Recent content by Roger-B

  1. Roger-B

    we love chickens, squirrels and wild birds. how do they mix?

    We are thinking of installing a squirrel feeder and squirrel house in our outdoor chicken run. Are we asking for trouble? if not, what sort of feed should we use for the squirrels?. Are there any foods for squirrels that are not good for chickens?, since we are sure some of the squirrel food...
  2. Roger-B

    Adding ducks to our flock

    Thank you all for your feed back. We are not prepared to have as much mess as ducks seem to produce. Dealing with our five chickens seems about right. So chickens are it. I am so glad I asked the question. Thanks again.
  3. Roger-B

    Adding ducks to our flock

    After a year of letting our girls have the run of the backyard, we have decided to build a larger run for day time use so that we can replant the balance of the yard. We are giving thought to introducing a couple of bantam ducks to our five full size chickens. We like the idea of the smaller...
  4. Roger-B

    Another broody hen with newbie parents

    One of our five hens got egg bound and did allot of uncomfortable sitting until the egg passed. After a couple of days she started sitting on the nest again with great single mindedness, but the vet assured us that she was just broody. When we take her out of the box to give her some exercise...
  5. Roger-B

    Hen Nesting at Night - Egg Bound Concern

    One of our girls is in the nesting box at night. She has always laid her eggs in the morning. Should we be concerned about her being "egg bound"?
  6. Roger-B

    Something to peck for...

    Thank you for your responces. I did go out after work last night to purchase some scratch feed. The girls were very impressed when I scattered it in their run. I did put some in their bedding. I don't think they are aware of it yet. Is the concern that the scratch feed in the bedding will...
  7. Roger-B

    Something to peck for...

    We have a lovely and pretty clean hen house that has an elevated platform with a water dispenser and a feeder. (The automatic waterer and the main feeder are in the run.)It is also at the level of three windows that our girls use to take in the world (of our back yard) and to sun themselves...
  8. Roger-B

    Chicken roost: Pole or Platform Question

    The issue of the width of the roost is interesting. I currently have a rounded upright 2 x 4. I was about to replace it with a 1-3/16" closet pole, thinking that the 2 x 4 was a bit thick for them to hold onto. I can easily install a 2 x 4 on the flat to see if that is more attractive but I...
  9. Roger-B

    Chicken roost: Pole or Platform Question

    Our five hens have settled into their new hen house in an uncomfortable sleeping arrangement. Two are sleeping on a narrow ledge near the ceiling. Two are sleeping on an even narrower window sill on the opposite wall. The fifth is sleeping by herself on the roost pole. My question is whether...
  10. Roger-B

    Help with chicken handling

    I forgot to thank you for your thoughts on the cats. We have noticed our male Siamese scoping out the chicken run, in that low slung stealthy hunters crouch. The hens are not much impressed. They are watchful but not stressed. We shall wait a bit longer until they get to full size before we...
  11. Roger-B

    Help with chicken handling

    Thank you both for your thoughts on this. We are being very careful with our eyes and will get the safety glasses tomorrow. We like being in close proximity but don't like the idea pf any part of us being considered a tasty morsel. I would like to ask about something else. My wife is...
  12. Roger-B

    Help with chicken handling

    Thank you for the feedback. I think I will put some safety glasses out in the house for when we want to get really close. We are having a great time and are looking forward to years of companionship. Thanks again.
  13. Roger-B

    Help with chicken handling

    Our family converted a cherished backyard play house into a chicken house with a new run attached. Being that we live in California, we incorporated our earthquake supplies into a sealed-off storage area below the 30" high platform where our five hens spend much of their time. The house is...
  14. Roger-B

    Help with chicken-friendly gardens

    Thankyou all for the feed back. We had been thinking of lavender and some grasses. We will investigate the herbs. I like the idea of the various scents!
  15. Roger-B

    Help with chicken-friendly gardens

    Our family is new to raising chickens but we are having a great time so far. We have two buff Plymouth Rocks, two barred Plymouth Rocks and a Rhode Island Red. We are about to move them from inside our house to their new home in our refurbished back yard play house in Berkeley CA. In preparing...
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