Recent content by TxAg11

Do your hens have a dust bath?

My hens usually don't get sick, but 2 weeks ago one started sneezing and hasn't stopped yet, then yesterday I heard another one start sneezing as well. This is uncommon for my flock. The sneezes were frequent. I travel a lot for work and don't have time to hand feed each of them some magical...

He found a home yesterday. Disregard this post.

He's gone.

You people sure are picky for people who are not only in another state, but it’s a freakin free rooster. Thanks for your unwanted input. And FYI, he has feathers on his legs.

I have a great looking maran cockerel with all sorts of beautiful hues of green and blue in his feathers. He is going to be a huge handsome rooster, but we can't keep him because hens are not allowed in our area, much less roosters and we can't have him blowing our cover. Local pickup only. He's...

We got this pullet because they said it was a female. It's been a little over a month and it's DEFINITELY a male! He will probably start crowing soon which would be really really bad news since chickens aren't even allowed in our area. He's handsome as all getout and is going to be a really good...

In between my job and all of my other hobbies, I think it'd take me several years to make the time haha.

Doubtful in this situation. Once the chickens are in the coop, the door is closed (which is usually before the sun goes down). Possums generally don't show up until an hour or two after sundown when the do decide to come around. Their presence is pretty seldom, but my dogs usually clue me in as...

I don't think that's the case. The weight won't move until the Chicken weight (Cw) is greated than anvil weight (Aw). The weight difference that one chicken could make would be sufficient to make the door go from fully up to fully down, changing the setup from Cw<Aw to Cw>Aw, which it where...

"Half of mine get on the roost and the other half runs around for a bit before they go inside." Solution: Adjust the counter weight once all chickens are on the roost for the night. The fulcrum can be adjusted. Not sure what you're trying to convey with your second paragraph.

Wow, thanks for the experience and kind words, y'all. That brings us a lot of comfort and means a great deal. I will continue working on designs to keep my hens safe from predators. I feel like I could write a book by now "100 ways for a chicken to die in the suburbs". Sheesh... First hawks...

Best method: Get a big dog (aka, a real dog).

Does anyone have any experience with building doors that close as all chickens hop on the roost at night? We have had frequent possums as of late and I am not able to close them up and let them out every morning/night. I have a concept that I think SHOULD work (in theory), but was wondering if...