Good day all!
I have 30 White Rock X chicks, now coming up to two weeks old. They are currently lodged in a 15'x10' coop inside the barn with their feeders and waterers and a heat lamp. I can construct a quick range shelter for them and move them into an electric fenced pasture where my...
Good day all,
I don't post much these days as two young daughters, the farm and 30 new chicks are keeping me pretty busy these days, but I do watch the forum regularly. What a great resource!
My question is concerning a brooding hen. This year old hen started to brood about 2-3 weeks ago. I...
Good day all,
I am turning to the experts here for next year. We currently house 7 laying hens inside of a large, former cattle barn, within a segregated pen and with an enclosed run:
IMG_7114.jpg by mlorne, on Flickr
Next year, we will be adding 25 broilers. We will also be adding a...
We have coyotes visit regularly, but I was wondering if I was now looking at a wild dog coming through. My foot at the left for sizing perspective. Any thoughts?
DSC00616 by mlorne, on Flickr
Our 7 layers continue to amaze me.
5 Red-sex link (52 weeks old)
2 Frey's Dual Purpose (30 weeks old)
Eggs collected:
January 6th : 23 (hadn't been down in a few days)
January 8th: 10
January 9th: 5
January 10th: 6
So, they are averaging about 5-6/day for 7 hens.
Is this typical for...
Good morning all!
I finally managed to pull myself away from the snowblower to collect some photos this morning. Just north of Toronto here, and we have had close to 2 feet of snow since Sunday evening. Today was the first clear day, but bitterly cold:
Down at the 'barn coop' things have...
Hello all,
This is my first year raising chickens and I have a question regarding the unlucky few heading to the freezer.
I have 7 Frey's hatchery dual purpose females. This is the information on the website:
The females are a rusty red in colour and are generally quiet. The females will...
Hello all,
I have been reading alot about venting lately and I have a couple of questions regarding my barn coop. My coop occupies a very small part of an old cattle barn. The exterior run is fully enclosed, while the interior coop is enclosed in wire and wood (i.e. not solid walls). The...
Hello all,
I recently came into posession of 2.5-3 yards of chipped tree debris (small to medium sized wood chips with shredded leaves). My intent was to line the run and/or the coop with this material, but I have a concern regarding compost.
I have a 2500 sq. ft garden that consumes a great...
Hello all,
Please take this post for the spirit in which it is intended. It is not meant to be mean spirited, just intended to foster thought and discussion.
After having taken a look at the threads like "my new coop" or "how to decorate", etc. etc., and being totally amazed at the...
Hello all,
A curious question for you. I have been down to the coop a number of times after dark that last few weeks and I have noticed 4 of my hens huddled in the corner of the uncovered run. Not sure if they spend all night out there, but it seems like they might be. Meanwhile, inside, the...
Well, after many months of labouring at a reduced capacity (due to an operation in June), the coop has finally taken shape. It is currently housing 7 10-week old Frey's Dual-Purpose hens, and 5 22-week old Red Sex Link laying hens. It is in the bottom of a large (former) cattle barn:
<a...
Hello all,
A quick question regarding feeding a mixed flock. I have 7 pullets that are now 9 weeks old raised from day old chicks. They have been raised on starter feed from day one. Early last week, we added 5 20-week old ready-to-lay hens. They have started to lay as of the end of last...
Hello everyone! Thought I would introduce myself as I am sure you will be hearing from me quite a bit over the next few weeks and months.
My name is Michael and I am currently living on a rented farm just north of Toronto. My wife and two daughters (4 year old and 9 month old) will be...