If I let my chickens free range, I'm usually out with them or at least somewhere in the yard. I always keep a scoped .22 Magnum long rifle in case I see a hawk perching around their coop or on my grape arbor. That being said, do hawks hunt more during certain times of the day?
I received my Randall Burkey Company poultry catalog in the mail a week ago and spotted a full-page sweepstakes ad on the first page sponsored by Nutrena. It says to go to www.chickhousepeepstakes.com to enter (you can win a coop and a bunch of other prizes). However, the website does not work...
I have a couple of trees, they are some variety of Maple, whose trunks have been like this since we moved here three years ago. The trees are about 12 years old. Both trees have this trunk damage on the west side of the trunk, leading me to believe that it could be sun scald. Is there a way that...
I have a pretty run of the mill Amish-built coop, the type that has two windows and the five nest boxes in a covered overhang under the windows. My humidity levels are too high, so I'm considering adding a vent or two. What is the difference between a vent and a draft? Obviously an open window...
I am finishing up my run this weekend. I opted for the 1/2" hardware cloth as I know that chicken/hex wire doesn't hold up very well. If I spray the wire with clear lacquer when I'm done, will this noticeably prolong its durability and appearance? How long does hardware cloth last generally?
Well, I finally found a spangled Russian Orloff cockerel for sale in my area. I will be picking him up in the first week of January. I am concerned because I already have a black sex-link rooster; he's around 7 months old. The RO is 10 months old. I have one of those Amish-built coops that will...
I finally wired up my coop this evening so that my birds can get that extra light to encourage them to start laying. My original five Buff Orpingtons were born in late May, so I figure they should be getting ready to lay soon, although it doesn't really bother me that they didn't start before...
I have been posting for several weeks now and I love this site. I have belonged to other non-chicken message forums online for years, but this place is unique. I am convinced that people who keep chickens are smart; very few grammar errors and overall everybody knows how to spell. I don't mean...
I let my pullets out to free range today and they started taking dust baths under the pine trees! They scratched up the dirt until it was fine and then started sifting it through their feathers. From what I can tell based on others' pictures, these tan hens are Buff Orpingtons. What do you...