Welcome!
100% agree with avoiding prefabs, horrible waste of money, you'll be far better off with modifying a shed and as hard as it is to wait, don't get birds until the coop is in order. I made the mistake of not expanding my existing coop before getting more chicks and the day before I was...
Only stuff available locally (in that recipe) are mealworms, corn, legumes and oats (and the oats are more expensive locally 'cause they are just the standard oats sold in supermarkets). Buying smaller quantities would up the costs. Most of crops grown here is produce, not grains and legumes...
Nope, looked into how much it would theoretically cost for me and it would be far more expensive, even more so because there are no grain mills nearby. Based on the prices of some wholesalers I found online (and what I can get locally if I can get it cheaper)
Corn: 26¢ per pound
Hard red winter...
I think I am seeing pointed saddle feathers on 1 and 5 (but could use a clearer photo of 5). Everyone else appears to be pullets
Edit: the photo order seems different now? The ones I speak of are the 2 white ones
Not quite fully grown, still a cockerel but old enough where it'd probably be fine. That said, if they have a wire dog crate they can put him in in the run at least for a bit then that'd be good. How well it goes depends on the personalities involved. Even though it will probably be fine, you...
I personally wouldn't just introduce a new bird without quarantine but if they're willing to take a chance with introducing a disease (not a jab against you BTW, quarantining new birds even from trusted sources is highly recommended) that's on them
Depending on how old he is, introducing a roo...
1. Homemade feed is almost never cheaper and it can be tough to get right. Making homemade feed is not recommend in most situations because of that and how expensive it is. You can ferment pretty much any feed though
2. Most people offer a certain amount of fermented feed once or twice a day...
Not true, it actually is caused by nerves in your diaphragm spasming for some reason. Altering your breathing can help calm those nerves hence why many remedies focus on that
There was actually a man who had hiccups for 20 years evidently...
Made a copycat recipe of olive garden's zuppa toscana
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/143069/super-delicious-zuppa-toscana/
Changes I made:
- no onion
- no bacon
- used hot instead of mild Italian sausage
- no red pepper flakes
- used kale instead of spinach
- added way more kale than called...
Most of my easter eggers are friendly and curious and they want to know what I'm doing and if there's food involved, especially Ginkgo, she's usually the first to greet me. A previous EE of mine, Rosemary would fly to perch on my shoulder like a parrot while clucking the latest flock gossip and...
It's not bad at all, that's the point where you understand that life is too short for mean roosters. Best way to have nice livestock is to treat them with care and respect and not put up with mean individuals, they will only make life miserable and produce more mean animals
I feed kalmbach flock maker, I start them on dumor (because it's cheap and has perfectly fine nutrition) and switch them over to kalmbach as soon as they can eat pellets without issue and they stay on that for life. I just provide crushed oyster shell on the side for when they start laying. I...
Also breed and the genetics of the individual bird play a big factor as well. Production breeds such as ISA browns and sex links tend to live shorter lives and are prone to reproductive issues, Cornish crosses are lucky to live a few months. Best bet as far as breed are heritage breeds, non...
Pictures? Unlikely but is it possible you have a very slow maturing roo?
In any case, it is certainly possible for a hen to never lay due to some issue or another. If you are happy to keep her anyways then just enjoy her, otherwise eat or rehome her with full disclosure. Either way nothing you...