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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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!
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...