My chickens have an inside coop that is long and narrow, about 4 x8 with an attached, totally enclosed run with a roof. They have a cat flap door that allows them free access to the run on the one narrow end of the coop. There is a 'jungle gym' of roosts (old branches that we've rigged up) in...
I purchased 10 chicks this spring with the intention of having a nice flock of 5-7 hens.I planned on culling any that turned out to be roosters. I lost one at a few months old due to sour crop and now have 9 lovely birds, only one is a rooster! I feel lucky I got so many hens but now have a...
I am eagerly looking forward to getting more chickens in the spring. My last flock were tragically taken out by a predator.
I have a new horse barn where I specifically left space for a chicken coop. We were very tight on space so what I have indoors for the chickens is 4.5x9ft. It has a...
Hi. I have just received my hatchery order. I was supposed to receive 5 of each:
EE, Buff Rocks, Speckled Sussex, Light Brahmas, Salmon Favorelles.
The hatchery included one free exotic and one extra Rock.
I know for sure the ten birds that are the brahma/favorelles. I am concerned that the...
I had my chicks vaccinated for Cocci at the hatchery. I brought them home yesterday only to find to my horror that I CAN NOT buy non-medicated feed here.
Help. I gave them some %16 pullet feed for the night just to get them started but I know they need more like %20 chick starter.
What can I...
I don't know what to do. I had my chicks vaccinated because I thought it would be better than feeding the feed. After having done so I now find that I can't buy NON medicated feed anywhere. Now the chicks are here and I am terrified to feed them the medicated feed in case it will hurt them since...
I am confused. I have an order from McMurray coming that are supposed to leave the Hatchery Saturday from the Friday overnight hatch.
The order is going to MT but I actually live in Alberta. I have to drive ~3 hours to the post office to get the chicks which means I will have to leave home...
I am making panels for my run out of wood and want to attach the wire to them. What is the best way? Fencing nails or staples of some sort? I have a hand held heavy duty stapler but not an air compressor. Basically I have a hammer, drill and skill saw.
Thanks so much for any construction advice!
Hi!
In order to maximize my tiny yard space I have decided to build up rather than out...
The plan is to have the chicken run under the veggie garden which will be a giant box basically.
What is the minimum height for the run over the chickens heads? I see that some people have a raised house...
Has anyone thought of a way to keep eggs from freezing? I plan on having a non-heated insulated winter coop but am wondering about the possibility of eggs freezing...could you put a heated pad (like a reptile heater) under the nest box?
Would this cause the eggs to spoil?
I would like to turn a jumbo deck box or rubbermaid shed, maybe a pre-fab kids playhouse into a coop but need to cut holes for windows/chicken door. Has anyone done this?
Basically this sort of thing:
http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd100678
I have an order of buff rock chicks coming, I had initially wanted buff Orpingtons but they were out so I got the rocks instead. Now, I have the chance to change my order from buffs to orps.
Opinions??
I will only have one buff with my other 4 which will be Speckled Sussux, EE, Light Brahma and...
If chickens will be outside in a covered run in the winter, inside a sheltered yard, will they need as much coop space?
I am thinking of 3-6 large hens that will basically only be in the coop to roost at night, who can go out all day in a covered run. The whole thing (coop/run) will be inside a...
I am trying to venture into the making of my own feed, but do not have my chickens yet.
How much would you say each adult bird will eat when laying?? Per day or week?
I was wondering if in winter the chickens would go in and out of the coop through a plastic flap like on a dog door. I thought it would be a good way to preserve warmth in the coop but still allowing them access during the day to the run?
Is pea gravel a suitable base for chickens to free range in? I was thinking of making the entire (very small) backyard pea gravel.
The run will be mulch or bark, but when they are out are they ok in pea gravel?
Cheers!
I have been having a hard time finding natural chicken feed at the local feed store.
This is my first time raising chickens and I want them to be healthy and happy. (I am receiving baby chicks in a 8 weeks or so)
I have seen recipees online to make your own chicken feed, does anyone do this?
I...