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Anyone have any ideas what could be wrong with my hen? Could it be organ failure? She is an older (unsure of the age but definitely 4+) RIR. Her name is Reba. Here are her symptoms: -Drooping comb with the ends turning purple -No appetite (refused scratch just now) -Poopy butt - I noticed it...

This might seem like a morbid thing to ask for but does anyone have a video of someone doing the PVC pipe cutter method for dispatch? I'm interested in this method and know some of you guys use it, but I'm really hesitant to try something I haven't seen before. I don't want to mess it up. I am...

Hello all. Does anyone have experience with dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees? I am putting in an order from Stark Bro's online and I'm not sure which size I should get. According to the website, dwarf apple trees grow a max height and width of 8-10 feet, and semi-dwarfs are about 10-15 feet...

I helped a teacher with a classroom hatch and we hatched 6 chicks of assorted breeds (EE, OE, RIR, Buff Orp, Black Australorp) from Meyer Hatchery. They are all healthy and growing - about a week and a half old now. I am looking to give away 3-4 of these chicks for free to someone who will meet...

This chick is from a classroom hatch with eggs from Meyer Hatchery. This chick, according to the egg code from the egg I think it came from (based on no other red breeds hatching), is a Rhode Island Red. However, I noticed the wing feathers it is sprouting are white. It also has much more...

I am assisting a teacher with her classroom hatch. We have 5 hatched, healthy, and running around. We removed them from the incubator this morning because they were ganging up on and pecking a struggling chick, and have been since Sunday. I need help with this chick! It seems to be stuck with...

Today we processed our Rainbow Rangers. Typically my husband chops the heads off with an axe and we both process. He does it because he's stronger and also has accuracy from splitting wood since he was a kid. However, I mentioned to him that I feel I should also participate in the kill part so I...

Well, this is something I did not plan for. I've only raised CX in the past and have never had anyone crow before processing day. This morning, I go out to feed and water my nearly 6 week old Rainbow Rangers (Meyer Hatchery) and someone is trying to crow! It's that baby crow that isn't too loud...

A teacher I know is doing the "Chick Quest" classroom hatching eggs project with her students. I have become somewhat of a chicken consultant for her (lol) since she has never raised them. Apparently the program hooked her up with an incubator and will be sending out a dozen eggs in a few weeks...

My Salmon Faverolles hen has a big bump on the top of her foot, kind of between the toes. My initial thought was bumblefoot but I've never seen a picture of bumblefoot with swelling on the top like this, and when I flipped over her foot, I didn't see the black scab-looking thing. Although, she...

No one told me how broody Australorps could be - omg!!! Mine is relentless and even with putting her in the "broody bin" and giving her daily soaks it can take over a week to break her. I love her but I'm getting so sick of doing this. We don't have a rooster and can't because of city rules, so...

I'm picking up some meat chickens from Meyer next month and I see they have some bantams available still. I'm thinking about snagging some, but I don't know a lot about them and can't seem to find some of the answers I'm looking for. We live in the city and are trying to be more economical with...

I got some mouser cats for outdoors. I have a ~1 year old female and a ~5 month old male. My question is about the kitten. I am trying to keep these cats as economically as possible, but I also want to make sure the kitten grows up strong and is getting enough food. How do I know how much food...

I have 7 Rainbow Rangers on order from Meyer Hatchery for September. My question is how much space do they require per bird when free-ranging in order for it to not get too poopy? And, how much do they poop compared to CX? I think my plan is to brood them for the first 2-3 weeks. Then do 2-3...

I hope this question makes sense. I'm newer to chickens and did not grow up in a family that had them. On BYC, and in real life, I have heard people say that their grandparents didn't feed their chickens any commercial feed, but simply threw the flock a small amount of grains/scratch such as...

I live in the city, a part of the city that kind of feels like a suburb - close neighbors with yards and such. We have a lot of rodents (mice, rats, chipmunks) in and around our garage, as well as in other parts of our property. Mouse/rat traps just haven't been doing the job and we don't want...

Hi! I ordered 3 pullets from Meyer and now that they are nearing the 5 week mark, I wanted to see if you guys still think they seem like pullets. The only one I get "roo vibes" from is the Buff Orpington, who is pretty independent, strays from the group, will attempt to approach the big hens...

This was my second time raising CX. My last batch got huge. By 8 weeks I had birds 6.5-8.5 lbs dressed (20-22% first 3 weeks then 18% for remaining weeks). While I was happy with the results in my freezer, I felt a little bad to see them having a hard time walking near the end, even though I...

So we had one chicken who broke its wing last time we were processing Cornish X. We think it happened after we chopped the head off and when we put it in a bucket to flap. I kept one whole bird in the freezer for roasting, and today as I thawed it, I realize it's the one with the broken wing...

When raising meat birds, what dressed weight do you shoot for? Last time, our CX birds were 6.5-8.5 lbs. dressed, and they were pretty huge. Not complaining but I'm not sure if I need THAT huge. However, I also don't want to process too early and have scrawny chicken pieces (thighs, breasts...