Once the chicks are out of the nest boxes (normally two or three days after hatching) the mother hen will huddle with them on the coop floor (deep litter) at night and it may be a week or more before she takes them outside. I make sure there is water and food inside until then. Occasionally I...
Introducing the newbies in a cage for a couple weeks for the adults to get used to them.
The keets have now blended with the rest of the mixed Chicken/Guinea flock.
I agree, however stating facts, figures, and observations into a "discussion" with rabid fanatics is like wrestling with a pig-------you get dragged down into the mud and the pig enjoys it.
I first got a trailcam just to see what came around the Chicken Coop at night------what an eye opener. I pretty much keep a live trap set now for mostly Raccoons, but I've seen the neighbors dogs, foxes, cats, deer, and other visitors.
If you look at my profile, there is a link to...
Here is the pictures taken this year of my annual Coop cleaning for the Garden. As you can see, I have a sub-ground level composting pit arrangement which after I clean it out, I add lawnmower clippings, pine straw & needles etc. on a weekly (more or less) basis. I got my ideas for a Coop and...
Dust off the incubator:
Clean up the old stock tank that was used as the Kids wading pool years ago:
And add chicks that hatched yesterday:
These are from the blue/green eggs from my Easter Eggers, a few were "Olive Eggs"
that I selected from my usual production:
I only hatched a few...
I've got too many Chickens/eggs from letting the Broodies have their way last year, so I've been
collecting all the eggs every day. These two have been very insistent even without eggs to
set on. I could use a few more Guineas for property bug/tick patrol, so I've slipped some
Guinea eggs under...
I've mentioned before that my "deep litter" method is actually a sub-ground level dirt floor composting pit. Here are some pics of me removing the compost for the Garden.
I've already removed 8 wheelbarrows by the time of this pic and just now getting down to
the dirt floor in one corner...
Block off the nesting boxes at night. I have a hinged cover I can close up the boxes when I need to. Once the chickens spend a week or two sleeping on the roost, you can leave the nest boxes uncovered at night. Some people use a fabric curtain to close off the boxes they roll up during the day.