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Your coop needs to get larger before adding any more chickens. At the recommended 4 sq ft minimum for interior space and 10 sq ft minimum for run space, your coop will fit 3 adult chickens. It isn't big enough for the 6 you already have. Sorry... Dale-Ann

I like that you've given your birds 24sqft a piece. That is well above the suggested 10sqft minimum. You can build some sort of box just inside the fence of the run to level it -- and add sand. If you don't like the run because it seems like the birds are bored -- add toys. Hanging cabbage...

If you mean caged like those found on factory farms where each hen is in a tiny cage -- the question isn't the quantity of life, but rather the quality that matters. And free range wins. If you mean caged as in a nice sized chicken run that is predator proof in a predator prone area -- then...

If all I could have was 1 new chicken -- I'd quarantine the 2 month old for at least a month, then put it with the nicest chicken I had for 3 or more days in their own space. Then, I'd add another hen in with them for about another 3 days. Then, I'd put them all together. Dale-Ann

Better to leave eggs in the nestboxes. I use golf balls to help them realize where to lay, but, leaving eggs in the nestbox encourages the hens that are ready to go broody. What breeds of chickens do you have? Some breeds have a better chance to go broody. Also, hatcheries tend to breed out...

Yes, it is probably too early to give her a chick. Wait 2 - 2 1/2 weeks. If you could give her a space of her own, that would be good. A rubbermaid tote with a hole in the side works very well as either a nest box for your other hens or a broody box. That's what I use as nest boxes, since I...

How long will you be gone overseas? Will the whole family be going or just you? If it is the whole family and for a long length of time, I'd wait to get chickens until the long trips come to an end. We don't take family vacations anymore. Usually, at least one person stays behind. My...

What breed of dog do you have? Although every dog is different, some breeds tend to have a higher prey drive than others. I have 4 dogs. One is trustworthy. One is semi trustworthy. The other 2 are not. So, when the chickens are out free ranging, the 2 dogs are are on chains. One is ok...

There are pros and cons to planting fruit trees inside the run. I'll give you only the cons: Trees that fruit are an invitation to wild birds to feast. Wild birds bring lots of diseases to chickens. Other fruit eating animals will be attracted. Raccoons? Chickens may prefer to roost in the...

Armdchicken, I just looked at some of your other posts on other threads and saw that you live in Alaska. Your buff leghorn is just trying to stay as warm as possible. Dale-Ann

I say to myself "Don't fall down. Don't fall down." anytime I'm outside and the chickens are free ranging. Seriously. Dale-Ann

Is she at the bottom of the pecking order? Is she broody possibly? Does she have any foot or leg issues that would make it painful to roost? Dale-Ann

Since the coop itself is only 4 x 4, you can only accommodate 4 LF at the accepted 4 sqft per bird. One 12 to 16 inch square nest box is sufficient and 10 - 12 inches of roost space per bird. The nest box looks too open, also. I used to have one 4 ft long community nest for 16 hens. I hated...

I have used a rubbermaid tote (opaque) with a rabbit cage attached to it. Cut a hole in the side of the tote. Simple. Dale-Ann

The pictures were in the ad, then you called them and they said it wasn't their ad, then the pictures disappeared from the ad. Hmmm.... Dale-Ann

post removed. Quit pot stirring

Preying mantis eat soft bodied bugs, spiders, flies, each other. At least 2 or 3 a day up to about 7 for a large adult. The kindest thing to do, though, is to let it go. Dale-Ann

You have 2 choices. Do as the others have stated, and that is my preference, also. Or really separate the Mom from the chicks by putting her in a cage/fenced area for about a week, as far away from the chicks as you can get her. She'll forget about the chicks, eventually. Dale-Ann

Some breeds are noted for going broody. What breeds do you have? Last year, my old chicken tractor had a community nest. I had 7 broody hens for the year The chickens moved into a regular shed style coop last fall. I used rubbermaid totes on the floor for nest boxes. I have been having...

Quote: x2 Dale-Ann