Recent content by Philbilly

You might investigate the Maremma. No prey instinct and they see themselves as guardians but they are only aggressive when it it required. You don't need to coop your chickens; they're not going anywhere! They are not as 'neurotic' as Border Collies which would be my #2 pick. Pretty laid back...

25 out of 60. Used to get 55.

Bovan Browns. Bought 70, they're down to 45% production at 14 months from point of lay. Look terrible, lots of missing feathers and really red butts. I have to toss 5 or 6 eggs of what I do get due to poor quality shells that break when I wash then (gently) They get 17% pellets, scratch and...

I also have a fan. It cools the coop, provides air exchange, and moves the dust out which helps with my allergies.

I cheat- I hoot like an owl. They book it for the coop every time!

We have a flock of 70. One stands out and I have named her "Millicent The Magnificent". She is a deeper richer brown than all the others, she has a much larger comb of a deeper red than all the others, and she even has racing stripes! But we're starting to wonder if "she" is a "he". Millie is...