Recent content by Afrodigh

Chicken Disease Timeline: June 30 - previously healthy hen died suddenly (I found it in the coop with liquid leaking from its beak, it died within minutes of me finding it. No other signs of illness in flock) July 5 - 3 young hens purchased and put in baby coop/run adjacent to my big coop/run...

My hens have had a respiratory infection (I think) for close to a week. I took the sickest one to a vet and was given antibiotics for the whole flock as well as meloxicam to help with symptoms. They’ve had low energy, coughing, congestion, and swollen eyes. I am on day 6 (out of 7) of...

I composted a lot of rotten tomatoes last year. This past spring I added compost to my garden when I first started planting and then was out of town for a long weekend. I came back to HUNDREDS of tomato plants coming up in my garden! I also reuse a lot of containers for starting seeds including...

I am planning on trying some of these next year! I live in Nashville, TN and our summers are sweltering! Last year we only had 30 days between our last frost and our first 80 degree day! https://pin.it/ajnkzsd6z7vbr2

Is there a reason in your winter waterer design you opted for an aquarium heater over a de-icer? I’m trying to figure out what would work best. What are the pros and cons of each for safety/energy-efficiency/etc?

Thanks! I wish I had done more winter research before building my first waterer... I don’t have power in the coop and it’s at the back of my yard, but at this point I don’t think I can avoid having to run an extension cord out there. I’m in Nashville which isn’t too cold, but we had a solid...

Has anyone used pipe heating cable? I’m wondering if that would keep the PVC warm and the nipples from freezing?

I was so proud of the waterer I built from a bucket, PVC, and chicken nipples this summer (similar to this: http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2012/06/how-to-diy-chicken-nipple-waterers.html)- and then winter weather came:hit. The chicken nipples are downward facing ones and they are freezing...

Is that common among chickens? I guess it would make sense with my remaining three seeming healthy.

We experienced our first loss this morning. I have four 10-month old barred rocks. We found one of my ladies dead on the floor of the coop this morning. Yesterday I had noticed she was a little more sluggish than usual, but she is the smallest and most shy out of my four so I didn't pay much...

I’m in Nashville so it’s definitely been hot! I’ll try adding calcium to the feed. I’ve heard adding crushed egg shells to the feed works?

I have the exact same problem! 4 Barred Rocks all laying normally except for one lady (haven’t been able to identify who). I’ve found 4 crushed eggs so far. The first two seemed very thin and were in the run. Now I’ve had two in the coop. Can tell if it’s fragile shell or someone picking at it.

Yeah, maybe I’ll try camping out by the coop this weekend. 2 of the 5 have been in the same spot, the other three have been scattered across the run. I’ve had golf balls sitting in the coop for a while but they haven’t taken the hint!

I have four 19-wk old Barred rock hens. They just recently started laying and I have gotten a total of 5 eggs in the last 2 weeks. All eggs have been laid in the run. There are two nesting boxes in the coops that they have gone in and out of, but they’re not laying in them. Im not home during...

Can you ferment any feed or use FF at any age? I have 14week old pullets (4) and am still feeding them organic chick starter/grower (Nature's Best) still. I'm new to this and am quite clueless!