I have posted before on this and am wondering if someone else might see it and have some different advice. I was told previously that they might have worms. Would I just look at their poop to see if this is so? Also, it appears that lice/mites can cause them to stop laying. I guess this...
I thought that the decrease in production last spring/summer was due to the possibility of my free-rangers laying eggs in the woods, although we never found any. Well, now they have been in the coop over the winter with a supplemental light and still we either get 1 or nothing daily from 5 hens...
Not sure if I am looking for advice; maybe just need to share with other chicken lovers. We came home today to find that our Lottie had been hit by a car. It appears her left leg is broken. She actually has hopped around on one leg a bit. My concerns are that she may have other internal injuries...
I just read an online post suggesting mixing garlic into the feed. Would this affect the taste of the eggs? Any comments from anyone who does this and any benefits seen?
I have six hens who have been laying faithfully, 4-6 eggs/day. Yesterday, there were none! I just went out and found 5 eggs today, however. I know that it is my Welsummer who has not laid yesterday or today, because her dark eggs are so identifiable. She has been sitting in the nesting box for a...
When my chickens first started laying, I had an egg like this, just a pool of white in the nesting box. I thought it had something to do with one of them getting started laying. Now, after 3 months, there was another like this yesterday. Anybody out there know anything about this? Wondering if...
My daughter just went out to look for eggs and said there is a cloudy puddle in one of the boxes. I intend to dress and go out in a few minutes, but am worried about this. She also thought my Welsummer was acting strange, appearing to try to squat everywhere. I am really scared and hope someone...
So, I am feeling sorry for my girls, as they are confined to their run. We did expand it to include the area under the raised coop. It is much larger than what is necessary for 6 hens. They are used to being out for much of the day. So, now that it has snowed, do I really need to keep them...
So, I tried putting a red heat lamp out there at night, in addition to the white one I have for encouraging laying. It just seemed so bright in there, that I thought it would be annoying to the hens to never have darkness. My daughter told me that chickens can't see the red light. Is this true...
So, last week, I was surprised that Madga, my Barred Rock, allowed me to pet her. All 6 of them come close to me, but have never wanted to be touched. This morning, I saw Magda heading across the road to the neighbor's house, so I went after her. As I got closer, she kind of squatted down, got...
I bought a Thermocube, mainly to encourage my hens to lay and to keep the water from freezing. I just bought a red bulb, but am wondering if the wattage may be too high. It is 250 watts. Initially, I thought that this high wattage would just make it shut off sooner, since the coop will warm up...
So, why do you suppose my hens have started leaving the yard to visit the neighbors? Yesterday, I had to sneak out so they wouldn't follow me when I went over there to play cards. During the second game, however, there they were! My friend said they were just "looking for their momma." Today...
We have been free-ringing our 6 hens daily, but plan to be gone for the weekend. Is it best to leave them closed up in their app. 4'X5' coop or leave the door open into their run, so they can at least be outside during the day? I have already bought them treats, so they will be happier with this...
SInce I am new to chickens, I would like info on lice and mites. How common are they, where do they come from and how would I know if my hens have them?
My pullets are about 12 weeks old and are healthy and happy. They are free ranging most of the day, but one of them seems to spend time alone in the coop. Any input on why this might be. I feel bad for her, missing the fun (and the food) while the rest are out foraging. There was a ruckus on the...
The timers I have don't appear to be capable of meeting my needs for the coop. I want one that will go on around 4 AM, to give a couple extra hours daylight to promote egg-laying. Any recommendations? These are photoelectric timers. Seems I have bought the wrong kind of timer. Help! I look...
My girls are now just over 8 weeks old and have grown swiftly and beautifully. However, I continue to be confused re. 2 of them. I would like some input, although I have yet to figure out how to post pics on here. One of them seems to have taken over the role of rooster. She rules the roost and...
I just starting free-ranging my chickens this week. I was happy to find that my cats wouldn't bother them. Today, in their search for edible goodies, the girls wandered farther into the woods bordering our yard. When we were trying to coax them back to the yard/coop/run, one of our cats chased...