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Backyard Chickens

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A place to discuss and share the joy and trials of chicken raising! Share your chicken knowledge, photos, coop plans, ask questions, anything chicken related!

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We ordered a surprise package from Cackle Hatchery! They are shipping it Wednesday! 2 Replies

How do we prepare? What will we get? How many will we get? Has anyone here done that? After talking to the hatchery all they will tell us is. We need to separate brooders one for the dry fowl and…Continue

Started by Cindy. Last reply by Cindy on Thursday.

Advice needed. I"m not sure what I should do or if I should do anything? 5 Replies

I purchased baby chicks in Feb. and thought I had a rooster with them but we sexed it wrong and so I ended with 15 girls. I Have a mixed flock of both large and bantam (more large)My boyfriends…Continue

Started by Cindy. Last reply by Cindy on Tuesday.

Chicken Behavior 8 Replies

I'm curious as to why my 3 chickens perform a "fake chest-bump" right after I let let out in the morning. Is it a form of greeting or other ritual?

Started by Erich Gottl. Last reply by Cindy on Tuesday.

Considering backyard chickens? Read this first! 2 Replies

In true unvarnished and awesome style, Erica at Northwest Edible Life has written this informative post:…Continue

Tags: roosters, urban, homestead, vin, au

Started by Cornelia. Last reply by Chris May 14.

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Comment by Nancy on November 12, 2011 at 10:47pm: Thank you for that info. Well, isn't that just great. I hate buying eggs. I have some older hens and only one is laying. They are not older than 2-3 yrs old. Why would they not be laying? I would certainly dispatch them if all I am doing is feeding them. I figured it was the molt but they all look good now. Those 3 should be spitting out some eggs. It has just not been a good Fall for us, I think.

Comment by Nancy on November 12, 2011 at 10:47pm: Thank you for that info. Well, isn't that just great. I hate buying eggs. I have some older hens and only one is laying. They are not older than 2-3 yrs old. Why would they not be laying? I would certainly dispatch them if all I am doing is feeding them. I figured it was the molt but they all look good now. Those 3 should be spitting out some eggs. It has just not been a good Fall for us, I think.

Comment by Nancy on November 12, 2011 at 10:47pm: Thank you for that info. Well, isn't that just great. I hate buying eggs. I have some older hens and only one is laying. They are not older than 2-3 yrs old. Why would they not be laying? I would certainly dispatch them if all I am doing is feeding them. I figured it was the molt but they all look good now. Those 3 should be spitting out some eggs. It has just not been a good Fall for us, I think.

Comment by Nancy on November 12, 2011 at 10:47pm: Well, isn't that just great. I hate buying eggs. I have some older hens and only one is laying. They are not older than 2-3 yrs old. Why would they not be laying? I would certainly dispatch them if all I am doing is feeding them. I figured it was the molt but they all look good now. Those 3 should be spitting out some eggs. It has just not been a good Fall for us, I think.

Comment by Nancy on November 12, 2011 at 10:46pm: Well, isn't that just great. I hate buying eggs. I have some older hens and only one is laying. They are not older than 2-3 yrs old. Why would they not be laying? I would certainly dispatch them if all I am doing is feeding them. I figured it was the molt but they all look good now. Those 3 should be spitting out some eggs. It has just not been a good Fall for us, I think.

Comment by Nancy on November 12, 2011 at 10:46pm: Well, isn't that just great. I hate buying eggs. I have some older hens and only one is laying. They are not older than 2-3 yrs old. Why would they not be laying? I would certainly dispatch them if all I am doing is feeding them. I figured it was the molt but they all look good now. Those 3 should be spitting out some eggs. It has just not been a good Fall for us, I think.

Comment by Rachel Hoff on November 12, 2011 at 10:31pm: Nancy, totally normal. Those breeds generally don't start laying until they are at least 6 months old, but unfortunately the days are short now so you probably won't get eggs until Spring (they need at least 14 hours of daylight to lay). Happens to us every time we get Spring chicks. We now try to get chicks in the fall so they are laying by Summer.

Comment by Nancy on November 12, 2011 at 10:14pm: I have a question. I have had chickens for 4-5 yrs now. I have ordered them from day old chicks for 3 yrs. This yr, I got them in May and they have yet to lay. 2 Auracaunas, 1 black Australorp, and 7 Buff Orpingtons. Why have they not begun to lay yet?? I know they have gone through their molt but that has got to have ended by now. They are like 6 months old already. If they don't start laying I'm just gonna eat 'em. I'd really rather have the eggs! They are getting adequate food and water and in and out time, not being disrupted by anything or anyone else. I just don't get it. Any ideas?

Comment by Erin Mitchell on July 15, 2011 at 2:22pm: Hey Rosa! Its possible that hey are re-establishing the pecking order or are too crowded. If you get them some "blue coat" (antibiotic an it covers the skin so they won't peck anymore) it should help the continuing problem. If you notice it most from one hen, separate her out and see what happens. We had to do the same with one of ours because she was attacked by a dog and got mean for a while. But my local feed store lady says that when chickens see bare skin, they continue to peck at it causing more injury. The blue coat makes them think there are still feathers and they stop pecking

Comment by Rosa couch on July 14, 2011 at 3:54pm: I have had chickens for several years now, but this year they decided to peck all the feathers from each others backs. Anyone know why they do this or how to stop it.