Recent content by ODU Big Blue

I live in the suburbs and have a micro flock of 4 hens and we're in the market for a puppy. I want a dog that has livestock guardian instincts to protect the flock from raccoons, foxes, bobcats, coyotes & hawks as that is all that I have to worry about in the suburbs. Because these are very...

But would it be okay with just the garage light if I never brought it out in the daylight for the 30 days?

So I purchased a new hen and I'm doing the 30 day quarantine in the garage in a dog crate. I've never done this before. Should I just leave the light on all day or do I need to take the dog crate out into the sunlight?

My BIL has a coworker that uses a fox decoy with the tail that blows with the wind. He says it keeps the hawks away from his chickens. Anyone else ever heard of this??

Yea that seems fine what you are doing but I let my chickens outside of the coop and outside of the run and they free range in my fenced in backyard which is about 1/4 acre.

So I let my ladies free range in the backyard and my family knows they have outside shoes that never go in the house. But when we have visitors or even parties it would be impractical to have visitors bring an extra pair of shoes or wipe the bottoms of their shoes with Clorox wipes everytime...

So my coop is finally done and I'm picking up three 1.5 year old hens tomorrow. What do I do the first day? Can I bring them home in a box? How long do they stay in the coop before I let them out for the first time? Any tips are appreciated.