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A picture would help. If your run is really secure you should have no problem leaving the door open. I think you said you were concerned about digging around the edge of the run. You can lay down a 18" to 24" strip of hardware cloth around the perimeter (and hold it down with landscaping...

Here's the one I got: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UR1X50/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use the Rescue Big Bag fly traps and they work really well. https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Non-Toxic-Big-Bag-Trap/dp/B000BQRQ8C They do get a ripe smell after being in the sun, but my bags fill up very quickly in the summer. If you want to have a little fun with them, look for the Lawn and...

Best stuff for fireants is the Amdro fire ant killer you can find at any big box store. I kick the nest to wake them up, then sprinkle the amdro on top...doesn't take much. If it's anywhere the chickens have access to, I'll also cover it with an old collander or bowl. Next day the nest is...

Garden soil (from Home Depot), wood ash, sand. They use it pretty much every day then love to walk over to the patio to shake it all off. Inside the coop they'll use the pdz. Sometimes they'll just dig a hole in the clay soil and use that. I try to give mine options :)

Did you teach them where "home" is? Most folks will keep birds in the coop for a few days when they first go "outside" so they learn to roost there. If you're letting them sleep outside (voluntarily or not) it's only a matter of time before you find a pile of feathers and a missing bird.

Sounds good - you can always grab a couple bags next time you're at the store to add to it. I've found that when it's a little deeper it's easier to scoop. Mine also have a tendency to dust bath in it as well (even with a large dedicated dirt bath in the run)...so deeper means they don't...

Yes, she was the last standing of the old flock...I'm pretty sure the meeting was not going to be friendly so I made real sure to keep them separated for a long time.

Exactly...Ms. Peggy was digging on her side (the big hole) and amazingly the little ones were digging on their side. Multiple strategically placed bricks solved the issue before the little ones became her lunch. Next time there's going to be a hard barrier around the entire bottom!

Ok...I'm still working on my coffee so any calculation errors are not my fault! Zeolite density is approx 0.8 g/cm3. Make sure you get the granules and NOT the powder. The area you're looking at is 5 ft x 4 ft, (and assuming a depth of 3 inches). So that's 152x123x8 in cm. Approx 150,000...

Good advice above. Pics below are what I did. One "fail" I had was somebody forgot that chickens dig...lol. Next time I'll secure the bottom better so they can't get out! And this is why it failed (initially)...I got very lucky that I just happened to be watching the cameras when this...

Sorry for your loss...that's the #1 negative to raising chickens in my book. Sounds like it might have been a heart attack. The video below (warning: it does show her dying) was my top hen. The only "good" to come out of it was it was quick. I've had 3 birds go this way.

I'll throw in my $0.02 here. First, beautiful birds...I love having a really diverse flock and you have two "unique" ones there. I'd keep them and here's why. Getting two new chicks is going to make you go through all the hassle of integration again. Just getting two new chicks does NOT...

I'd also have some Qwik Stop (styptic powder) and if you've got chicks have some corid on hand (just in case). Had a hen completely rip a toenail off one time and the styptic saved her...just stuck her foot down into the jar until it stopped bleeding.

I've had a couple that just couldn't keep clean. I bring them inside to a downstairs bathroom and put them in the tub. Using latex gloves and the shower head I'll get everything soaking wet and gently work the poo off. It's really not a big deal, and the chickens certainly seem to appreciate...

I agree with the others...molting. I've got 4 going through a hard molt right now. Every morning the coop looks like they had a pillow fight.

If you need any pics or have questions on the construction just email me and I can send them to you offline. It wasn't cheap and it took awhile, but I'm 99.999% sure nothing can get in there and it helps me sleep at night not worrying about them.

I know this thread is a couple months old but we have pretty severe fire ants down here. The best thing I've found is the Amdro Fire Ant Bait - within 24 hours it nukes the mound. https://www.amazon.com/Amdro-Fire-Bait-Granules-pound/dp/B000HJDG0U When the mounds are close to the chicken...

Yes, built it a couple years ago and it's doing really well as far as keeping bad critters out. Gotta say though, I saw your video and you did hand to hand combat with your hawk...you win! :bow:thumbsup Pretty sure my hawk was a young Cooper's hawk...we have lots of those here in Georgia. The...

Here's a video from a couple days ago...watch behind the run and you'll see the hawk swoop down. He then tries to run around at ground level. He stalked them for 10 minutes before giving up and flying off. The girls wouldn't come out of the coop for two days.