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I bought six leghorns near the end of the chick season and three were male.

I agree with this definition. Now, "free range" on a carton of store eggs? That's a marketing gimmick.

The dead one was 3, the all-but-dead one was 2. Different flocks, but the rest of them live fairly harmoniously. They've been integrated for nearly a year.

I had an interesting discovery yesterday, something I've never seen in my seven years of chicken raising. I walked out of the coop into the pasture yesterday morning. Found one hen dead, with no visible injuries. Another lying three feet away, barely able to walk, with blood on top of her head...

I suspected as much. Thanks for the confirmation.

Hello, I'm a long term Rhode Island Red raiser. This year I decided to raise a flock of Black Sex Links, because I heard they were hearty, good layers, and had a nice temperament. I've enjoyed them so far - great little hens. With my RIRs, they usually started laying at around 22 weeks...

Hello Everyone, I'm a die-hard RIR raiser. Tonight, whilst buying my new Spring flock, I went for Black Sex-Links (aka Black Stars, Rock Reds). I didn't do it blindly; I've done a little research, but I wondered what your experience has been like. I'm especially interested in those who've had...

A flock does better with a rooster, it's just Mother Nature's way. I hastily got rid of my rooster in my first flock because we're not supposed to have them in my town. Afterwards I just kept my roosters, thinking that if someone complained loudly enough, I would get rid of them then. Nobody...

Hackle feathers look slight for 16 weeks, but they're definitely there. You'll know in about two weeks for sure.

I agree. At four weeks they haven't even feathered---still fluffy little chicks---but my 12 week-olds are feathered and half the size they'll be full grown. I just don't think little chicks are safe around bigger birds. Wait about four more weeks and then assess the situation. If you can...

I had the same problem, much worse but the effect is the same. I noticed it in a chick at about two weeks. She could get a long fairly well for a while. At 6-7 weeks, when her body grew, her mobility became worse, to the point that she would drag herself using her wings to eat and drink. The...

I've been raising my latest flock outdoors. When I started in early April, it dipped into the 40s overnight. They're in a large, heavy-duty cardboard box inside of a barn, with two heat lamps. It's a great way to avoid the mess of indoor brooding. I've constantly monitored the temperature...

I've been raising my latest flock outdoors, and it dipped into the 40s overnight. They're in a large, heavy duty cardboard box inside of a barn, with two heat lamps. It's a great way to avoid the mess of indoor brooding. I've constantly monitored the temperature. Was-Mart sells digital, remote...

I've never had Orpingtons, but I've had Australorps, which are somewhat similar. They're beautiful, big and have good temperaments. Good layers. I've also had BRs, and I'll never have them again. They were my meanest chickens (I had to re-home one), and their bluster doesn't match their laying...

Mixed flocks are fun, but susceptible to hen-on-hen aggression. Go with your gut. I only have RIRs now; hearty, best personality, serious layers. Good luck!

They sure are. They're bigger, more dominant, and I personally didn't like their temperament. You're dead-on though. I had some Black Australorps that held their own against the BRs, but the rest of the flock were not so fortunate. I had to re-home a particularly aggressive BR. For all their...

They sure are. They're bigger, more dominant, and I personally didn't like their temperament. You're dead-on though. I had some Black Australorps that held their own against the BRs, but the rest of the flock were not so fortunate. I had to re-home a particularly aggressive BR. For all their...

I've done it both ways, and same breed is best. My first flock was a mix, and it was fun to try out different breeds, but I had some problems - hen aggression mainly. Perhaps it was because I didn't have a rooster? For my second flock, I went all RIRs and it's been much better. They're all the...

My very limited rooster experience would say that he'll hold his own. My rooster was only about 22 weeks when he started jumping into a coop area with an older flock which includes a nasty Barred Rock hen. He promptly laid down the law and now I can't keep him out of there. He's close to...