too late in the season? If I decide to let her hatch, should I move her indoors? I had a hen hatch...

Two days ago i saw that one of my gold stars was limping, and upon closer inspection, I found she had a really swollen foot, and narrowed it down to bumblefoot. One x-acto knife later, I cut out the plug and tried to drain it of as much pus as possible. The foot was still pretty swollen. I...

I discovered the strangest things on my chickens feet tonight. I noticed that a couple of them had swollen feet, and upon further inspection I noticed something wedged in between the "webbing" of their feet. It looked like compacted dirt or poop. I had to peel it out, like removing a scab, and...

One of my 5-week-old guineas seems to have have either broken or dislocated her leg. Her right hock joint is swollen, and she holds her leg at a slight angle. She seems to have a least some control of her leg, and still walks/runs/jumps. (But she is very skittish, so, I think she'd run away no...

Long story short I got one new baby chick tonight. She is in with my week old bantams and getting along fine. I think she is a lavender Orpington, but she is VERY small. Bantam sized. When she chirps loudly, she has a squeaky/gurggly sound to her. When she breathes normally it sounds "sticky"...

I am getting 12 guinea fowl in 2 1/2 weeks. I was pretty excited for it, but I just saw a friend of mine who has guineas and chickens that said her guineas injured and even killed some of her chickens. I'm a little nervous now. They will be cooped separately, but free range together. Do any of...

I checked on my new chicks this morning (3 day old lavender orpingtons and salmon favorelles.) and found one of the LO face down in the shavings unable to lift her head or move. I'm not sure what's wrong. Everyone else is doing fine. I was able to get the sick one to drink a little bit of water...

Perks of working at a chick hatchery - free chicks!! Maybe it's a hazard? These guys are Blue Laced Red Wyandottes! They are straight run, so hoping for at least two hens. Anybody know if wyandottes are color sexable at all? Regardless, I am very excited to have these new additions to the...

Long story short, back in November I found a possum in the coop eating the eggs, and another in the duck run, both of which we shot. (And reinforced everything so (hopefully) nothing more can get in.) Since then, we've had at least four more around the chicken and duck coops. (All have been...

I'm not quite sure where to begin...but I'll give it a go. My flock of 60 currently has 3 roosters - An almost 3 year old Lavender Orpington, (Dumbledore) who is the best rooster I've ever had; gentle with the ladies, amiable toward humans, but still willing to fight down dogs for his flock...

Today is hatch day for my broody silkie bantam. Nothing has happened yet, which is making me ansty! (I know, I know, the day isn't over yet!) I'm really hoping things get moving here soon....I haven't heard any peeps from the eggs which is a little worrying, but I know you can't always hear...

As I was staring impatiently at my broody bantam silkie this afternoon, (she is on day 20.) I noticed her neck/chest was spasming out every now and then. I though that maybe a chick was hatching, but it became apparent something was wrong with the hen. I felt her chest and noticed she had a very...

I am currently sitting out in my chicken coop in a conundrum. My almost 5 year old BO (who is my favorite) is currently sitting in the nesting box laying an egg. Which doesn't happen very often, so it is worth it's weight it gold. I have a broody silkie right now. (2, actually. ) I am sorely...

I want to give my chickens Tylan 50 injectible for CRD. I have read that you can give it orally. Considering I have 58 chickens, the thought of giving it to each individual is a little daunting. Is there a way to put it in their water? If so, how much to a gallon? Is it okay to give them ALL the...

One of my production reds decided it wanted to become a speckled sussex! When she molted her feathers grew in all speckled: PR On top SS on bottom. Have any of you ever seen this? Why could have cause this? She's almost 2.

So, I've been giving my chickens Sprout scratch. I recently found out that the grain elevator I get my feed from sells cracked corn, so out of curiosity I bought a bag. Is there really any difference between cracked corn and scratch? The cracked corn is only that - corn - while the scratch has...

A couple days ago, I found my 4.5 year old Gold Star sitting in the lowest roost, all droopy and sad looking. I've had several chickens from her "batch" die from old age recently, and I figured that's what was happening so I separated her and made her as comfortable as possible for her passing...

We had a possum a week or so back that I had seen, and so set the live trap. We caught it and got rid of it, but, alas, it had babies. So, now I've trapped another one and have seen a third. So I've set the trap again. Tuesday night, around 3:00, I woke up to a HORRIBLE screaming noise, like a...

I got this spring's chicks later than I ever have - April 20th. Mix of breeds, SS, Welsummer, and Polishes to name a few. They are ~21 weeks old. When will they start laying? Do you think they'll wait until spring to really start laying? My Welsummers especially have red combs, and most off them...