My Rhode Island Red, Penny, and my Black Australorp, Thelma. They day they joined our family this spring.
Goldie in the early spring. She was the kind of gal who made chicken people out of people who otherwise don't really think much of chickens. We lost her shortly after this picture...
I have given my ladies the Sea Kelp from Treats for Chickens before. But I can't quite justify the cost, especially of the shipping. Having a bunch of spirulina around that I bought for much less from Nuts Online, I was wondering if it would give similar benefits as the Sea Kelp. Stands to...
I love your tips! Thank you! We're getting some more chicks this week and I look forward to spending cuddle time with them like you suggest. Most of my 7 ladies are very friendly, except for one very skittish Wyandottte named Clara. I have been having greater success with her lately as a...
In a related issue: when one hen is molting, do other hens sometimes stop laying too? I can't figure out why one of my hens has stopped laying. It's winter, and production is down a bit from my small flock, but this one hen hasn't given any in almost 2 weeks. I have searched the free range area...
This is a great thread! Thank you!
I have 2 questions. one about noise and one about predators.
I'm thinking about getting 2 Guineas to help protect my small backyard flock.
I appreciate your honesty if they are right for us.
Q1) This is a true backyard: middle of neighborhood, albeit a woodsy...
Helpful advise, my hubbie is getting frustrated (and me too) with the things the chickens are eating, but more so, the scratching. We have plenty of places for them to scratch that are ok, yet they gravitate otherwise..
Best coop I've ever seen. Your DH is hired. My husband and I are the antithesis of handy, so I will be marveling and dreaming about your coop forever. ;-)
When can your husband come over? We live in wine country, so we'll repay him with tours and yummy wine. Did you know creamed scrambled eggs...
LOL- last night we were installing an additional nesting box. My husband, crouched over, had his bottom pecked at repeatedly and he yelped in dismay, "why in the world are they trying to eat my bum!?" It took us a while to catch on, but as it turns out his bike shorts (he was fresh off a bike...
I'm also having an integration problem. I had 4 hens, hatched last October, and added 3 more, which were hatched this spring. Now, at 20 weeks (they are big- especially the Wyandottes) they are still being bullied my my other ladies so that I worry about their health in the warm weather and...
I have closed compost bins. One is a very large square unit and one is a set of two smaller rollers. Since the ladies came into our lives it hasn't smelled because we add the poo and bits of pine shavings and hay that are used in the hen house and run (shavings in hen house, hay in run). That...
iHeartMyHens: Aren't we all so lucky to have BYC to help us out! I know your friend will be fine with her 12 hens. 12 will be a lot to pick up after, but I found I had nothing to worry about with my 8 year old son taking care of our 7 ladies. Kids rise to the occasion. She's so lucky she can...
Thanks for the thread.
Just recently, one of my hens has been laying most of her eggs outside of the nesting boxes. I am pretty sure I know who she is, and I have reason to believe that she is being bullied out of the nesting boxes by my dominant hen. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to...