Recent content by Granitestater

Mg hubby jealous too!

No to diatomaceous earth according to the article above! Its a carcinogen to both chooks and humans, lung, and reportedly doesnt work. Theres a list in the article which products work and she highly encourages constant access to sand for dust baths. I have 2 bins in my big run so even in the...

Well said Aina. Yes you don't want to be mad at the dog often, and the chickens deserve safety. Both species are important. Please heed Ainas advice.

My little bantam Wyandotte, Peppermint, always layed a small white egg. She's now 4.5 yrs old, getting thru a cold winter, and after several mos of not laying (typical in winter in NH) at my place, here's what Im seeing: After seeing her sitting (prolonged) in the nesting box, hours later when...

So sorry about your little girl Lucky. I hope thats not an awfully painful condition for a hen to die from. Did she seem to be in discomfort? Would you have considered taking her to a vet if someone had suggested it? We have exotic animal vets (all women!) 1/2 hr from us. Fortunate. They are...

Nice coop! Don't know your climate, but if gets below freezing in winter, suggest insulation with plastic sheeting over it? Sure helps keep out those relentless winter winds in nh! I've got to make a lower roosting area for my gang as they're aging and 2 w bad eyesight who wait for me to take...

Tony Roo is a gorgeous boy! Love him. Kind eyes❤

Oh yes I meant to share that. You can take the eggs and make sure they don't brood on the eggs. That's hard too cuz it seems to mean alot to the hens to sit and brood. Can be done tho.

I recommend no rooster because you will have baby roosters born and have to face the gut wrenching experience of watching 1-them gang rape your hens 2- the young alpha rooster bully, run off the property, and eventually mortally wound the other boys (my experience: fractured pelvis, broken neck...

Read up immediately on predators of chickens and all their techniques. Discover the weakest link in your system and fix it fast. If you do build a more substantial coop, I recommend a cement or patio block floor so rodents can't burrow in. Welcome to the site and to chicken keeping. They are...

What about flax seeds? I read they are 3x more estrogen like hormones than soybeans. Wonder if could help. My head boy abusive to other roosters. Want to make him much less aggrssive. Has already led to death of 2 others. My vet tried Lupron implants last year. No appreciable effect.

I shovel an area outside of their covered run, about 8x8'. Then lay hay or straw on it (used stuff is great) and they have a blast scratching and pecking around. It took just a short time the first year to get used to it. They always have the option to go in when they want. Its cold in NH!

Very sensible and logical advice! "And I love them all".

They do not eat our mint here in NH. Must not like it cuz they aren't shy bout nibbling what they like.

But they don't have a nasty smell!😄