What were your worst mistakes when you first started?

[BReeder!]

I'm living it now.... Not putting a roof on the run. Winters here are hit or miss and boy has it hit this year. The first storm early on was bad and a tree branch fell on the run. It ripped the net in a very small area--I was impressed the net held up.now everything is ice and frozen. The temps are so cold that the extension cords rated for outside stopped working. End result is I brought the chickens and ducks inside. Back to the drawing board and more building. There will be a roof by next winter--I am determined to get that done but it's only me, so it will take time.

Where in IL are you? Here I'm not supposed to have a roof over my run - a really dumb part of the chicken ordinance if you ask me. I have several inches of snow and ice in my run. I think that next year I may roof part of it. My chickens are stuck in the coop. They won't go out no matter how long the pop door stays open.

 

[MROO]

Where in IL are you? Here I'm not supposed to have a roof over my run - a really dumb part of the chicken ordinance if you ask me. I have several inches of snow and ice in my run. I think that next year I may roof part of it. My chickens are stuck in the coop. They won't go out no matter how long the pop door stays open.

If you put a big, flat picnic table inside your run, your chickens have cover, but the run doesn't have a roof ... you have a patio extension!

 

[BReeder!]

If you put a big, flat picnic table inside your run, your chickens have cover, but the run doesn't have a roof ... you have a patio extension!

Clever!

 

[MROO]

Clever!

There's always more than one way to skin the proverbial cat ... err ... Homeowners' Association!

 

[BReeder!]

I made some mistakes...

My compost tumblers are frozen shut so I have to keep chicken poop in a bucket. My compost pile is just a pile with no walls, so I don't throw in things I don't want the dogs possibly getting into. It's mostly just sticks, vines and grass that eventually get thrown into the tumblers when there's room. In the Spring I'm going to build a set of compost bins. In the back of the fenced in garden. Then I'll be able to just dump the poop even in the winter and not have to worry about the dogs getting to it.

I didn't put bedding in my new nesting boxes right away. Now the chickens have taken to laying underneath the nesting boxes because the coop floor is covered in pine shavings.

I forgot to put the lid back on my tote full of chicken feed that is in the chicken coop. We keep it there for easy access to feed. The chickens were enjoying themselves.

 

[medicineman2]

Mistakes


Not carrying my cutthroat razor when investigating a general alarm call.

Probably lots more and I’m still making mistakes.

what's a cutthroat razor????

 

[medicineman2]

I use human nail clippers. I find them easier to clip just the end. There have been accidents, but usually I get it right.
Other members of the family though.

Do you really have to clip their nails?? (I'm just learning, don't have any hens yet..)

 

[Amer]

Do you really have to clip their nails?? (I'm just learning, don't have any hens yet..)

Only if they get long. Some chickens possess the ability to wear their nails down, but some, especially older ones, get long ones which can break off and bleed.

 

[medicineman2]

1: Not deworming the flock.
2. Not sufficiently quarantining new arrivals to the flock.

1) We now deworm on a regular schedule with a broad spectrum dewormer. Worms can kill, and quickly.

Which dewormer do you use, and how often?? thanks!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Do you really have to clip their nails?? (I'm just learning, don't have any hens yet..)

I don’t have to clip their nails. I trimmed my roosters because he was tearing into my hen trying to mate. I got rid of the rooster. Mine free range in my yard and it’s allot of rocks and desert. Their nails stay nice and short naturally.