Hello!
Its been a few years since I had backyard chickens and Im so excited to get more this spring. Ive bought 2 coops in the past and have learned a LOT about what I want in a coop. I havent been able to find a design I love, so Id like to design my own. Im a beg+/int level with building, so...
Help! I thought one of my 8 girls was egg bound, but didn't feel anything, so I've been keeping an eye on her (theyre all a year old). The other day I saw a 4 inch roundworm in her poop! I ordered Durvet Safeguard Goat Dewormer and it's due to arrive today. How much do I give them? I'm going to...
My 6 pullets have been sleeping on the roost inside the coop. After an 'incident' we moved the hens to the run, and made them sleep out there (its small). This seemed to work for everyone. Last night my daughter forgot to lock them up and, judging by poop, the 2 hens slept on the outside roost...
So, my hens refuse to lay eggs on the norm wood chips-kick it out of the nest, so its a plain wood floor (bought new stuff to try tomorrow)...theyve been laying since the end of May/early June. I can't tell if one of my girls is pecking and breaking her eggs or if theyre breaking due to the fact...
So, my girls who started laying in late May/early June refused to lay on the wood chips, they kick them away and then lay. They're now in a new coop and again refuse to lay on the wood chips, I got this 'natural', softer stuff hoping thatll help, plan to try tomorrow. Has anyone dealt with this...
OK, I've seen some awesome ideas on here, and seen some expensive ones online. Hoping to get ideas on what is a SAFE (smaller coop), small, easy and cheap to make heater for the girls' waterer in the winter. AAAAAAAANNNDDD GOOOOOOO....
Long story short, our 6 chicks and 2 hens knew each other from our small 1/2 acre yard and the day came when they HAD to share a coop. The hens are 6 months? and the chicks were 4ish weeks. It went far too well for 2 nights. The 3rd night we had my birthday party, all were stressed due to kids...
Everyone says to give the girls oyster shells, but my question is- does it have to be oyster shells? Or is it just because thats what they sell? We eat a ton of crab and clams. Breaking it into little pieces isn't too hard. This occurred to me the other day as they were eating crab bits that...
Audrey is a 5.5 week old, barred rock. Since day one Ive gotten a kick out of her creative pooping. Sometimes she runs backwards before going, sometimes her wings go straight up, etc. It's recently occurred to me that I think she has a chronic constipation issue.
She's developed a white drip...
On Saturday I noticed that one of my almost 5 week old girls seemed to have a white belly, but we were having a big party that day/night, so didn't pay much attention, thought it was probably just her changing feathers, etc. Had a great party, but my two 6 month old hens and almost 5 week old...
We have a new coop for our hens- with our chicks. They get along quite well, the chicks are scared out of their minds, but it's going well. The hens old coop was supposed to be picked up today, but it wasn't (the hens are on night 3 in their new coop). I set up their 4 nests, complete with fake...
After much ado, my 2 hens have met my 6 chicks (4 weeks) and will be moving in together tomorrow. I was so concerned about intros that I forgot to consider feed! Myhens are on layer feed and my chicks are still eating their chick feed (although this co say to switch to their next level feed at 4...
We have 3 rented hens- I was hoping to keep 2 that we've fallen in love with. Our 4 week old chicks have been in their coop and run out back all day while the hens free range (the hens generally ignore them and stay far, far away!)
We've held the chicks and hens at the same time so they could...
Thank you so much to the few of you who helped me! Between ya'll and my good 10 hours of research I decided that my (rental) hen had favus. 3 days later and she's all better! Continuing with her meds and some for the other 2 just in case, but I think we're in the clear! SUPER excited because we...
We had a party for my 12 year old and his friends. The next morning my little ones let our hens out (without being told, so I should be proud of them, BUT not a good morning to do so!). They went about their business. When I went out to finish cleaning up, I found them eating broken pieces of a...
I've got 2 hens I'm hoping to keep- one has had pox for about 3 weeks and the other seems to be developing them. They appear to be fine except for a few pox on their combs. Problem is I need to make introductions to my 3.5 weeks old chicks- and have them move into together soon! Do I give up my...
I've got a couple months to go, but I'd love everyones opinions. I use sand on the floor of their coop, but Im wondering what to use for the nests when the time comes. Ive heard great things about wood shavings. I know lots of folks use hay, but ive also heard that can get real wet/moldy/etc...
ok, I've been hearing NO citrus from some, others say citrus is fine, but they dont like the peel. Whats up? If you say no citrus, why is it bad? or is just that they dont like it? Thank you!
So, one of my ladies pecks at and sometimes eats eggs. Every day there is a crack in one egg (out of 3 or 4). She breaks the shell, but not the membrane. Are these safe to eat? My first assumption is no, but figured I'd ask. Hate to waste all of these eggs (although not totally wasted- cooked up...