Comments on: And Then There Were Four http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2009/05/and-then-there-were-four/ Our Family's Journey To Self Sufficiency Mon, 21 May 2012 13:35:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rachel http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2009/05/and-then-there-were-four/comment-page-1/#comment-2219 Rachel Sat, 23 May 2009 15:21:03 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=1305#comment-2219 We had something - my dad thinks maybe a snake or cyote - pretty much wiped out our flock last summer. We were getting 15 - 20 eggs a day, and by the end of the summer, there were only a handful left - these were caged chickens in a chicken run. However, our guinea run loose and have multiplied - only they run amuke all over the neighborhood. Lately they've been getting into the neighbors gardens. Not good. Most of us have at least 3 - 5 acres around here. Wish I had some answers. I know that there was an interesting chicken coop on the blog "The Deliberate Argrarian" (probably spelled it wrong). He has all kinds of chicken advice. While it is likely the chicken with a comb is a rooster, we have more than once had these end up being hens with just more pronounced combs. My sister had one she named Sarah, then Abraham, then Sarah, then Abraham, before she layed her first egg and became Sarah for good. We've had more than a dozen of these surprises. We also ended up with a rooster with a very small comb and no spurs. It took a long time to figure out he was a rooster! We had something – my dad thinks maybe a snake or cyote – pretty much wiped out our flock last summer. We were getting 15 – 20 eggs a day, and by the end of the summer, there were only a handful left – these were caged chickens in a chicken run. However, our guinea run loose and have multiplied – only they run amuke all over the neighborhood. Lately they’ve been getting into the neighbors gardens. Not good. Most of us have at least 3 – 5 acres around here.

Wish I had some answers. I know that there was an interesting chicken coop on the blog “The Deliberate Argrarian” (probably spelled it wrong). He has all kinds of chicken advice.

While it is likely the chicken with a comb is a rooster, we have more than once had these end up being hens with just more pronounced combs. My sister had one she named Sarah, then Abraham, then Sarah, then Abraham, before she layed her first egg and became Sarah for good. We’ve had more than a dozen of these surprises. We also ended up with a rooster with a very small comb and no spurs. It took a long time to figure out he was a rooster!

]]> By: Michelle http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2009/05/and-then-there-were-four/comment-page-1/#comment-1824 Michelle Tue, 12 May 2009 03:08:20 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=1305#comment-1824 Oh gosh...I'm so sorry about your chickens! I'm wondering if a chicken tractor would be helpful? I keep mine locked up all day...and let them out only when my husband and I are with them. I'm overprotective...what can I say? :) Oh gosh…I’m so sorry about your chickens! I’m wondering if a chicken tractor would be helpful? I keep mine locked up all day…and let them out only when my husband and I are with them. I’m overprotective…what can I say? :)

]]> By: Nancy http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2009/05/and-then-there-were-four/comment-page-1/#comment-1814 Nancy Mon, 11 May 2009 23:02:23 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=1305#comment-1814 Oh, forgot to mention - if you have a coon in the area it could also be the raider of your two chickens - I had to keep mine up at night because of the coons grabbing them. Oh, forgot to mention – if you have a coon in the area it could also be the raider of your two chickens – I had to keep mine up at night because of the coons grabbing them.

]]> By: Nancy http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2009/05/and-then-there-were-four/comment-page-1/#comment-1813 Nancy Mon, 11 May 2009 22:58:56 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=1305#comment-1813 Yes, the one with the red comb is a Rooster. Yes, the one with the red comb is a Rooster.

]]> By: Deanna http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2009/05/and-then-there-were-four/comment-page-1/#comment-1753 Deanna Sun, 10 May 2009 09:49:54 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=1305#comment-1753 Just a note on hawk invasions.... We have 2 pens- one for younger chicks and one for my laying hens and rooster. The older pen is covered with deer netting (or sometimes called animal netting-black) to keep them from flying out. We have not covered the little pen to keep the hawks from flying in. It is rather inexpensive ($12 a roll) Just a note on hawk invasions….
We have 2 pens- one for younger chicks and one for my laying hens and rooster. The older pen is covered with deer netting (or sometimes called animal netting-black) to keep them from flying out. We have not covered the little pen to keep the hawks from flying in. It is rather inexpensive ($12 a roll)

]]> By: Lisa http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2009/05/and-then-there-were-four/comment-page-1/#comment-1700 Lisa Fri, 08 May 2009 20:19:33 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=1305#comment-1700 I know how aggravating losing a chicken is. This week I have lost 5 of my chicks as well. Mine were in the pen and my guess is that a hawk flew in and grabbed them as it wanted them. I was missing 3 on Tuesday and 2 more yesterday. I don't know about the colors, if it makes any difference. My Barred Rocks were the first to disappear, then a Buff Orp, then one of my white ones. I went ahead and put the remaining 6 chicks into cages until I can get the top of the pen covered. Hopefully the hawk or whatever won't bother the 5 adults I have in the pen. But now that I think about it, their egg production has been down this week. I've heard that when hens are stressed they won't lay. So maybe that's the problem. As far as telling them apart, I have been around chickens all my life and have never been able to tell them apart until they're grown, so if there is a for sure way to tell I would love to know how :) Good luck with your chickens. I sure hope neither of us lose anymore of them. I know how aggravating losing a chicken is. This week I have lost 5 of my chicks as well. Mine were in the pen and my guess is that a hawk flew in and grabbed them as it wanted them. I was missing 3 on Tuesday and 2 more yesterday. I don’t know about the colors, if it makes any difference. My Barred Rocks were the first to disappear, then a Buff Orp, then one of my white ones.
I went ahead and put the remaining 6 chicks into cages until I can get the top of the pen covered. Hopefully the hawk or whatever won’t bother the 5 adults I have in the pen. But now that I think about it, their egg production has been down this week. I’ve heard that when hens are stressed they won’t lay. So maybe that’s the problem.
As far as telling them apart, I have been around chickens all my life and have never been able to tell them apart until they’re grown, so if there is a for sure way to tell I would love to know how :) Good luck with your chickens. I sure hope neither of us lose anymore of them.

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