I am confused. You took in feral chickens and want to keep them to free range. Your neighbor is caring for a feral rooster that is also free ranged and you want to "rehome" it. Keep your chickens safe in an enclosed area, put wire or a tarp over the enclosure and let you neighbors love their...
While you could place higher boards where the screening is, and should, the deep litter might interfere with the pop door if you close it at night. I have a similar set up, and had to put higher boards in place I still have to sweep up the litter they scratch over them LOL, and I struggle to...
Is there a way to screen in the carport with something sturdy? Even a part of the carport to protect them at night. This way they will come in to roost there they are used to without having to be coaxed.
I had the same problem until I figured out that the nest boxes were higher than the roost. Chicken like to sleep on the highest point. I didn't like them sleeping in the nest boxes because the eggs would then be full of poop. Now I have clean eggs.
It is humidity that is causing the mold and the paint to peel. Since you have more than 1 window, placing a fan that blows outside in one of them would provide a cross breeze. This will help to remove the humidity caused by weather and the chicken breathing. Let us know what you decide. Good...
I have 5 hens. Clean poop boards every other day or so. It will be more often when the weather warms up. Deep litter with wood chips and just cleaned out after a year. It really didn't need it as it was dry and odor free, I just wanted to put the used litter in the composting bin. My goal is...
I use wood shaving in the coop and love it. The floor stays dry and odor free. After a year of use it was still in pretty good shape, but I removed it to use it in the compost pile. With my former coop I used straw and was disappointed at how often it needed to be changed. In the run I...
The more you feed them, the more your neighbors believe their "tough" approach is working because, well, the chickens are thriving. If you don't tell them what is happening, how are they to know? You have to explain this to neighbors. Videoing them is a great idea. Also, refuse to watch them...
Everyone is correct to watch for predators, but one of the main reasons I don't let my girls out is because I know they will destroy my flower and vegetable beds. They keep asking to be let out and I really would love to see them "run free", but, sadly, the will have to stay in their really...
I had no idea how much they would react to my singing and I have a terrible voice. I give them treats outside so they are distracted while I can clean there poop tray. One day just started signing to myself. Wow! All five of them came in and joined in the singing. We had a wonderful chicken...
Baling wire back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Keeps hens in and hawks out. Lots of leaves and yard waste to keep from getting muddy and tons of fun for hens to scratch in.
It is a perfect time of the year to redo your run. It looks like you have quite a few animals in a small pen, so will most likely always have a problem with it. But here are a few suggestions that might help some. Collect as many leaves and garden wastes as you can. If you don't have enough...
Applying a permanent mesh might rust over time, wood would rot. How about ( I know this is labor intensive) applying river rock with either concrete mix or a strong glue?
I have know 2 different people that kept a rooster as an indoor pet. The bond seemed to be mutual. If you can keep his area clean and odor free (they did), I would not be in a hurry to give him to someone that would make him live outside.
I had a flock of 20, every night would count them. One morning I had 19 couldn't' figure it out. long story short, a racoon caught the first, took a few days to gather a bunch of racoon friends and they left only a few pieces of combs. Yes it can happen.
I had the sweetest most gentle rooster and one day I went into their yard and he came after me the same way. I walked backward slowly and apologized to him when I realized that I walked in rather fast and frightened him. He was only doing his job of protecting his girls. After that I always...
These were good suggestions for containers, but don't you think it would be a good idea to address the roach problem. They will not go away by themselves and will only increase in number if you do not.
Humblehills,
Can you give us update on your coffee grounds? Do you use them on the coop floor and poop board or?? How has it been going? Do you still dry out the grounds or put them in the coop as is? I am using wood flakes on the floor and PDZ on the poop board right now and am content...