When we bought our 1.6 acres with a house & a small barn on the property, the back yard was completely fenced in with wood privacy fencing.
When I decided I wanted chickens, we put up chicken wire along the bottom of our deck so the chickens wouldn’t be able to escape from under the deck. Then...
I learned about ACV the first year I had chickens (4 years ago) and have given my girls ACV ever since.
I haven’t had any girls get sick until this year. She was lethargic and stayed in the coop during the day (her choice) for a couple of days. That was about a week ago. Yesterday she was...
When I started raising chickens for egg production, I was so “wet behind the ears”, it’s hard to believe they actually lived! Now, I’m planning the number of chicks to get this spring.
I started out with Rhode Island reds & Buff Orpington. I learned the Reds can be aggressive & the Buff...
Another update:
Well, we’ve realized they ARE molting! We didn’t really notice an increase of feathers in the coop - the ones in there were mixing in with the dirt floor, etc. Any that they were losing when outside were being scooped up by birds for their nests!! We figure they must’ve been...
My husband just mentioned something that has recently changed.
Going to Daylight Savings Time.
I have the lights in the coop on a timer. The lights come on about 6am & stay on until about 7:30 now. During the winter, they come on about 5am. Then, in the evening, the lights come on about...
Lately I’ve noticed the “community nest” usually has 7 or 8 eggs in it. I‘m thinking that’s the nest the GC’s prefer. Can’t be sure without either putting my husband’s trail camera in the nesting boxes area or spending the day sitting in the coop (and that’s not an option!). Actually, I’m...
Update:
Last night I only had 7 eggs. Their treat was a cut up cucumber. Oh boy! Did they ever let ME know what they thought of that!!
Tonight? TEN EGGS! And I noticed they ate more of their feed today (despite one being in “chicken jail” for broody behavior). I’m thinking cutting back the...
Hmmm ... that’s something I hadn’t thought of.
Wouldn’t we see signs of them scratching? Or picking at themselves?
I’m standing in my sunroom right now and can see them milling around in their run. I’ve not noticed any picking.
Sure! Right after typing that, I look out & see a couple of them...
They’ve already molted ... they did that in late January & February. Since their molt, they were laying as usual.
For a human to get in, they’d have to get into our fenced in & gated backyard. We live in the country but have neighbors within eyesight. And no one that I can think of would pull...
I never thought about putting my geographic location for cases such as this!
I’m located just outside of Springfield, TN - 1/2 hour north of Nashville & 1/2 hour south of Kentucky border.
I’m attaching a few pictures that I have on my phone right now. I’ve included one where there’s 2 hens in...
I just cut back on their treats a couple days ago, wondering if that was part of the problem.
Nesting boxes - there’s 9. One particular one seems to be the favorite, as we find the majority of eggs in it every day!
I have 16 hens - no roosters. My 2 year old hens consist of 5 Rhode Islañd Reds and 3 Buff Orpington. Last year about this time, we added 8 Golden Comets. Needless to say, when the Comet baby chicks came home, they had some “growing up” to do before they were allowed to be in with my one year...
I’m anxious to see your recommendations! I’m assuming you’ve done this numerous times before?
You also mentioned introducing them back to the flock. So taking her out of the flock and isolating her is something you recommend? When should that be done? When I give her the fake eggs?
I’m hoping...
We started our chicken family last spring with 10 chicks - 5 Rhode Island Reds and 5 Buff Orpingtons. We were lucky - we bought a place in the country with a small barn and the former owners had already set up a perfect hen house. Lots of room, 6 nesting boxes and room for at least 6 more -...
we have 5 Rhode Island Reds and 3 Orpingtons. They were all purchased at the same time as chicks and shouldn’t be more than a week apart in age.
Two (2) of our Rhode Island Reds have “floppy” combs - and it appears they are the 2 egg layers that began about a week ago. The other 3 have combs...