Recent content by Fowl Wench

I have been doing this for years but didn't realize I was contributing to my chickens and making compost. But now we have a rat problem. I started cleaning everything out of the coop and quit putting hay down because I found the rats were pulling it up into the coop walls to make nests! I...

I was interested in finding this answer because we have a rat problem around our coop. But we are using HAY - not straw. So, while we battle that, organically of course, we do NOT want to give the rats any free and cozy bedding to use. (We found hay stuffed into all kind of holes and in the...

Thank you so much for posting this and all the commenters too! I'm really sorry about your chicken. We have a suffering hen with the same symptoms. I've tried the warm baths. I've administered 1 tsp Epsom salt in 1 ounce water (a one-time only medicine). I'm feeding yogurt mixed with...

Wow thanks Chemguy!

Thanks Mtn Laurel and Chickengeorgeto for the advice with the vinegar in the water. Darnit though now I have to go out there and clean out my waterer and start over. I haven't tried a plastic waterer - we have a heated waterer stand that I assume would probably melt a plastic waterer. So, Mtn...

Some people recommend only to use either plastic or glass waterer when using vinegar. I have a metal waterer. Don't know if its steel Or aluminum. What will happen if I use vinegar in my metal waterer? Will it hurt my chickens and why?

That is so great - congratulations MikeBD2! Did you use an incubator or let the mother hatch them naturally? I am looking forward to hatching some when my girls get old enough!

Went to the Knoxville farmers co-op and the "chicken ladies" there recommended LIME to scatter when there's a smell. I got HAY instead of straw that, I read on here, is better than straw. It's nice - smells sweet and lovely. The chickens were so happy with it! All is great in the coop now...

Y Yes that does sound easier. Thanks for the idea!

Woops! Thanks aart, for the heads up on that. I did find the thread and read about her DE fail. I'm def stickin with the DLM!!

Aww Ryan, you are so sweet. I can't believe you sold me your only one! Well I really love her. I would love to have another one. Those eggs are gonna be a hit with my customer-ladies. Thank you Ryan for sacrificing her for me!

Well thank you for the encouraging words. It's good to know the crowing window can be up to 6 months. I'll keep crowing at him til then. He does look at me real funny when I do that.. Good thing my neighbors can't see me.

Yeah that is a very good point you made about it being a "genetic breakthrough". So that means he probably will eventually crow. Maybe I should just WISH that he doesn't crow - then for sure he WILL.

Ha ha. I guess considering the ammonia smell I literally am a Fowl Wench. That's funny. Ok Beekissed, thanks for the advice. I added some dry leaves this afternoon and tossed that $h*¥ around in there. Hope that helps. I'm gonna go get some hay tomorrow also. Thank you!

Hey Nashville, you're not too far away from me! That's funny about your 3 month old. I know that sickly pitiful crow from one I used to have - ha ha! But not good news your GSBR has never crowed. Heck, I never thought about it before, but I guess all the birds are different and probably...