Recent content by Buggys Beaks

My elderly neighbor gave his chickens (red sex-link) to me because he couldn't care for them anymore. They stopped laying for him in the middle of the summer last year, but after some good grub and TLC one hen is leaving me little thank you gifts. My 4-yo was super happy to find that...

Hi! I'm getting my first batch of chicks this April, and I thought I had decided what I wanted, but then I saw the Appenzeller. I wanted to start with 3 hens of each Buff Oropingtons and Black Australorps with a Light Brahma rooster. My coop will be 8' x 10' with a run about 100-120 square...

Yeah. I don't think the under tank heater would be safe for them. Even with a thick layer of pine shavings, I can't be sure their little feet wouldn't get too hot. With that one, I'd also still have to use something overhead as it doesn't really heat the air, just the floor and bedding.

I used to keep reptiles, and so know of the many sources for heating an enclosure. I still have my under-tank heaters (which heat the floor of a glass tank) and my ceramic bulbs (which radiate heat from above as a light bulb would, but produce no light.) Would either of these heat sources be...

Ok. Thanks. The telephone pole used to have power running to it from the house. Neighbors have told us the original owners had chickens, so I guess my husband thought they were there because the rest of the property was gardens and fruit trees. It's also likely the chickens were free range...

Other chickens that housed in the area more than 11 years ago.

My husband told me that he believes the area I want to use was housed chickens. (Thus the telephone pole.) Do I need to worry about ground contamination? It's been at least 11-15 years, if not more.

I noticed a few people posting about their new chicks coming in or ordered for a certain delivery date. Does that mean you can get chicks any time of the year? I was going to wait until spring, building my coop myself over the long winter months, but with my husband being very supportive of my...

All this information begs the question: If you do have a bird that gets infected how do you handle it? I would assume immediate quarantine if it's possible. But what about the rest of the flock? Is this a situation where culling an entire flock and cleansing or moving the housing would be...

Oh my goodness! They are SO adorable! I'm glad they arrived and are are (mostly) healthy. Thanks for sharing the pics, and your experience. As a newbie, it's good to hear the good and bad. One quick question, if one dies in shipping does it affect the rest in any way?

Kmoon, I don't know if you got your answer yet, as it's been a year since you asked. Right now the county is reviewing their minimum acreage requirement due to pressure from the citizens. Chickens are becoming very popular!

I love the idea of the sky light and using linoleum up the walls a little. A lot of hard work, you put in, but the results are wonderful. :)

WOW! That is one impressive coop! I am in awe. A spectacular design . . . and the artwork! Fantabulous!

Fabulous! I was just looking at a shed this size today. It's nice to see it in use. :)

Thank you Yogi. I have big concerns about the foxes, owls, and hawks we have--we also have the occasional bald eagle--so I definitely want to keep them covered. I hadn't thought about water! Thanks for that. If I remember correctly my hose almost reaches to that spot. Maybe a longer hose...