Search results for query: *

We installed a light in our coop last fall after egg laying totally stopped. It's just a 60-watt bulb (in a protective cage kind of cover) suspended in the corner, and it's set on a timer. Within a week most our girls were laying again. We also put plexiglass over the windows for the winter, and...

A-HA! We use straw! Thanks! And bath mats...I love these forums!!!

also, yes, there's sometimes poop in the nesting boxes, and some definite lounging about in there by a couple different hens. (FYI, 7 hens, 3 nests, and we collect eggs 1x/day). Haven't had bug issues w/ hay or elsewhere, but use diatomaceous earth liberally so that may help...?

klf73, is there a difference between straw and hay? I thought it was like soda vs pop, sprinkles vs jimmies...haha

Which do you use in your nesting boxes and why? We've used hay, and the hens like it -- as far as I can tell -- but our eggs are often dirty and the hay doesn't decompose as quickly as pine shavings (which we use in the coop and run). I think it helped insulate the coop in the winter -- any...

Thanks! Funny--we thought our Black Minorca was awfully productive! Now that explains why her eggs varied so much in size sometimes, haha!

Our black minorca, the only white egg layer we have (or so we thought), died last week of egg yolk peritonitis:(. So imagine my surprise to find a white egg in the coop yesterday, and this morning! Most likely from a black austrolorp, buff orpington or golden-laced wyandotte. Any ideas? (We also...

We don't have a water heater so every morning I fill their waterers with warm water and refer to it as their tea...they LOVE it, so I'm just as glad not to have a heater. I'm going to toss in an herbal tea bag next time!

I'm picking it up this afternoon but gave the girls oatmeal with peanut butter and buttermilk yesterday, the same this morning (with veggie scraps mixed in) plus they're doing some free-range foraging (albeit in a frozen yard). Plus some scratch...what do you do feed them if you run out of feed...

Yup, empty tuna/cat food cans nailed down in the run w/ a few holes poked in the bottoms...

1 of 8. But three are pullets, three are moulting, and no light in the coop yet

RIGHT, Ironimagery, much cooler -- one of their benefits as an Xmas tree decoration (the LED string lights). I'm getting my rope lights confused. They make traditional ones, too, which are less expensive than LED but less energy efficient, I imagine, but may offer a little heat...hmm...

Thanks, one of those middle-of-the-night thoughts that may or may not actually be a good idea I figured it could be a moderate heat source as well...hopefully someone has tried this already, it's getting chilly and dark here in Connecticut!

Has anyone used this for their winter light source? Does the light need to be incandescent or will LED work? Seems like a safe, energy-efficient way to light the coop for the winter...We're down to 1 egg/day w/ 8 hens (though 3 are moulting as well) so time to add a some early-AM light...Thanks!

Got our first solid (not rubbery) brown egg yesterday afternoon! Yay!

She's ABSOLUTELY a Black Minorca. Same jaunty comb as in Google Image photos, blue legs, black face but white ears. Thanks so much!!!

Thanks! One week to the day and the rubber-egg layer was sitting on our first (well, HER first, give her credit where credit's due!) solid egg! Woohoo! And now they're all out in the yard enjoying watermelon

...a big comb, and blue legs. Any ideas? She looks like an Australorp or maybe a Jersey Giant, but those ears...

A month--ok, phew. I just need to relax, I think The others are 1 RI Red, 1 Lakenvelder, 1 Wellsummer, 1 Silver-laced Wyandotte (who I think is the rubber-egg layer), and 1 black/green girl with a big comb, white ears and blue legs...not sure what her breed is.

We adopted six 10-month-old hens one week ago and so far only the Ameracauna is laying regularly (unless someone else is also mysteriously laying green eggs). Someone else has laid 3 shell-less eggs. Since increasing oyster shell, giving cottage cheese, no eggs whatsoever (except the green...