Hi everyone! I've been lurking on here for a while - i got my girls in June - 4 rhode island reds that live comfortably in their converted little tikes house (per the suggestions on here!). I live Northern NJ and work full time as a nurse, in my spare time i serve on my town's FD (hence my name!). I am so happy to have my chickens- they are such fun! I am so glad i found this site - i've learned so much!
Few questions out of the gate:
1. My girls usually put themselves to bed at around 9 pm, but occasionally they will roost in their run outside. I get nervous to leave them out, as we have bears (although i do have a stockade fenced yard). It seems like they tend to want to stay out when i clean their coop. Perhaps i'm cleaning it out too often?? I rake all the pine shavings out about twice a week, scrape the poop off the floor and spread more with a sprinkle of DE. It's a small area in there, so i don't want it to get too rank.
2. They came with their beaks clipped. Will they ever grow back in? It would not have been my choice to clip their beaks.
3. Is their a certain time of year that they molt? or do birds all vary on this?
Thanks!
Few questions out of the gate:
1. My girls usually put themselves to bed at around 9 pm, but occasionally they will roost in their run outside. I get nervous to leave them out, as we have bears (although i do have a stockade fenced yard). It seems like they tend to want to stay out when i clean their coop. Perhaps i'm cleaning it out too often?? I rake all the pine shavings out about twice a week, scrape the poop off the floor and spread more with a sprinkle of DE. It's a small area in there, so i don't want it to get too rank.
2. They came with their beaks clipped. Will they ever grow back in? It would not have been my choice to clip their beaks.
3. Is their a certain time of year that they molt? or do birds all vary on this?
Thanks!
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. 
