Recent content by mwhidden

I live in Maine as well and our rule of thumb is below 10 degrees at night and the birds get a heat lamp. It is hung from the ceiling in the center of the coop. The coop is draft free for the most part but not insulated. We watch the weather and put the heat lamp on a timer so it will only come...

Thank you so much for sharing! I love it!

Love all the ideas! I would love to know how to get grain cheaper. Shavings, I found if I go shovel them myself at the local lumber yard it is way cheaper than buying bagged. I too shop at Goodwill, yard sales, dollar stores, watch the sale flyers, use coupons and buy in bulk when I can...

We are back yarders I guess. We have 14 hens, 1 rooster and 6 chicks on 4 acres.

Today one of my hens layed an egg that had no outer shell. It is squishy and the inner lining is in tact. Does anyone know why and are they missing something in their diet? Thanks.

I have a RIR hen who appears to have an enlarged crop. She is roosting and acting ok but is open mouth breathing. It has been a couple of days. Could she be crop bound and what do I do about it? Thanks.

Thank you so much for all your time and answer. I do not have any special breeds that need heat, I just feel bad for them. I do plan on adding a dropped ceiling with a piece of foam insulation and some strapping. We also talked about adding it to the floor as well. We can get under the...

I live in Maine. I have an 8 x 8 building with a 8 ft. ceiling (at the peak). The walls are two layers, partical board inside and t-111 (sp?) outside. It is trimmed outside and in so there are no drafts. The door is insulated and the chicken door is also. I cover the windows with plastic in...

Hi, I live in rural Maine and I pay my (20 year old) chicken sitter about $5.00 a visit. Have fun at the wedding!

Thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it. I am trying to re-home Woody but it has to be a good home. If I did not have young children, I would not worry about keeping him. He will only come after you if one of his girls squaks and he thinks you did something. He will eat bread...

Becca, thanks again for your input. And you are right, I do feel bad about placing him but I will. I have been a vet tech for 19 years and have passed along to my kids how to treat all animals. I do feel it is a combination of breed, disposition and protectiveness. I really don't need a...

I am trying to place my 1 year old Rooster. His name is Woody and he is very handsome. He is an excellent watch rooster and is very protective of his girls. He is in a large pen in the am and free ranges in the pm. A bit spoiled with table scraps and a heated coop in the winter. If you have...

Thank you so much for your reply! You are absolutely right. Woody is not as aggressive as your naughty boy but still a bit unpredictable and the kids want him to live somewhere else. I am trying to find him a home. Thanks again.

I have a small flock of 14 which includes a 1 yr. old RI Red rooster and a new 4 month old ?? breed rooster. They free range in the afternoon and Woody is very protective of his girls and is very good at keeping them close and announcing his whereabouts. We have not lost one under his watch...