Recent content by tracecom

She didn't make it.

The local vet (only one) doesn't treat chickens, but she was nice enough to listen to my hen's symptoms, and provide some antibiotic. I dosed the hen for the first time yesterday, but at evening, she was too weak to walk. I picked her up and put her in the floor of the coop. This morning, she...

I have 9 hens and one rooster. One of the hens, a two-year old Buff Orpington is sick or injured, but I don't know which or what is wrong. Symptoms follow. shakes her head as if to clear the cobwebs listless weak, walks slowly, can't get on roost passed out yesterday, appeared dead, but...

My flock regularly use a 4" thick pole I have in the run at a height of about 3 feet. The rooster likes to get on it and crow. The hens like to get on it to get away from the amorous advances of the rooster. And they all like to get on it late in the day to preen, and get ready to go into the...

Sweet PDZ and ventilation.

Did you notice that the post you quoted was from 2009? Although, 16% layer pellets are available now at Alcorn County Coop in Corinth, MS at $10.25 for 50# bags and there is no sales tax on farm animal feed in MS.

My guess is that you could sell the posts on craigslist, buy replacement treated posts, and have money left over for wire. Your porch posts will rot quickly in the ground. ETA: I see that you don't plan to put them in the ground, so disregard my comment.

Wow! I wonder if this thread has set a record for the most posts in the shortest period of time. Talk about a hot button! Nothing like the mention of guns/bullets/killing to get people going. I wonder if Cecil (and just now Jericho) have increased sensitivity to the issue. Catnip, I hope your...

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My entire farm is sloped, and fencing with stranded wire is easy enough, but fencing with welded wire is more difficult. If the slope is even (as opposed to "humpy,") that will help. Put your posts in plumb and let the wire follow the slope. When the wire changes direction due to slope changes...

I made small top hinged windows, and put them under awnings. No rain gets in, and I think the awnings look good. http://cdn.backyardchickens.com/d/d2/900x900px-LL-d24cc09e_DSC01962.jpeg

Interesting. How much is the kit, and where did you see it?

Generally, chickens will try to roost at the highest point they can get to in the coop. So, if there is a place available in your coop that is higher than the roost you built, they will prefer the higher place. And it's hard to tell from the pic, but the actual poles that the chickens' feet...

If they free range, they will get in the road. Maybe not the first day or week, but eventually they will want to know why the chicken crossed the road. As others have said, noise won't be an issue.

Aviary netting will keep out flying predators for the most part, for the same reason that strings across a pond will keep birds from landing there. They don't like the idea of getting tangled. It's not that they can't get through it, but that they don't want to try. As far as raccoons...