I was just spying on them from my office, and I noticed that when they made a move for the water, some of the chickens went after them. I don't care about chest bumping, but my RIR had her feet up and looked like she was clawing at the ducks back (as the poor thing was running away!). I just...
My two rouens are about six weeks old and have happy, healthy little quacks. I keep them in an enclosed run that shares space with my chicken run, but is separated by a wire fence until they are comfortable co-mingling (they each have their own houses). I let the ducks and chickens free range...
Hello,
I recently added two rouen ducks to my backyard flock of five hens. I purchased them straight run, but the farmer who sold them to me said he was "fairly certain" that they were girls. I was excited when, at five weeks, the ducks were getting all brown adult feathers in...I thought girls...
No I totally appreciate the ideas! I was thinking of something more along the lines of a fence for my property line...I don't know if it should be really tall, or if a shorter fence would be okay. I also wanted to know if anyone has used any fencing and found it to last through the years and...
Wow, that is an amazing set-up you have!! For now, we are thinking of keeping them in our garden (which we never got around to planting this year). It's fenced in, about 25'x15', we just need to put some netting over the top. The attached run I have now is perfectly safe, but it's not very big...
Hello,
I have been free ranging our five chickens for over a year now, much to the delight of our close neighbors. ALthough we have a big yard, the ladies make their way over to the neighbors, who have gone out of their way to tell me how much they enjoy having a neighborhood flock...
The poor thing! I'm glad it resolved itself for you. Luckily, it hasn't gotten too violent yet, but they seem to go after the back of her neck. She's a glutton for punishment, she keeps going back for more I don't have any roosters, and although there is one hen who "rules the roost", they all...
Hello,
Thanks for the advice! She's not new, the five hens were raised together since hatching. Always gotten along well, and I've never had any issues. I just had to go out and clear out another scuffle, it seems the other chickens go after her each time they get the chance! And our yard is...
Hello,
I have five chickens, who have always gotten along smashingly until last week. Four of them are suddenly ganging up on one of the RIR, pecking her and attacking her until she lays down. If I isolate her, she wigs out and makes all sorts of noise for hours, and she always seems to want to...
Hello,
I have five hens (hatched last spring) that free range throughout my yard. Because they are out most of the day, their run is relatively small, and is difficult to clean. It's just dirt at the moment, but we are expanding it this weekend. I was wondering if it's advisable to use pea...
Hello!
I acquired two baby ducklings today, one hatched last night and another hatched last week. Both appear happy and healthy. I have a very nice brooder set-up, with a heat lamp to maintain the temp around 90 degrees (a little less, because it's HOT here in RI right now). My problem is that...
Yeah the coop isn't big enough for me to crawl into. The roof is hinged, but I can't get it open because it's extremely heavy and completely iced over. Should I be worried about the chickens catching something from the birds? I was pretty surprised that they would snuggle up together on the...
Here in New England, we have been pummeled with a TON of snow this winter. While my coop is holding up quite nicely, I noticed our run roof started to cave under the weight of ice and snow. I cleaned it off and reenforced it, but yesterday I noticed at least a dozen black birds (and one lonely...
I even picked her up and put her in the nesting box when I heard her "singing", and she marched right out and went back to her litter box! It's like having a stubborn toddler!
Do you have fake eggs in the nesting boxes? I did that for mine and they seemed to pick up on it. Do they free range? Sometimes mine lay all over the yard. I have also found that since they started laying, they've been getting better about doing it in the "right" spot. I would give it some time...
My ladies have found the perfect place to get dirty....right against the house , in our flower beds.
It seems that they have also found the perfect place to lay....the litter box. Geesh, these ladies are keeping me busy!
Mine were born in early June, and they are laying! We are in RI so the weather is similar. I have a light that I turn on when I open the coop, and turn off before I go to bed. I think it helps not only with the laying, but it keeps it a little warmer in there