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I think I posted about this problem earlier in the thread... it IS a problem in cold environments. Several of my chickens lost parts of toes to frostbite this last winter (it was a REALLY cold one), and I think it was largely due to the sand. Too late, I put straw on top of it. That helped...

My Buff Plymouth Rocks and Partridge Plymouth Rock are very quiet. My Barred Plymouth rock is mind-numbingly loud... she's the alpha that might be why. She was my favorite, but she's been really getting on my nerves bawk-bawk-BAAWWWKing all day long. My Light Brahmas can be quiet, but they...

So we couldn't find anyone to do a necropsy. Nothing I've read points to anything other than picking (don't think that's the issue) or mating (that's more likely) for bald head spots. I found another picture of her from a month or so ago. I'm having a hard time with this because she just...

I had one of these seven months ago. Seems that they just happen sometimes, nothing to be worried about. It wasn't a regular thing, just sort of an "oops" from the hen. There's a post here.

It's sort of hard to tell from the picture, but as the first reply said (fuzzy wuzzies), she looks like she's just getting her feathers in. They can look a bit odd during this time period. If she's looking healthy and active and not being picked on, I wouldn't worry. Some chickens just get...

No one has any ideas? Either what could have called the bald patch on her head for the past month+, or whether that is likely to be related or not to her sudden death? I've been watching the chickens today and besides what seems like increased aggression from going through a re-establishment...

Found a chicken dead this morning. She was by the pop door in the coop, spread with a wing out. For several weeks, it's looked like she was molting, or about to start. She had lost some hair on her head, and looked like she'd lost and replaced some feathers on her back. I inspected her for...

Sustained temps below 0F? We had 3 weeks of constant -20 and it was a problem. If your temps don't drop below zero often you're probably fine, but sand is still cold.

Only downside I know of is in really cold places the sand gets really really cold, and chickens can lose toes from walking on it all winter (I'm speaking from experience). Once I learned of this, I put straw down on top of it, and that helps. Now in the process of raking the straw off it for...

I leave food and water in the run all winter. I do have to heat the water (for 6 full months), but if your temps don't get too far below freezing you'll probably be okay. My girls do get sand in their water, even when it's in the run and elevated on a tree stump. In the summer I like the...

Nope, that's wishful thinking. I don't think sand will deter a predator. Even 6" of it, which after shoveling 2 cubic yards, I can tell you is very heavy!! You could put down your welded wire underneath the sand maybe, all across the inside of the run? I did an apron and buried it only a few...

I would say more sand would be best if it's possible for you. If you go 4-6 inches in the run I don't think you'll have that problem. Also just really pack the dirt down before you put the sand on it and then the weight of that many inches of sand should keep it really compressed? I have...

i think it depends a lot on what type of predator you're worried about. for me, bears coming out of hibernation might be a threat. not sure you have a bear issue in Iowa? what predators do you have?

i think whether silkies roost or climb or not just depends on whether they're used to it, and whether you have bigger birds to show them the way. i started with 15 chicks, 6 of them silkies. all the silkies roost which means they climb up two planks to get to their 4' high roost. (none of the...

Keep us posted if you end up trying out that heat cable!

no don't use sand in the nesting box. hens love to rearrange the straw or hay or bedding that you put in there, i'd put something they can make a little nest out of. or they make nesting pads, never tried those but those would work too.

I wouldn't worry about having the same smell issues in the run. A brooder is a much smaller space, and I assume you're keeping it indoors? So you're not getting the ventilation you'd get outdoors, so the whole room probably smells. I've never had trouble with odor in my run. It will help it...

Poor Plymouth Rocks and their large single combs! My next Roo is going to be a Brahma or something with a pea comb. If you hadn't already, put neosporin on. He doesn't seem to have much frostbite on his comb, just his wattles. It was totally the opposite for my Rock Roo, his wattles had a...

Aww sorry about your Roos toe! I've been lucky that so far even with the cold substrate (sand) their toes have all been in good shape!

Do you like the straw as bedding? When you say the black parts are decreasing, do you mean falling off or turning back to red? I thought black was dead... yellow could sometimes be repaired but black was just gone.