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  1. ChickenShepherd_6116

    When can I expect my hens to start laying again?

    I live in the PNW, specifically in North Idaho. I have 6 adult hens, 4 of them are about 10 months old and the other 2 are 3 yo. The breeds are: Lav Orpington (10 m), Buff Orp (3y), Olive egger (10 m), Dark Brahma (10 m), Easter Egger (3y), and a Gold Laced Blue Wyandotte (10 m). I have not...
  2. ChickenShepherd_6116

    How do you winterize your run? - What is my run missing this winter?

    I live in North Idaho. I have been trying to winterize my coop & run before the snow comes and the temps really drop. I've got my coop all set, and now I am moving on to the run. This is my first year really "winterizing" my run, so I'm not really sure what it needs. Yesterday I put this tarp...
  3. ChickenShepherd_6116

    How many more hens can fit in this coop?

    I have a 25sq ft raised coop and 301sq ft run (they free range most days outside of winter). I have 6 hens (breeds below) and they are all very docile and sweet - no bullies. I have 3 nesting boxes, and 2 perches, with rafters above that one or two of my hens like to sleep on. All my girls...
  4. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Is frostbite avoidable without electric heating? Should I add heat to my coop?

    I have 6 adult hens (breeds below) and an uninsulated 5x5 coop. Each and every year, at least one hen has gotten frostbite on her comb. There are no drafts in the coop, although there is airflow up top (to prevent moisture buildup). Where I live, winter temperatures typically range from an...
  5. ChickenShepherd_6116

    How do you keep your run dry and clean?

    My run is not covered (and cannot be), and with the wet, snowy winter months here, my run has become pretty muddy and gross. I know that without a roof and cannot keep it totally dry, but maybe there is some way to help it? They have a covered space under the coop so there are some dry places...
  6. ChickenShepherd_6116

    How do you keep your flock happy in the Winter?

    I live in North Idaho, so winters here are moderate - a couple feet of snow and cold weather (for example, this weeks low is 25°), but nothing too extreme (compared to some of you). I have a flock of 6 hens (breeds below) and they usually stay in their run during the winter months. I give them...
  7. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Thinking of adding a roo to the flock?

    I currently have 7 hens, all very sweet, the youngest ones being about 8 months old. I live in a neighborhood, but each house is on 1 acre, so we are a bit more spread out than normal. Several people around me have hens, and I think one has a rooster (I have heard it occasionally). I was...
  8. ChickenShepherd_6116

    My chickens carve their own Halloween pumpkin! - Fun fall ideas for the flock!

    This year I decided to try out the trend of letting your chickens carve their own pumpkin. I am also going to be raking up a bunch of fallen leaves and putting them in the run with grubs mixed in for some entertainment and extra protein for my molting girls. I would love to hear what you do for...
  9. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Any idea what breed this dog is? (Image included)

    Found this dog for free, and I am trying to figure out the breed while I wait for the seller to respond to my message. Looks like some sort of German Shepherd mix to me - and young, based on the ears. Maybe a Mastiff x GSD mix? Do any of you have any guesses? I know this is a poultry site, but I...
  10. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Found a stray Leghorn...

    A Leghorn (I think) has been around the Highschool for about a week now, so they caught it and called me because they know I have chickens and will happily take her. I have a flock of 7 hens, all very docile (breeds below). I have integrated adult hens into my flock before, but never a stray. I...
  11. ChickenShepherd_6116

    How to train your dog not to chase the cat...

    I adopted a 2yo German Shepherd and his prey drive is VERY high. I have had success training him with the chickens and now I need to teach him to leave the cat alone. Since getting the dog, we have been keeping the cat downstairs, but that's just now fair to her, and not safe either (if they...
  12. ChickenShepherd_6116

    My hens butt/vent area is super hard - is she sick?? Photos Included

    Today I noticed my 5-6yo ISA Brown hen had some pasty butt, so I took her inside and cleaned her up. While doing that, I noticed her area bellow the vent is a little red (idk if that's normal or not), and super hard. I also noticed right before bringing her inside that her stool is loose and not...
  13. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Can Peahens and Chickens live together?

    I have 7 hens (chickens), all very docile and sweet, and I love them, but I want to add something new to the flock. I did a bit of research and I discovered that peahens can co-exist in the same run/coop and chickens as long as there are no peacocks or roosters in the mix. Has anyone done this...
  14. ChickenShepherd_6116

    What breeds should I get next? What are your favorite breeds?!

    What are you favorite breed of chicken? I have a flock of 7, which includes one of each: ISA Brown (my oldest girl!), Buff Orpington, Lavender Orpington, Dark Brahma, Blue Laced Golden Wyandotte, Olive Egger, and an Easter Egger (no roosters). Can you think of any other breeds that would fit...
  15. ChickenShepherd_6116

    What is your advise to someone thinking of using a Brahma to raise chicks?

    I have a (currently) 7 month old Dark Brahma hen who is just the sweetest, most docile hen in my flock, and the moment I got her as a little chick I thought "boy would she make a good mama!". Next spring I am thinking of getting another batch of chicks (if I can get my dog to stop chasing them)...
  16. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Nearly 7 month old Brahma still not laying eggs?

    I know that Brahmas take longer to lay because they are slower maturing, so I'm not too concerned, but this is really late... I mean, all my other pullets (different breeds) started laying months ago. Is this normal? She is acting totally normal, so I think she is healthy otherwise. Does anyone...
  17. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Anyone trained their dog to stay away from chickens like this?

    My dog has killed SO MANY of my chickens, and I am at my wits end. I have heard of training methods using an e-collar, which I have and he is trained on in other areas of his life, and I am wondering, has anyone used an e-collar to teach their dog not to kill chickens? In more depth, the method...
  18. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Can my hens eat a placenta?

    So my sister recently gave birth, and she has her placenta in her freezer. Now, she doesn't want to eat it (some people do eat theirs post-partum, believe it or not), but she also doesn't want to waste it, as it is very dense in nutritional value, so she was wondering if my 9 hens would eat it...
  19. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Any tips for this weeks extreme heat??

    As you can see, this week is going to be HOT where I am (North Idaho)... I want to make sure my girls stay as cool as possible, and most importantly, as healthy as possible during this heat flash. I have 9 hens, and their run has lots of shade, but their water keeps heating up from the sun! I...
  20. ChickenShepherd_6116

    Olive Egger starts laying eggs at FOUR months??

    I have a 4mo old Olive Egger, and I think she just laid her first egg.... I didn't actually SEE her in the nesting box, but yesterday and today I found small green eggs. At first, I thought it might be my 3yo Easter Egger laying odd eggs, but when I found a green egg next to her blue egg, I knew...
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