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Yes, I'm using light now but these birds have not laid all summer - plenty of light. I did check out Cayenne pepper. Good for increasing egg production and worming, or not, depending on which person's opinion you're reading. Seems to work for most folks as a wormer. Can't hurt, I'll give it a...

My marans never came back into egg production after molting in June. Any tricks as to how to restart? The RIR just never stop laying so I thing general conditions are good. Feed is organic16% protein. Thanks Jeff

Thanks for the reply. They are all about 8 mos old and all but this one are laying, which is what leads me to think something is not right with this bird, no molting, all have the same light, got 4 eggs today from the others... I'm thinking it has something to do with the pale floppy comb...

I decided to try chickens this year and got 2 RIR, 2 welsummers (one of which turned out to be a roo) and 2 Marans. One of the Marans has not laid an egg. The only difference between the two is that the non laying bird's comb flops over and is not as bright red as her sister's. And she is fat...

The question is - is it a problem? That hen may just want to free range more. Are they laying? Is this one laying? I've only had chickens for 6 months, but the approach I've found useful is, if they are functioning well and healthy - no problem. Also from Southern MD...

The extended concrete pad sounds like a really good solution. Interesting comment about the full circle thinking of larger scale operations. High tech and open front don't sound like they belong in the same sentence...

Re: driving stakes in the ground Yep, take the first step and see what evolves. I sketched a plan on paper and started building. There were quite a few "hmmm, what do I do now" moments. In fact, I have a few cosmetic as well as functional details to complete, although the hens have been...

Ed and ddawn (in the much deeper south - I'm in what's called southern MD) I was given some very heavy oiled canvas and have used it as a curtain to hang from the eaves when really heavy driving rain was on the way to avoid the wet litter that would otherwise result. I just snap it up, only...

Hello Ed, I built the hen house on an old flatbed trailer frame which elevates it and allows me to move it around a bit. The birds go outside in a tractor to pasture. I used 3/4" PT plywood for the floor and covered it with linoleum to keep them off the PT wood, and deep litter as well...

I built a cut down version of a Prince Woods house and it's working very well. Although the wall height of his design may only be 5', the height of the center stud is almost 10'. Mine is 4' at the shortest and over 7' at the peak and I have no problem standing inside and reaching everything...

Back to the original question: What kinds of treats are OK for very young chicks? I picked up my six yesterday - great fun. How about lettuce for those very young chicks? As to the fruit question that generated so much debate, maybe it's CITRUS fruit that is the problem. It is one of the don't...

Thanks for the responses. Yep, colony nests and tunnel nests are two variations of the same concept. The idea is to reduce egg breakage since the chickens don't try to crowd into one box and egg eating since the tunnel is dark. I'm not sure why chickens don't break previously laid eggs as they...

I'm designing my first coop and searched for "tunnel nests". I wanted to see what folks with experience with this type of nest had to say and got one result, which was a another question about anyone using tunnel nests. Out of 18,000 + members of BYC is it possible that no one uses tunnel...

That was my concern as well so I thought I would ask if there were any folks who had tried it. Since I have not found a single reference to its use anywhere, I suspect it should be avoided. I'm sure not going to risk my first chickens. Thanks

Thanks Kat, I volunteer with a land trust here in MD and one of our projects is to clear invasive plant species. We have an endless supply of free chipped bamboo. I have never heard of it being used with chickens. Free is good, but first do no harm- Jeff

Has anyone used chipped bamboo as bedding? I was concerned about the high silica content, but DE is silica based so I'm thinking this is not a problem. I am planning my first chickens for this spring and would like to avoid mistakes!