Recent content by FeatheredRaptor

I really would have suspected rooster treading. Not sure how only hens could result in the feather loss. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable comes along. If I remember correctly, there is some that say blue kote requires a lifetime withdrawal of eggs.

So I should change its name from Cinimon to Col. Chesty Pullet

Suspected hens

I purchased 4 speckled Sussex pullets from tractor supply. They had no roosters for purchase, butttttt… I think I may have a roo because: -all have the same hatch date -larger comb and wattles then the rest -is larger than the rest -the larger comb and wattle are red compared to its siblings...

There’s several things I’d change on this, not sure I should be doing how to guides on my first build.

So I’ve been pretty slammed at work and at home but finished some modifications suggested here. 1. Ramp moved to the side. This gave more continuous area in the coop. 2. installed the trailer levels on each side with 2x6 and lag bolts moving center of gravity forward some. I went from 8” tires...

I believe I read somewhere that their combs will loose it’s vibrant red color when broody because they are no longer laying eggs or some such. A broody hen will only comb off the nest long enough to eat drink and leave a huge poop. Quick dust bath and back on the nest for the rest of the day...

Ok... that’s a badass idea... can I get those at tractor supply or harbor freight. Very slick

Not sure I understand. The hen that did the eating was the hen sitting for 21 days... today is hatch day

The wife and I are just kind of bummed out that this happened and on our first batch of broody hens. Really just wanted to see the hens be good mommas to the little fuzz balls. Now I find out the momma hen is as good as a crack addict for a mom. 😢

Well I have a disappointing update. Today the wife and I went to see if we had a chick pipping and sure enough we did. It had a nice pipp, was just a chirping away. We were very excited for our girls (daughters) to come home and see a baby chick or more hatched. I took the girls out to see the...

Luckily the directions I have to move the tractor in is the same direction for it to normally close. I’ll probably forget putting it up too though. I have the main roost bar 20 inches forward of the milk crate nesting boxes but you bring up a solid point about covering it just in case. I...

I want mine to kill the grass until the garden is finished at least 🤪

I recently built mine to the 10sqft per bird to avoid crowding but my birds are not meat birds. I guess it would depend on the type of bird and the duration they will be in the tractor. Egg layers being kept in there during the daylight hours should probably have the minimum 8 sqft per bird...

I plan to use this to clear my yard of grass to start a garden. Once the chickens have eaten the grass, bugs, seeds I will move it to the next spot to increase the size of the garden. I plan to rotate birds from my 12 chicken flock into the tractor. It can also serve as a maternity ward, R&R...