This morning, I went out to the coop and noticed my easter egger, Nutmeg, is not in the run. I figured she was chilling in the nesting box as she sometimes does. After a few moments, I open the nesting box, since she hasn't come out yet. I saw two eggs from my other chickens and blood. I see...
The area where the run and coop are at is all rocks and crusher run on top of that. No soil. I do plan on the run being covered with a roof, so wind is a concern. I thought about doing a footer all the way around, but then I wondered how much that would cost me. I kind of thought cinder blocks...
I actually thought about pouring a footer the whole perimeter for the run to sit on. But then I thought about how much that might cost. I do plan on doing a covered run, so anchoring is something I was thinking about if I did cinder blocks.
I got an old shed that I'm converting to a chicken coop and run. I'm getting to the point where I will build the run itself now. I'm a little stuck on how I should build it. Mainly the base of the run. I was considering putting down a row or two of cinder blocks for the wood parts to sit on top...
Thanks. I'll have to look for the one I mix up myself. I got a spray bottle and did the entire coop and run with it. Got the ladies a little too. Was my quickest option to start tackling the issue right away since I have work and all.
The bottle I got says to re-apply every 28 days. I'm...
On day 1 I left them alone. After that I handled them daily. Let them out and run around with me sitting with them. I'd make a warm spot on a towel and sit with my legs crossed and let them chill there.
The real benefit is that those ones are very easy to handle. I can walk over and just pick...
I know the local co-op has a spray that is supposed to be for chickens. Last year I used DE in the coop and didn't have too many problems. They just recently sprang up now that it's staying warm.
I'd rather not cut open my girl. I know she's gone and couldn't feel it. But I have my ladies for eggs, not meat. So it's pretty offputting to do something like that.
I was concerned about buying from Lowe's as I have no clue where they source their straw from. But I imagine the scale at which they sell it, probably larger commercial farming operations. Which makes me think more use of sprays.
I got all my stuff from the local Co-Op. Same problem though...
I am trying to use as few plastics and chemicals in my garden as possible. I'll make wooden raised beds over time. But for now we are trying the straw garden. See what works.
This morning I found my black hen, CoCo, dead, on her side in the nesting box. I was reading previous threads and people suggested if their comb was a dark purple, it might be a heart attack. In my girl's case, her comb and wattle were very pale. She has a pretty red set usually.
***Edit***
She...
It's worth a shot to pick up a few bails of straw and see if it works. Only concern would be that most commercial operations use Roundup in production. I'd really like to avoid that if possible.
Perhaps I can source some localy grown. Before I moved on this propety my grandparents would let a...
Potatoes do well here. My great grandfather had a potatoe field that my dad owns now. There's been decades of potatoes. So I'm hoping I can get them going up on my place too.
I tried beans in my raised bed and had no luck previously. But maybe I'll try them this year in the clay. See how they do.
TLDR Version: Hard clay and rock ground. Gets super wet when it rains a lot. Does drain eventually though. Gets full sun in most of the area. What can I Grow here? If I can't get veggies going I might just make a fruit tree orchard next year.
Full Story:
I have this space I want to try to grow...
I'll admit it. I was a bit lazy at collecting my eggs when it was cold. One of the girls would lay on them every morning. At one point, maybe 3 weeks ago, I brought a batch of eggs in. They were probably about a week old at that point.
Today, I opened one for my dog and about died from the...
Thanks. I've read conflicting opinions on it. I haven't seen anything scientific. But it does seem to me it's better to keep them on a natural cycle. One big point I took away is that it's good to have that break during the winter.
No, I did not. At appears to be just molting. I don't see evidence of mites in their coop or on her. It's kind of cold for them right now.
After her feathers dropped she quickly had the little pin feathers come in. She's back to fully feathered. I'm kind of curious about when she will get back...
My Rhode Island Red, Lemon, started molting in November. She dropped feathers on her chest, belly, back, and saddle areas.
I'm hoping someone can point me to a good read on the molting process. How long can it go on, how long before she starts laying again? Will all her feathers be replaced or...