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  1. MagistraTn

    Opossum in run at night

    Last night I caught a rather large opossum on our camera. It was out by the food and water in the (not predator proof) run. Chooks were all inside, apparently safe. I ordered a large live trap to catch it, then I guess we will have to shoot it drown it? What is a good bait? Cat food? To the...
  2. MagistraTn

    Henhouse floor styles

    I’m designing our coop and have some decisions to make. I’m 50something and want minimal workload as we age & our kids fledge. So far we’ve used dirt floor with woodchips, hay, grass clippings, shredded paper, pine shavings, etc. it’s not bad, but it’s difficult to clean, if only once or twice a...
  3. MagistraTn

    Mags’ New Forever Coop Build

    Hey there, Ive been in the throes of indecision about the coop/run build at our new home, which is currently under construction. I was going to have our builder (a great craftsman) build us a copycat Carolina coop. Then, I was just going to buy a henhouse from Carolina Coops. But last night I...
  4. MagistraTn

    When to let mama hen and chicklets out of safety zone?

    Hello! I have a hen with two chicks hatched Saturday/Sunday (3-4 days old) and I’ve moved them into our old brooder box so the rest of the flock can check them out. We have 13 hens and 2 Roos. One of the hens invaded the nest and sat with her for nearly the full 21 days, when the first egg was...
  5. MagistraTn

    10 month old black ameracunas not laying

    I have a small flock and most everyone is doing well, but my three black amerucauna chooks have not yet graced me with a blue egg. They are a little more skittish than my others (15 total; 4 barred rocks, 3 black laced Wyandotte & 1 roo; 3 black copper marans & 1 roo). Barred rocks are 2 years...
  6. MagistraTn

    Copper laced Wyandotte cockerel?

    What do y’all think? Is it a he or a she? 6.5 weeks, redder and a tad bigger than it’s sisters.
  7. MagistraTn

    Is a brooder ever big enough?

    Ours is 30”x70” and is filling up quickly! We have 14 chicks, now 10 days old I just added the dust bath Today, maybe I can pare them down to one food and water instead of two. and next week, I think we will add some elevated roosting along the back wall.
  8. MagistraTn

    2 day olds snuggling in towel on MHP—safe?

    Last night I made sure everyone knew/learned how to get under the brooder plate. They seemed to prefer it to the Mhp, which might be too low. This morning, we found several chicks nestled in between the layers of the blue & white striped towel. Is that safe, or should I change to a single layer...
  9. MagistraTn

    Mama heating pad outdoors **worried it’s not warm enough***

    weve Upgraded from last years box in the garage and our new hatchlings (black laced copper Wyandottes, amerucaunas and black copper marans, 12 total) will have a homemade brooder box and a mama heating pad. They’re hatching tomorrow and I’m freaking out because while the top of my cave is warm...
  10. MagistraTn

    Chooks free to range, but hang out inside the coop/run?

    Is this normal behavior? It feels like they are scared/depressed. Slowis (lowest on the pecking order at one point became fat and slow, named by boy 😁) was killed by a hawk almost a month ago. i would expect them to be over it by now, but they’re still skittish. Or…is it the windy weather that...
  11. MagistraTn

    Choosing breeds to add to my 5 Barred Rocks

    Hawks have pared my flock down to 5, so I’m planning to replenish this spring. My goal is a sustainable flock to keep our family in eggs throughout the year (approximately 3 dozen a week). I was hoping someone would go broody so I could sneak some fertilized eggs under her, but it’s not...
  12. MagistraTn

    Is this a normal sleeping position?

    I feel like they hardly ever sleep. I have a camera on them, and check them often as whenever I go out there they get all excited. They are nearly 3 weeks old, and I just caught one like this, her toes are twitching they had a busy morning outside enjoying the grass, bugs, etc…so I was feeling...
  13. MagistraTn

    Help me make modifications to my prefab coop

    Reposting this as I originally posted it in “raising baby chicks” and couldn’t seem to delete… we have 7 barred rocks who are just 2 weeks old. Of course, the lady at tsc said this coop would be great for 6 (they sent us +1) and my son loves a project, so…this is what we have (bonus chick pic😍)...
  14. MagistraTn

    Help me modify my prefab coop?

    we have 7 barred rocks who are just 2 weeks old. Of course, the lady at tsc said this coop would be great for 6 (they sent us +1) and my son loves a project, so…this is what we have (bonus chick pic😍) the “run“ portion has 9 sq ft. And the coop portion has about 5.5 sq ft. This whole structure...
  15. MagistraTn

    Our chicks are almost 2 weeks and I gave the m a clump of grass and some rosemary twigs

    They were hesitant at first but now they are going coo-coo! They are loving twigs to roost on as well! next up is a mini dust bath, as they are rubbing around in the dirt/roots. can I just put some dry garden soil (kinda clay-ey here) in a tub? I intend to make them a big one in a tire, so maybe...
  16. MagistraTn

    Average (yeah…I know!) cost of coop and run?

    We are learning and I’d like to avoid wasting any more money. My husband is more concerned than me about the costs, I see it as an investment in our home, self sufficiency and health (mental & physical). anyhow, we bought a tsc coop kit, which is clearly too small for our 7 chicks (now 1 week...
  17. MagistraTn

    Aprés pasty-butt 😂

    “Hey man, there is some medical grade coconut oil on my vent! Peck it-it itches!”
  18. MagistraTn

    First day home - sleep/water rotation/pasty butt

    we picked up 7 barred rocks this morning. Everything is going great, but they are super hyper! Will they settle down tonight? Should I leave the garage lights on for them? Am I going to get any sleep?🤪I set up a camera and I’m certain I will be checking my phone from bed all night! At least one...
  19. MagistraTn

    Chicks arrived😁❤️

    Our chicks arrived safely this morning❤️ so far so good. We have hydro hen in the water, they’ve had a long drink and are eating and pooping like crazy. They’ve figured out how to get in and out of the heat plate. I hope it’s warm enough under there. They are bumping their heads a bit, but also...
  20. MagistraTn

    Chicks are coming in 2-3 days—hope we are ready!

    6 barred rocks are hatching tomorrow and then making the (one state) journey to their happy home with us. I’m suddenly nervous that the brooder space is too small. Do I need to make a quick change? This bin is 28”x18” (the feed and water are chick size and arriving with them) What else should I...
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