Reviews by Wendy Case

Great advice! I took the insulated road as our coop and run are faced with intense wind storms, rain and snow. Works really well for us. I enjoyed the read very much. It's taken me from March till December to finish the entire residence and has kept me away from BYC. But now I'm back enjoying the write ups.

I need to insulate the roof before winter. Thank you for that information.

From the brooder to chicks to integrating into the flock, the information is extremely helpful.

A great article I thoroughly enjoyed reading! I have a young flock and an older flock, so it's going to be an interesting year. I've taken everything I've read into account and it's going to be a good year!! I've reassessed the fencing so I do a perimeter fence around my half acre landscaped yard, both to keep the chickens from roaming next year, protect from predators whilst they enjoy the trees and shrubs plus lawned areas.... Instead of doing a standard run which would be a triangle!
Thank you for a gear article!

Very informative and a good read!

I enjoyed the read, dedication, detail and photos! Not to mention the ideas.
Thank you.

I have two Buff Orpington chicks asking with other breeds, and I'm amazed at how far ahead they are compared to their counterparts! Far more advanced in every way. Specially Buffy. Yes I know-how vet original name.

I'm SO glad I read this article, it's given me some hope for my guy, he's 9 months old. He's aggressive towards me and no-one else and I've tried several ways to change his attitude. I'm also adding another 11 pullets to his harem in July/August making a total of fifteen! He's FANTASTIC as far as looking after his girls, he eats last, tidbitting often and calls the girls immediately he finds anything he thinks they'll like. I have no idea at this point what he'd be like with chicks. He only has four girls right now, but I live in an area that has very few options to purchase pullets. So he has to wait.
Hopefully his attitude will change towards me as he matures and more girls are added. I was pleased to see your rato as I've always been told 10 to 1. I know exactly when his attitude changed towards me and why. But if I see ANY aggression towards ANYONE else... He will be dispatched. Finding another rooster with a great disposition will be a nightmare, as I'd basically be taking the seller's word for it.
Thank you again.

Our temps don't dip as low as yours, we're up north, but we do get a lot of wind and snow!! Great idea with the shade cloth. I've actually got two 16x4 foot that I'll attach next year as we get snow from both directions!!
You've got happy chucks for sure!!

Roger.

Very informative! My cockeral is VERY dominant and I was worried about ending up with another cockeral or two (by accident ofcourse) and knowing I could get them to coexist is a relief.
Thank you!

Very interesting!

It's nice to see a coop that can be constructed by one person! Many times I am on my own.
I am going to try to make this as a wheelbarrow type.
Thank you again!

I have a hoop run constructed hastily last Fall when we acquired our flock!
We had quite a few ranch panels (4'H x 16'L) per panel and these would have to attach to a repurposed 10x10x6 dog kennel now coop!
We stood up the panels the full 16ft on both sides of the coop and then bowed three panels and attached them to the 'walls' apex metal roof we'd constructed over the dog kennel. I truly WISH I'd seen your post right before we constructed this. SO many ideas!! We don't have a center roof support, but we do have two posts securing the panels within the run. The run is mainly covered with tarps and looks like a covered wagon..... And that's got to change!! I have no idea how we'd put the metal roof on mine but I'll definitely be working on a plan to do this. And on the sides to.
Your coop is amazing and DEFINITELY an inspiration/motivation to get mine looking pretty and not like a shed gone wrong!
Thank you so much. By summer there will be major changes in mine! Mainly to get rid of the tarps!!!

This looks wonderful and has given me ideas with my spare pallets.
You have a beautiful setting, coop and run.

Update: I was so excited thinking I could change Rodger's mindset. I've worked with him daily, and recently he was SO good when I treated his comb and wattles after a touch of frostbite! Afterwards, the girls delegated him to the roost below them for the night! That was a sad sight. He was back on the top roost with his girls the next night though. He steadily stayed getting worse again, and tonight he REALLY tried to spur me and got the broom I carry instead! I didn't even see it coming till the last minute. I feel like I've let him down. I don't think I can carry on like this though. He's the most amazing protector of his girls, he always feeds them first. And her warns them to get to cover if he sees something he doesn't like in the yard. I know her sacrifice himself for his girls and that's what makes this hard. He may have to. I'm heartbroken.
I love your article and I'm sure many have benefited in a positive way. But I think I'll have to say goodbye to Sir Rodger.

View attachment 1640211 I related to EVERYTHING you said. From the sweet, supportive hubby to the ninja spurring roo! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! Thank you for your great article! I too read about 'hugging it out' with a roo on BYC and understood more of his role in life! I have a cream legbar rooster and he has four ladies...... All divas! So they've all got actress/singers names. Princess Fiona (cream legbar) Goldie Hawn (golden laced wyandotte) Jose Moran (Blue Maran) Sophia Loren (silver laced wyandotte) and the king... Sir Rodger!!!
He only crows at sunrise, lucky me. But once he starts he does it for about five minutes and continues throughout the morning!
I didn't want to give up on him even after he tried to spur me the very first time, and yes, he flew at me like a ninja, all feathers, feet and beak. But it's the break that made contact with my jeans AND my skin. Not one to give up easily, even after continuously being told to put him in the pot by the local farmers, I searched on here and found my answer! Hug it out! I managed to grab a leg. That was it.... He was MINE!
He'll still test me from time to time and as soon as I can get my pond fishing net (l use to get leaves out of the horses mini pond) from under three feet of frozen snow, I'll be able to catch and hug him a lot easier.
I love my roo and the pot wasn't an option. I don't want chicks just two more pullets.
He's definitely a 'morning sex' roo and doesn't care whether I'm there or not!! But he does need a couple more hens.
UPDATE: Rodger has remained pretty good after my failed attempt to catch him! I'm happy so far!
I took it as a light hearted roo owners experience.

It's definitely a tough subject for sure.
I'm new to chickens and I knew this subject would be coming up at some point on my farm and knowing it would fall to me to do it.
Thank you for a good article. It would be the ax or gun for me.