We use heavy duty chicken wire and lots of supports for the run and the roof to keep the critters out. It also will withstand the snow better. I go out and knock the snow down afterwards as we get lots of snow in Minnesota.
I have some Barred Rocks, First time I've had them and they've started laying these cute little eggs. I'm getting about a dozen or so a day and was wondering when they will get bigger. The Girls are now about 21 weeks old.
The last two years have been crazy busy for me and for the life of me I...
I have two "box" fans set up for my birds, I made a slot for the fan because otherwise the birds try to roost on it and knock the fans over. I had been finding them later doing none of the birds any good. The slots I push the side of the fan in keeps them upright and doing the job I had intended...
Purple_grape84, we don't caponize birds that we raise for meat. We raise them for about 7 to 8 weeks, they don't start crowing at that age, not my birds anyway.
I like these better than the plastic containers I've tried so far. They hold 5 gallons of water and until they start to rust from age and hard water they are great. When they start to slowly leak its time to replace them. Only downfall is the chickens like to roost on them and poop in their...
Pops open to easily and at 2 to 3 weeks the chicks begin roosting on them, if its not very full they will knock them over, so more work because now you're changing litter more often
I have a suggestion for the use of the excess oyster powder and whatever else they are not eating (leftovers) to get them to eat it. Collect it and make some oatmeal, mix it in the oatmeal along with some berries or seeds and feed it to them as a treat. I know a sneaky way to get them to eat...
Everyone makes good points here. If your birds are laying eggs out in the area they free range in, they may be feeding fox, dogs, racoons, possums, etc. and you won't find the eggs. I know if its hot my girls lay fewer eggs that day and even sometimes for a few days. Yesterday was in the 70's...
Thank you for this article. I have a very broody hen, she is a Black Star / Sex Link (1 yr. old), she puffs up when she is not on the nest. I thought it was really strange to see her dancing around like a puff ball, but didn't think anything of it. I don't have a rooster and collect my eggs...
Cracked open an egg for breakfast this morning and got a rude surprise.
It looks kind of like an earth worm with the red heart in it. Really confused on how this could get into the egg in the first place!
Update, she is using her foot and leg more each day, but still showing it favoritism. I had washed and massaged her foot and leg on May 4th. Couldn't find anything, but she rolled her eyes back like she was in ecstasy, lol!
Last night when I put her back in the other pen I checked her leg again, no swelling that I could see in the leg or the foot. I massaged her foot and leg and gently pulled her leg in several placed. I heard little clicks like joints popping, so I'm hoping she will be walking on that foot soon...
I couldn't feel anything out of joint when I initially looked, but I might have missed something. I will check her again tonight than wash the foot tomorrow and check if there is something embedded in her foot, when I have more time to do so.
Thank you for the responses!!
Hi all,
I have a chicken who has injured herself some how. I don't know if she sprained her leg or what. She is now hopping on one foot. I have isolated her from the rest of the flock because the other birds were picking on her. Unfortunately I have to put her in with the others at night, but...
I was away at a Wedding Saturday and when I came home and checked on my girls about 5 PM all looked fine. Refreshed their water and feed and went inside to make supper. After supper (about 8PM) I went out to close them in for the night. I found one of my girls dead in the coop which is very...