I have had standard chickens for 5 years, but am new to bantams. We are adding a separate little coop for them. They are 6 & 4.5 (almost 5) weeks old right now. They are not fully feathered, but I need to get them out of our house. I am considering moving them to our unfinished workout room...
My almost 3-week-old chicks were found wandering the garage today after deciding they are big girls now. Since it’s a warm, sunny day I decided to let them meet the “big girls” (5 weeks) through a portioned-off area of the outdoor run. Super uneventful so far. Maybe I’ll be able to move the...
Because the coop isn't quite finished. Hopefully today or early this week!
Coop is 6.5 x 4.5
Run 20' x 27'.
It's not predator proof, so the girls will be locked in the coop at night. The run is a repurposed 5' chain link dog run that was here when we bought the house. I put chicken wire at...
Hello! I have read up on introducing young chicks with an established flock...but I have a question about flip-flopping that. I have a young flock of (4) five-week-old chicks. I would like to get a pullet or two that is closer to laying age. The older birds would be the new ones. Does this...
Nope! I did end up buying the shed and cancelling the Snap Lock. The nagging feeling that it would be too small in the winter was overpowering. It will require much more modification than the pre-fab coop, but we've done it before and know what we liked and what we overbuilt.
Hello! So, we recently purchased a house to use as a future rental. I had chickens for a couple of years before having to move to NC for a bit. We are back in Wisconsin and have some chicks again. I ordered the large snaplock coop, but am reconsidering a small shed (6.5’ x 4.5’) instead for...
Hi all! I live in town (until I get my dream house one day!) and am limited on number of hens (no roosters). I am debating getting a straight run from a local breeder vs sexed from a hatchery. I have a friend who will take any cockerels. I like the idea of “guaranteed” pullets, but also the...
I locked the girls up again today. All are doing well and the coop is definitely warmer than the outside air. Our young Cream Legbar even laid a beautiful egg this morning. However, she & the Marans have frostbitten tips on their combs :*(
I was coming on this forum to ask the same thing! I'm in Wisconsin and the windchill is supposed to get to -55ºF tomorrow. I am wondering if I should shut our automatic door? They haven't been coming outside, but I thought keeping the door shut might help a tiny bit as well. Our coop has...
I have a mixed flock of 7 pullets & hens. The oldest are 19 months and the youngest are 5 months. When we introduced the younger girls, we switched the whole flock to chick starter and offered oyster shells. That all went well, but our local store is no longer carrying chick feed. I do have...
I had wondered that too, but as you said, there's no way to test it. So frustrating since she's just so friendly, and holds the title of the first hen to ever lay an egg for us.
Darn it...she is by far our friendliest girl too :*( We are limited in the number of girls we can have, so it doesn't make much sense to keep one as a pet.
The barred rock still isn't laying. We have three girls who are around 16 months now (barred rock, golden laced wyandotte, easter egger), two five-month-olds, and three three-month-olds. Everyone is together and on chick feed until the youngest girls are older. The flock has access to water...
Yes, the 14-week-olds have only been here a few weeks. They have a few trees and bushes to hide under, though the big girls leave them alone unless they are guarding treats. I have several waterers spaced far apart, and I've seen the little girls eating at the feeder in the coop. The...
Thank you for all of your great advice! The three older hens all huddle to one end of the 6'6" bar, so I'd think there would be plenty of room, but the pullets are pretty skittish. I got them as 12-week-old pullets and did not hand raise them, so they're not very calm. I also have three...
...which I am doing. The new girls made their transition one week ago (switched food at the same time). Now our GL Wyandotte stopped laying :*( I don't know what to do!! All of my chickens are healthy, active, have plenty of coop space and limited free-range room. Our coop gets cleaned out...