Recent content by backyardchicks

Hello and welcome! This is a great place to learn new things about chicken keeping. I have been raising chickens for 27+ years and even I learn new things from interacting with others on here! How many chickens did you start out with?

I always found that a few days in chicken jail is enough to snap them out of it.

That's a great idea for a broody setup!!

That's a great idea for a broody setup!

She's a pretty Easter Egger. You sure lucked out with getting her. She lays a beautiful blue egg!!

It is finally cooling down here in Northern California. It was in the mid 80's today. My chickens like it better too!

That blue egg is soooo pretty!!! Who laid that one?

I see that you aren't incubating the eggs. Chances are that it is not a humidity issue. I would let nature take its course.

It's a hard call. If you do, just be prepared to care for a possibly handicapped chicken. A chicken may not hatch for a variety of reasons- it could be that it has some sort of infection that has caused it to be too weak to hatch. In this case you shouldn't help it hatch. If it is shrink...

LOL....and sometimes fertile Silkie eggs can suddenly appear in incubators too. I think that this may happen in my home within the next few weeks. :lau

Oh, I and I find that the easiest way for me to count my chickens is to wait until they are perching in their coop at night. :thumbsup

I have 7 hens and 7 pullets that are getting ready to begin laying any day now. I plan on adding some Silkies to the mix before winter time. I think my mother-in-law that I am caring for will enjoy watching the incubation process.

My guess would be raccoon. They can stick their little hands through the chicken wire that you have up above and grab a chickens head. They many times just eat the head and crop. Yes, they will be back for more. Also, make sure there isn't any chicken feed or water left out to tempt them...

Welcome! This is a great place to ask questions and learn new things. Your grandson is a lucky boy to be able to raise chickens with you. It is a very rewarding hobby!

Good to know!