Recent content by Mike592

  1. Mike592

    Managing Quail that Are Not in Cages

    Hi everyone, We have a lot of experience raising chickens, and are about to begin our quail journey. We will not be using cages and I plan to keep about 15 layers and 3 males in an aviary that's about 4'x8'. Can you help me learn more about managing future generations? I'd like to raise...
  2. Mike592

    What kind of Roost to add to my Muscovy house?

    We're picking up Muscovy ducklings tomorrow and I'm working on their adult house for when they're ready. I've read Muscovies like to roost at night. Should it be elevated off the ground? How high? The males can jump up there? Or should it be a larger limb just right on the floor of the...
  3. Mike592

    Permanent Muscovy Run under Mature Apple Trees? Good idea?

    Hi everyone, I've been keeping a small flock of chickens for awhile and am now considering getting a few Muscovy ducks. I have no experience with ducks. Let me know if this is a good idea or not... :) I plan to build a coop with an enclosed, but open air run, and have that be just outside...
  4. Mike592

    Am I crazy for considering keeping a Rooster around Toddlers?

    The boy is always supervised. I guess I worry I'll turn away for one second to do fill feed or something and a rooster will decide to attack. :(
  5. Mike592

    Am I crazy for considering keeping a Rooster around Toddlers?

    My son is two years old and my daughter is only two months. We have seven layers at the moment. I've never had a Roo but we have a broody setting on a dozen bought fertilized eggs. I'm considering keeping the most mannerly of the new boys, but obviously want to take no risk with my kids'...
  6. Mike592

    When and how are natural broody-hatched chickes fully integrated?

    If you decide to have the whole flock eating chick starter rather than separating the feed, make sure the laying flock has access to oyster shell or something to supplement the calcium they'll not be getting while on chick starter.
  7. Mike592

    When and how are natural broody-hatched chickes fully integrated?

    Not so much free range as I have electric poultry netting up and I paddock shift that every now and then. They can leave the coop/run and go out there to scratch around in the grass to their heart's content. I'm just more worried about roosting and sleeping issues. Didn't know if the old...
  8. Mike592

    When and how are natural broody-hatched chickes fully integrated?

    To get a better idea, in case it changes anyone's suggestions for me.... here's a pic of my Coop & Run. Broody is sitting in a makeshift nest box down on the ground in the run. Then there's a pic of inside the elevated coop so you can see the roost and nest box setup (this was just before...
  9. Mike592

    When and how are natural broody-hatched chickes fully integrated?

    OK, it sounds like we may have some cuteness overload going on when they start to roost with Mom. Do folks recommend having a much lower roost and moving it up as the chicks get bigger? Or will they only want to start to roost when they're big enough to hop onto a 12" high roost? That's all...
  10. Mike592

    When and how are natural broody-hatched chickes fully integrated?

    Thanks! So it sounds like there might not be much intervention I have to do, huh? Yes, I have room for six, but that's my upper limit based on my math calculations. I didn't imagine that Mom would sleep apart from them until they were old enough to roost on their own. Hmmm. Now I'm...
  11. Mike592

    When and how are natural broody-hatched chickes fully integrated?

    Hi everyone, first time broody hatcher here with some questions. I know Mama hen should hopefully do a good job protecting the chicks and integrating them into the flock. I have her in a segregated nesting box down in the chicken run in a small section fenced off from the rest of the run. So...
  12. Mike592

    Added a ton of leaves to the coop and run= chicken heaven!

    There is a ton of information on the Deep Litter Method and if you do a search you'll find a lot of good reading. But in a nutshell, think of composting. (It's not exact, but a good start). The chicken manure is very high in nitrogen. As needed, depending on the size of your coop, number of...
  13. Mike592

    post your chicken coop pictures here!

    Finished our 8'x12' coop and run (adapted from The Garden Coop) about three weeks ago and so far our 7 girls love it! I put a lot of pics and a tour on my wife's Blog you can check out here if you want: http://midwesternbite.com/hey-ladies-can-i-show-you-upstairs/
  14. Mike592

    Added a ton of leaves to the coop and run= chicken heaven!

    I have a chipper/shredder and never thought of this! I imagine breaking up the hay would be very beneficial.
  15. Mike592

    Black Oil Sunflower Seeds - Where do you get them?

    Good info Mark. Thanks. Anyone know of BOSS that isn't packaged "not for human consumption"? Any more detail about what that means?
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