Recent content by mscallisto

Mine do this a lot, especially if I put new feed in and they all try to gorge themselves.

That's why I only let mine free range when I'm with them. It does give me a reason to stay outside longer, even if to just sit in a chair and read a book or just watch them. The problem with free ranging is you will lose chickens to predators. It's like a kid and a cookie jar.

I haven't used mint sprays, but I have planted mint beside the coop. It seemed to help a little, but I wouldn't call it a cure for mice. My girls didn't touch it though. Guess they prefer having bird breath.

I've trapped them with various things. I use a dog proof trap and the first one I caught was with club crackers. After that it was pretty consistent with marshmallows, I made sure to put it behind the trigger, but the last 2 were being difficult. I had to buy actual raccoon attractent, which...

I live in Colorado and it was 2 months ago.

They love the sewers, under sheds, in dense brush, in your attic, just about anywhere they can fit. And you can bet there's at least 5 more to the 1 you see.

I agree with raccoon. Every bird of mine that has been offed by a coon only had it's head removed.

I'll be honest. Free ranging them is always a risk. I let my girls out one day around 10am, and 2 hours later a fox came in broad daylight and killed them all.

That is what raccoons have done to my girls over and over. Take the head and leave the rest of the body.

A fox can clear a 6 foot fence without even touching it. After my flock was decimated by a family of foxes, my girls are never going to free range unless I'm present. I'd rather have them alive than risk it. I've had raccoons and fox attack my girls, and they always left behind proof, usually...

Molt doesn't start quite yet. They usually molt here when it gets cold because I always thought it was weird they didn't molt while it was warmer instead of freezing cold.

This was the same type I had when I first started 10 years ago. Very sturdy, and quite predator proof. Fit 4 birds comfortably. They only use the top to sleep and lay. The bottom was fine as long as they had the room to stand. Doesn't need to look like a house eith 10 ft ceilings lol

I live in Aurora Co. Hens are really resilient. Make sure they have plenty of water and shade during the summer. They'll be fine. As far as our winters, they don't need heat. They'll be fine. I use a heated hanging waterer in the winter and have a radiant heat plate in the laying box, not...

This is the 2 year old

I know this probably isn't likely, but is there a way to tell how old a hen is? I think my friend and I were duped. We adopted 2 hens who we were told were 2 and 1 year olds. I have the alleged 1 year old, a copper maran mix. In 3 weeks she's laid 3 eggs. My friend has the 2 year old, full...