People with only a couple of chickens often aren’t sure about the right thing. Some follow the rules, some do the same as usual. We all make very different choices.
One thing I know for sure. I don’t trust the authorities in making the right choices for hobbyists/ my flock. They tend to listen...
I didn’t read the whole thread. But space an territory are probably 2 important issues here.
If you want to raise chicks, you need to way more space than minimal requirements, and be able to arrange the space in a way the hens that aren’t broody are not disturbed too much in their usual habits...
...Hens work together to build a nest. Their goal is to maintain the flock. Not that you eat their offspring.
If there are enough eggs, a normal* hen will go broody and wants to hatch a clutch off eggs. It's more convenient if the eggs aren't scattered around.
If I want a hen to go broody, I...
Now I remember when my mother used a drop of dishwasher soap for hand washing. She had tableware with a gold edge that would faint in the dishwasher with the dishwasher tablets.
My mother used dishwasher soap too sometimes. But she only added 1 or 2 drops, to prevent a foam burst. She never had any problems doing so.
Probably read it somewhere as a tip to save money, if the dishes weren’t very dirty.
Don’t confuse laying hybrids in industrial factory farming with laying hybrids as backyard chickens.
Isa browns who die at about 2 yo as byc are an exception. The ones who are kept for industrial egg production had a real miserable life and are less healthy when they get into their first moult...
Its good for the chickens health to take a break in egg production every year. Autumn is a natural time hens stop laying and start to moult. Chickens that start to moult are not fit. Diarrhoea is not a strange reaction. It takes a lot of energy to grow their feathers back.
Best not give any...
Do you remember I told about the cheap new pop door I bought previously this year? It has no strings to chew on.
The one I bought won't do for your resilient dark female rat for sure, but I know there are aluminium doors too with the same mechanism. Chickenguard has new auto-pop doors too with...
:hugsSorry for your losses.
The rats are probably very hungry bc they no longer have access to food.
A hungry rat can take a sleeping/resting chicken down at night to eat from her.
The injuries are not what I would expect from a member of the weasel family.
A new rat-proof coop to roost...
I dont get a clear picture of your problem and your set up/how you feed the chickens.
What is the problem you want to solve?
Stealing food you scatter in the run:
Avian influenza protection?
Can you make a few photos and upload them here?
Maybe there is a possibility to make a feed...
Mine shift their feed preferences too. They eat less chick crumble now and more layer pellets. Strange bc none of them lay eggs at the moment.
I never check their crops. Chickens surely know when they need food. Feed is available 24/7. I give mixed grains and a few mealworms before or around...
This last part is not my experience. Not for all flock members. Chickens have their personal preferences even after a problem is solved.
All my chickens are flock members. None avoid certain other flock members and they are a great team in foraging and such during the day.
Some background...