Recent content by msmidwick

  1. M

    Pros and Cons of keeping a roo

    I had a broody sit on an egg and I let her hatch it. Turned out to be a too. I hadn't had one for some time so we kept him until he just wouldn't stop trying to make babies and my hens backs were raw. He is no longer with us and my hens were quite okay with that. Then I got a wild notion to...
  2. M

    What else should I put in my coop?

    Chickens cannot see in the dark, hence, why they go to bed at sunset. They prefer the dark to sleep in. I had outdoor lights surrounding the outside of the coop to deter predators, but the roosters were crowing all night thinking it was not dark. Not as dark as he wanted. I unplugged the...
  3. M

    Is my coop big enough?? Please reply! 🙏

    My husband installed an automatic door that opens in the morning at the time you set (sunrise) and closes about an hour after sunset. You really can't predict what time the birds will go to bed. Especially during daylight savings. I have lost so many chickens over the years this helps me sleep...
  4. M

    Rodents nest in my hen house

    Coyote urine purchased from Amazon. I put it in the coop and under the trash can feeder. No more rats. If I rains put more out. It doesn’t take much.
  5. M

    Ducks Need a Home

    Thank you - I separated them a couple months back as they were bullying my chickens and I did read about the drake hurting the chickens. They are kinda cute, but I really need to find them a home.
  6. M

    Ducks Need a Home

    I have 2 Pekin ducks M/F, 6 months old, she is laying daily. They are not kind to my chickens. Need to find them a home. Central Florida area.
  7. M

    We finally got our dream coop!

    You can put a sunscreen canopy over the roof. I am also in Florida and I do that to my shed/coop in the hot months.
  8. M

    Mom died by Hawk, left me nine orphan babies

    I always raise my babies in my garage with plywood sides for a pen and a heat lamp. The floor is covered in pine shavings and I have a chick waterer and a baby chick feeder. You need chick starter feed-medicated. They thrive a couple months there and then I introduce them to the hens...
  9. M

    Why roosters only?

    I have had the same problem many years ago. Hatched too many roosters and finally stopped with the incubator. I could sure use a rooster now though. No rooster, no babies here.
  10. M

    Sharing my coop build

    I agree with the need for ventilation above the chickens - mandatory. Also, with the weather in Indiana, you might think about putting eaves above the window openings to keep the rain and snow out of the coop. Cross ventilation is good too.
  11. M

    In praise of elevated coops

    I truly miss my coop that my husband built about 3' above ground. It had nesting boxes at the height where I could just grab the eggs. There were hinged doors for easy cleaning and the ladies loved going under for shade. And a separate 'room' as a nursery. Perfect. It got old, started...
  12. M

    how to make chainlink less ug…?

    That was my first encounter with cats! I took down the wood sheeting and so far so good. We also installed an automatic door close/open and the girls are safer at night.
  13. M

    how to make chainlink less ug…?

    Just FYI - I covered my chain link with wood sheets 4x8 and the bobcats were easily able to climb into my run! Not good!
  14. M

    Why is nobody laying?!

    I give them a bit (1/4 cup for 12 chickens) mixed in some wild bird seed. Not very often so as not to mess with the natural laying sequence too much. The dry mealworms tend to slow down the egg laying also. It is getting warm here in Florida and my hens are slowing down some also. Good luck
  15. M

    How much do you pay for feed??

    I am paying $14/50lb at Rural King. I am in Florida. This is not a fancy feed, but the girls are healthy. I add some oyster shells in the pen area. They get scraps every other day as we eat salads every day so they are getting veggies and protein at no cost.
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