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  1. rosemarythyme

    Coop size

    4 sq ft is just the easiest general rule to go by. Some birds are fine with less. Some flocks need more than that. So averaging it out is a convenient way to get a rough calculation for numbers. Not sure on the door... never tested that! It's more the location that they memorize. When I...
  2. rosemarythyme

    Coop size

    Taking in NO other factors other than floor space I'd say a max of 30 birds.
  3. rosemarythyme

    Coop size

    Oh ok, so very short distance move! Then really the main thing you'll want to do is make sure they have no access into the old coop. They'll likely huddle up next to it or as close as possible on the first few nights, but that makes it easier to round them up and put them in the new one...
  4. rosemarythyme

    Coop size

    I assume that means they're moving locations within in the yard and if so, you simply keep them confined to the new coop and run for a few days. They may need to be placed inside the coop a few nights before they get the hang of it.
  5. rosemarythyme

    Eggs what do you do if they are dirty and how dirty is acceptable? Maybe you could show me your eggs you collect?

    Refrigeration slows bacterial growth as well as lengthens shelf life. Even with bloom left intact eggs at room temperature don't stay "fresh" as long as ones kept at a constant cold temperature. Since we're heading into winter I'm stockpiling eggs now for use 3, 4, 5 months from now, which is...
  6. rosemarythyme

    Eggs what do you do if they are dirty and how dirty is acceptable? Maybe you could show me your eggs you collect?

    They really don't look that dirty to me. I'd just pop them in the fridge and wash only if needed once I'm ready to use them.
  7. rosemarythyme

    Brooding outside in the coop in October

    Lol well you already ordered but yes, I think the plan is doable. Just mind any temperature restrictions on the heat plate (a heat lamp with an incandescent bulb may be enough to bring the area around the plate up to temperature if needed), and hope that by the time November rolls around it...
  8. rosemarythyme

    Help! My cockerel suddenly started balding.

    No way to know for sure. She might not allow it, or she might like it a lot and go around presenting herself for grooming. Not sure. To figure that out you'd probably need to observe the flock's interaction for a while.
  9. rosemarythyme

    Pease Read! Merricks’s or not?

    Sorry I have 0 experience with Marek's. :hmm
  10. rosemarythyme

    Help! My cockerel suddenly started balding.

    My guess is it's hormonal - now that they're laying the cockerel's advances are welcomed, so the girls are showing him some affection. Once it becomes a habit they'll likely return to doing it whenever his beard grows back enough for them to pick at again. Some of my bearded birds (past and...
  11. rosemarythyme

    Help! My cockerel suddenly started balding.

    You can try pick-no-more lotion but it's not really a long term solution as it needs to be applied regularly (and it also stains purple). I currently have 3 bearded hens and only 1 has an intact beard simply because she's too skittish to let the others groom her.
  12. rosemarythyme

    Help! My cockerel suddenly started balding.

    Normal and harmless (unless he's a show bird I suppose). Happens to most bearded birds and even moreso to males with an adoring flock of females. He'll stay patchy or bare chinned until his next molt, at which point the hens will simply preen him bald again.
  13. rosemarythyme

    Chickens laying soft shell eggs

    Try mixing crushed eggshells with the oyster shell. A lot of birds prefer it and if they're both in the same dispenser they may end up grabbing some oyster too. You can bake them, boil them, or just let them air dry, whatever you feel comfortable with.
  14. rosemarythyme

    What is squatting?

    I have one of those too! You reach for her, and *pata-pata-pata* as she lowers down.
  15. rosemarythyme

    Coop under construction ~ Anything I should be thinking about?

    x2, it's too bad it's framed and everything, but I would've placed it so the bottom was sitting on the horizontal beam above the concrete blocks.
  16. rosemarythyme

    Are Hen’s Spurs too Big?

    They don't look too long but you can still safely clip them and see if that helps any. I use dog nail trimmers to snip off the tips.
  17. rosemarythyme

    New chicken mom

    You want deep litter in the coops? And not the run? Deep litter doesn't really work without ground contact and moisture, so I think you have things switched around. Deep litter the run and sand (if you're willing to scoop more often) in the coops.
  18. rosemarythyme

    A question about roost height

    I don't think it's the roosts either, nor bullying if you haven't seen any other signs of such. What I think it is is perhaps it's health related or that age is starting to catch up with her. Does she seem to have any vision problems? Anything that could be impairing her movement (i.e...
  19. rosemarythyme

    Are They Eating Too Much Calcium?

    Long story short everyone has their own way of managing their flocks as you've seen by the variety of responses here. And I don't know what your set up is like. In general folks who advocate for more "natural" chicken raising free range and have ample mixed forage to allow the birds to get...
  20. rosemarythyme

    Skittish girls

    Since you mentioned there's no modifying the coop or roosts you'll just have to be persistent, though it may take a while as they don't have the option of a separate roost to make them feel more secure in the space.
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