Great encouragement and advice. I've debated about connecting the two coups but they don't lend themselves to be joined side by side due to the doors, trays, etc. Are you saying add nine nesting boxes to the six I already have? And you converted your coop by enclosing the "run" (the wired in...
Thank you all for your quick, wise counsel! I've always depended on the group at BackYard Chickens to guide me in the right direction, and you have not failed to do so. These responses have definitely opened my eyes to how uninformed I have been. I admit my own embarrassment and disappointment...
Thanks, but they're not baby chicks. I fed them starter for the right amount of time called for by all I read. I hope I clarified this in a later post, but I thank you so very much.
They sleep in the enclosed area either where the protective wire keeps them from predators. It has a roof and an enclosed area where others roost at night. Some, however, roost in the trees.
It did have some vegetation, but now it is dirt and leaves. They've eaten all the worms and bugs after I cut down trees. I have another large, grassy area that would be so much better and I've debated about moving them there. Now I know I will. But dang they tear it up so fast!!! Thank you ValerieJ
Thank you for this. The two prefab units I bought from Tractor Supply are identical, consisting of three nesting boxes each, an enclosed roosting area with tray and ventilation window, and then a small "run" with roosting posts. They are open all the time and are within the whole fenced in area...
Thank you so very much for your extremely thoughtful post. My dad had the progressive form of MS, his sister had it, MY sister has it, I have it, and now my daughter may have it. And it's NOT hereditary!
Well they're not all three year old birds. Maybe a third or three year old. And they are in a large pen. I have a road on either side so I can't let him wander into the road. I'm uploading a file of the pen and coops.
I now see what I need to do! I have some work to do, lol. I have half pullets...
I have 22 chickens and the area is huge. It's not as big as a football field but altogether it would be close. I have two chicken coops with three nesting boxes each (those prefab kind you buy from Tractor Supply). There are different sections because I kept expanding. This helps when I need to...
I feed in the morning and they forage the rest of the day. But when I feed them, I really feed them a lot! I've felt that I'm feeding too much, but, to be as educated as I am, I'm now embarrassed that I might have missed the boat on this. You know, it takes some humility to admit that you've...
Thank you so very much. I've actually wondered if anyone ever "bands" their chickens so that they can actually keep track of them (just as they band wildlife to keep track of them)? I think I may have given the wrong idea that some of these are "chicks" and they are not. The roosters are wanting...
Thanks for your response. The youngest hatched back in June, so I'm off in my information. Most hatched back in April and May. I fed starter food to the new chick and they thrived then. It wasn't until they were old enough for outside that I put them in a fenced in area and still fed them...
Great reply! It's just the young that's dying. I have to areas I feed for the very reason you suggest. I bought this 'mister' and lowered it so that it would provide a cool mist, but I have no idea whether this helps chickens or not. It probably just satisfies me. The egg laying had ceased...