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Dear True BYC Addict; I guess your handle says it all. I have fought the temptation to see my sweet dears, who I hand-raised from flufy yellow darlings, as "pets". This is my very first stab at being a byc person. I could go on (but won't) about how funny, interesting and loving these 3 girls...

My three R.I.R.s are almost 3 years old. A friend and fellow hen owner says they are near the end of their regular egg laying life. He says rather than sink any more care and money in to them, I should have them offed/killed, plucked and ready them for eating. Experienced hen keepers...

Welcome to BYC. It is a great site for learning and just getting to know more about feathered friends and all that entails. I live in Maine, a fairly cold place in winter. We have a small flock of R.I.R.s and this will be their third winter. I worried for naught that first winter, thought they...

Very helpful, thanks. My girls are a bit fussy. Will not touch many raw vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, beets and cooked beans. Since they are currently doing a heavy molt, I am looking for high protein foods. They used to love cottage cheese but won't touch it now. Mealworms are...

I am experiencing the same issue as "just hatched". One of my girls is doing a serious molt, the others less so. I have been attempting additional protein but they are not eating much of any thing. Mostly they just want to roost or stand in the corner of their pen. Of course they are not laying...

Could you tell me how I get the pinless peeper on to the hen's bill? Do those two short pin things really go inside the hen's nostrils? Any rate, they arrived but without any instructions on how to put them on. Thanks!

Thanks so very much, Two Crows! You have answered my concerns nicely. I eagerly await the arrival of the pinless peepers.

I have raised my R.I.R.s from day 3, they will soon turn two years. Up until a month or so ago the 3 of them have always been fine with me, no aggressive behavior. Now, top chicken has begun trying to peck me and block me from going in to their coop or in the run. She struts her stuff, fluffs up...

I recently read that oregano and cinnamon will act as natural antibiotics for chickens. Has any one tried either with their birds and, if so, do they work? I would assume you would mix the spices in with their feed? Thanks for feedback on this topic.

Thanks to all who gave advice regarding cold weather. Just an update. We really have had record MAJOR cold the past couple of weeks. Temps have been minus F, with one night going to a minus 26F! Poor babies, but they seemed fine the next morning. I did tuck all 3 into the hen house (their...

So, have read most threads regarding cold weather strategies for hens. I agree the RIR's are very hardy birds and seem to do well in the Maine winters. However, I only have 3 hens and collectively they are not producing much body heat. Last winter, when they were still pretty young, not fully...

Agreed, mold just happens. I have been using the deep litter method for over a year now. No problems and in the winter, because a certain level of composting goes on in the lower layers, it provides the girls with some added warmth inside their coop. I keep the hen house cleaner but also add a...

I also have a hen who feels that not only is she queen of the coop, she is, at times, quite aggressive. From the time she was just a sweet yellow fuzz ball, she has never liked being handled and has always been the pushy broad. At times she seems to be in a bad mood and will even attack me...

Fussy eaters? Are Rhode Island Reds usually fussy eaters? My girls seem to have very specific likes and many more dislikes many of which others of you mention as loved by your hens. For example, we have loads of clover and they never touch it. However, they do love dandelion flowers. They also...

I also use the deep litter method in the girls' coop. Really makes for easier cleaning and does keep things from getting too mucky. Now that the weather has improved, when they are out foraging I have been able to do a deep cleaning, added fresh straw/hay/dry leaves. They do enjoy making their...

Thanks for your reply, ScratchnPeck. We all appreciate it. The girls are particularly pleased that you advocated for additional meal worms. Frankly, I think they have a bit of an addiction problem with those. I do try to keep the amount limited and don't feed them the worms too often but will...