My 6 year old little red banty sleeps right outside in a pine tree. We hear him crowing sometimes 1, 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning! And any other time of the day too! My DH says he's the LAST rooster we're ever going to have!
Do you have a cat? or can you "borrow" one that doesn't bother chickens? Shut it in the coop for a while. The mice will smell the cat, and the cat will probably catch a few mice. My cats really help keep down the mouse population in my coop, which is open to the cats most afternoons until dark.
I've got a banty roo that always roosts in a pine tree. His feathered legs were really red, rough and sore. They looked terrible! I suspected he had scaly leg mites. I slathered his legs with bag balm. A week later I did it again. His legs soon healed up and looked so much better and the...
My favorite hen is an Australorp. She runs to me when the hens are out in the yard. She follows me everywhere, waiting for me to turn over boards, rocks or logs. She gobbles up the sow bugs, worms, spiders, etc. She's been friendly since she was a tiny chick. I'd always want a few Australorps in...
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My hens LOVE pine nuts. Our property is covered with pine trees. They peck the nuts out of all the wings that cover our yard. I collect a handful of them and the girls come running and pluck the nut right out leaving the empty wings!
Beautiful Spirit Lake, Idaho. Grew-up in Eastern Washington, but have been here 24 years. Have 13 hens, 2 SLW, 2GLW, 2 RIR, 2BO, 2 Australorps 2 Wellsummers, 1 Buff Silkie and a little red banty roo. Enjoy them every day!
My three DDs know exactly where to look for me when they can't find me in the house. Even my big tabby cat Quincy, comes strolling out to the hen house looking for me! The hens let me know when they see him coming!