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Well, Big Red is acting a little nicer the last couple of days. The neighbors dog found her way onto our property and he is missing some tail feathers. Thankfully the dog only killed two of our chickens. Unfortunately, she did get my favorite rooster, Batman.

You definitely want to re-introduce her by placing her in the coop after dark. Then make sure you let them out early before they realize they have a new hen in there with them. Over time they will settle down. She is definitely the low man in the pecking order now. It will definitely take...

Yes, that is normal. I have moved hens from one coop to another and they have to find their "place". But if they make the mistake of getting in another hens spot, they will be scolded. Unless, that is, they higher up in the pecking order. The lower in order they are, the less likely they are...

Mimiko, try carrying a small diameter stick around with you. It really deters my rooster. Also, don't let him mate with the hens in your presence. That is a sign of dominance. If other chickens are squabbling, he will step in to end it. If you are in the pen, you need to end the arguments...

I am not sure if they calm down as they get older or not, but I would think that would be true. Instead of wrestling him to the ground, try taking an old towel or light weight blanket out with you. Seriously, when you drop it on his head, if he can't see out, he will freeze and you will be...

Isn't it crazy that they are so afraid of a stinking piece of wood?! Stupid Big Red thought he might take me on again today. I had a food bucket in my hand and he decided he just might have to go for it. Not for the food mind you. It was empty. He just isn't afraid of any buckets. Doesn't...

It's most likely from another hen using the same nesting space. Eggs will sometimes get a hole in the tops when the next hen rearranges the nest to her liking. Try placing fake eggs in other nesting boxes and see if they will lay their eggs separately. If you are collecting the eggs daily...

They are definitely from your rooster. The only exception would be if they actually laid eggs for you the very day you brought them home. It isn't all that uncommon for a hen, especially a first timer, to decide to keep her brood smaller. Most hens will select a number of eggs to sit on. As...

When you place a towel or blanket over their heads, they lay very still as if paralyzed. I am going to drop a towel on him so I can pick him up and carry him around the yard! Can't wait to see his reaction to that! I am thinking, he will either get used to me picking him up and settle down, or...

Be careful with limiting their light. You absolutely must make sure they are getting enough vitamin D. If you have a medicated feed, you should be okay, but the best way to make sure is to let them out into the sunlight.

Is she eating and drinking? I have had chicks that fall asleep standing up. If she is eating and drinking, just keep an eye on her and make sure she is staying warm enough, but not too warm.

Yeah, unfortunately, chicken wire is not very good at actually protecting the chickens. Your best bet for that is a fine mesh wire that is heavier than chicken wire. You could use one that has a half inch square pattern so that the chickens can peck through to get at the bugs. Another option...

If you have a dog/cat porter, you can put her in that for a while. That is what we use for our broody hens. I hope it goes well. If I run across any more information I will send it your way. Unfortunately, humid climates are breeding grounds for illnesses. I live in southern Texas and we...

I had the same issue with two of my hens. What I did was to put them into a large dog porter so that she felt safe. She sat just fine after that. Don't worry too much about the little hatched one. She won't try to take it out of the nest until the rest of her eggs have hatched. I moved mine...

Well, If you lived in the states, I would swear it was a raccoon. They leave their poop lying around, make a huge mess when they get after your chickens and will certainly dig under the fence to get too them. You absolutely must bury your fence about a foot deep to keep the diggers out...

Hard to tell exactly, but you need to put her on penicillin and isolate her from the flock immediately. It could be avian bird flu or black head disease. You can get penicillin at tractor supply. Check out this article. http://vdi.sagepub.com/content/5/2/198.full.pdf It is a vet article so...

Well, it has taken me an eon to reply! I apologize! I did get to see your boy standing on your head. That was too funny! I finally found a good picture of Big Red, the little booger. He tried it again the other day! Now I am going to carry a towel down there with me and we are going to...

Yep, sounds like a dust bath. They are so funny when they start that!

I beg to differ with everyone else. Those are New Hampshire Reds. They are a cross with RIR and something else that escapes me. I currently have both breeds and my RIR's are not nearly as dark red. Good layers with large brown eggs.

Sorry to hear about everyone's loss. I completely understand! If I hear them getting upset, I go tearing out the door running down to the coop to see what is up. We have lost a few, mostly ones that I have not been too attached to. I had to train the donkey to leave them alone. She killed...