ochochicas, that is good news!
I have broody hatched chicks from this spring that are just hitting point of lay - and they are all doing great so far. I had mareks diagnosed in the fall of 2014 and lost about 1/4th of the flock. I believe I had mareks in the flock for at least the previous...
This year I had some humoungous pumpkins, so big I can barely pick them up. They didn't ripen before the freeze, though - but I've stashed them all in the run.
Smaller pumpkins, I let them peck at and when they have created a bowl, I put their feed in them. Helps to let the smaller and more...
mnbrew, it might not make sense if your coop is in the deep woods, but....I make a sun porch each fall out of haybales interspersed with old storm windows, covered with an old piece of plywood. Just set the wood or whatever top you can come up with on the bales, wedge the windows in , and it...
dogs have accounted for more than 90% of predator kills for me. I lose to the occasional hawk or owl, or fox, but....generally it is a dog.
Head count came up short last night, missing a hen. Not sure whether the fox learned about chickens (almost hard to believe when it had a standoff with...
having my morning coffee on the porch at dawn, here comes a fox!!!!!prancing around, hunting rodents. apparently uninterested in the chicken yard. While the run is secure, the hens have access to a large garden area which is also fenced but nothing that would deter a fox. Yikes!
first...
Hi Spiderlady,
So sorry that you have reason to be on this thread, and sorry to hear about your flock.
,After mareks in my flock, I introduced turkey litter with turkey feathers and turkey droppings into the run and coop Ithe feathers are the most helpful). I was advised against the turkey...
well, the 8 broody hatched chicks are doing fine so far, although I culled the two cockerels last week. The remaining 5 pullets are about at point of lay, and looking good. Guess these next few weeks will be critical. Keeping my fingers crossed......and yes, Rebrascora, I love your optimism!
Josher57, thats a nice looking coop!
Art, here is the coop before it was inhabited, and before the tarps were pulled apart for venting. I made the door wide enough to easily haul in hay bales and feed. Used old cedar fence panels for the back end, and the bottom wall on the front end...
been raising chickens for maybe 18 years. maybe 20? anyway, this spring I built a hoop coop and used it to house 25 red rangers raised for meat.
1. You can get 4 hog panels (16' long) in your pickup truck bed (bent into a hoop), but getting them out is crazy. Watch out!
2. If you cover...