Here is a photo of my coup before winterizing
With the addition of chandelier lighting:
The self waterer. Now sits on a hollow concrete block with a light bulb inside, copper cover between the bulb and the water can. The bulb is thermostatically controlled to come on at 35 degrees and turn off...
Well, I think you should do that-come to Bend for the tour. If you want to purchase a booklet, let me know. I am sure the organizer would be thrilled to know we had out of town attendees!
Hi y'all, thought you might like to hear about this event coming up in my community. We live in an area that up until a year ago, had a very hot real estate market. I work for the local newspaper and we publish a guide for an event called "Tour of Homes". This event was a tour of many...
Well what a relief to hear it has happened to others. Good lord, I expect a guilt trip from the cat and the dog but I was not prepared for chicken punishment!! It's funny that the one that has kept laying is the Aracuana. At the risk of humanizing the personalities of my feathered friends, she...
I have four hens that were laying very well. Then, I went on vacation for 3 weeks. My son took care of them (water, feed, egg gathering). The only unusual thing he reported was that one of the hens went broody. I have one nesting box for all of them to share and of course the one hen was...
Boy, I have a different story that the posters here...I have 4 hens, a BR, 2 Buff's and 1 Aracuana. They were laying great up until early December when the temperature dropped one night to -17 faranheit. It has been cold and dry every since. They are in a run with a coop box with a low level...
One more thing,
The flap does come down to shut the upper part of the coop where the birds are roosting in the photo above, but I am thinking that unless it is really really cold, I will leave it open because that is the favored spot to roost rather than inside.
Lights in action:
There is a light bulb inside the concrete block, copper sheet on top to protect bulb from birds, weather, dirt etc. Water seems to be staying a nice tepid temperature.
Thanks Chicken Obsessed,
I have now changed a few things:
1. I will be tarping the majority of the run (where the wind and snow will hit) with a clear plastic tarp so the hens can roam out to water and feed under the coop house (since it is too small for anything except the birds, roost and...
Thanks for the advise and the links. It is 30 degress this morning and my four hens are walking around the run like its a balmy day in the tropics. I have to laugh-that 40 watt bulb didn't seem to be doing squat in the coop last night for warmth anyway.
Our climate here is high desert-a...
My 4 hens are in a 4 x 2.5 ft coop with a ramp out to an enclosed 4x8 run. Nightime temps are already down in the 20's. So far I have added a 40 watt red lamp to their coop but I am nervous they will peck at it as it is within reach when they are roosting. The metal watering can is in the run...
Other reasons I have chickens that I didn't know I would have until after I got them:
1. Gives a nice connection to my food source and another reason to be grateful to the animal kingdom and nature for what it provides.
2. Chickens are silly and whimsical and lighten my mood every time I see...
Ok, one of my chicks turns out is a roo and i live in the city limits where he is not allowed. I am not opposed to changing his name to "dinner" but will he be good eating? He is about 12 weeks old right now. When should I process him? The neighbors are going to start complaining any day now.
Thanks so much everyone for the great suggestions. I particularly like the one suggesting long poles. I visualize having gloves on the ends of the poles to look like a set of hands...lol...
I think I will try training them with the meal worms and voice since they already fall all over...
I would like to be able to let my beautiful young chickens roam in the yard while I work but I am worried about getting them back to the coop.
Any ideas for getting them to return to the coop on command:D
Ok, the chickens are 8 weeks old and in the coop full time. I have just a few questions:
When can I give them all kinds of treats and grit? Are they able to digest most everything now?
When should I clip their wings so they can free range in the yard some of the time?
Do I still need to...