Recent content by appletrails

Thank you!

I read lots of helpful info here, but don't post much. I have a small flock of laying hens 19. Have noticed green diarrhea in one of the older, 3 years old, original hen. Lost her this week. We recently got some new pullets at an auction and they appear very healthy looking. We kept them...

Just got our new flock this weekend. All came from same place. One big Buff Orph. seems to be a loner....I feel so sorry for her. At night she is out in the run all by herself, last one to go inside. In the morning when I come to see them, again she is out there all by herself, the other 12 hens...

Just got our new flock this week-end at local chicken auction. They are suppose to be one-year-old hens but I think some look older. We have 13 total they were all from the same flock except one. Couple questions...first, they all lay in this hard-to-get-to corner... when they have 12...

We are planning to get one-year-old hens mostly for laying. Our research shows us Buff Orphingtons and Black Alstrolorps (spelling?) are both good layers and meat birds. Since this is our first go at it and we are about 15 minutes from our farm.... we will butcher birds in winter so we don't...

We are getting our first flock in a week or two and my hubby and I are in a debate about organic vs. commercial feed. I just purchased an all- natural, non-GMO, no soy feed with 17 % protein that our organic store makes themselves. It was $21.80 for a #50 bag. I got 3 bags as store owner told me...

OK, here are some photos of our chicken coop. Any experienced chicken people, feel free to comment on it and if we need to change some things to keep chickens safe. Got lots of good suggestions already. So any other ideas are welcomed. Heavy duty staples are what is holding down chicken wire...

Thank you! I thought about posting some photos for more imput....will get some detail pictures this week-end if I can get through all the snow and you can see how large the run is.... Was thinking hardware cloth is needed, it is just such a big run....?? We are getting chickens in April..so we...

We are going to get chickens for the first time this spring. Our new farm has a very nice existing coop that previous owner had chickens in. He converted an old garage into a large chicken coop with very secure runs that are all done with chicken wire, NOT hardware cloth. There are 3 strands of...

We are going to get chickens for the first time this spring. Our new farm has an very nice existing coop that previous owner had chickens in. He converted an old garage into a large chicken coop with very secure runs that are all done with chicken wire, NOT hardware cloth. There are 3 strands of...