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It does look a bit like a prison, but hey, if it works for them it might work for my chickens, too! :) Thanks for sharing!

I was just coming here to post the same question, we have almost the same exact set up as you. Our fence is 4' cattle panel, a very large area, and the birds hop right over, immediately to be killed by the dog that is there to protect them. I'm trying to find the most economical solution, either...

My Buff Rock mama and her sweet babies out for a walk.

I had a Partridge Rock that our dog got a hold of (they are fenced so he can't get in, but occasionally a chicken escapes) and I couldn't find her for 3 days. Finally I found her, she had flew away from the dog and got stuck in a tile and sat there for all those days and it was even raining...

I agree, it has to be the light but I find that very bizarre! We have several yard lights on our farm and they are fairly bright. Never had an issue with chickens up in the night. After dark they all go to sleep, even the few times they accidentally got locked out of the coop- I'll find them...

That is a prime age for Cocci, I'd get some Corid and treat ASAP, just in case. it won't harm them if it's not cocci, but if it is cocci you will need to treat right away, it kills quickly. Good luck!

Could definitely be from the rooster, especially a young one like you have can be too rough at times. However, also check for mites as they are common during the cold weather and can also cause feather loss.

Another thought. I like your straw bale idea. I'd make sure to have some pretty bulletproof fencing around that though. And how is your yard for overhead predators such as hawks & owls? Baby chicks are easy targets for predators outside like that, even cats will get chicks that small.

I agree raising chicks via broody hen is the way to go, if possible. IMO it's too chancy to find that many broody hens for a specific date. Even if you did find them locally, by the time you move them to your place odds are that will break them of it. I've broken hens of their broodiness just...

I usually decline the free chick, but have gotten them 3 times. First time was an EE male. We ended up eating him. Next time was a Blue Andalusian, and he was beautiful! I thought about keeping him, but he ended up fighting with my other roo, and bothering the hens, and so we culled him. Last...

Glad they all made it! How sweet! I bet the ones you ordered were glad to have those Leghorn packing peanuts for warmth. ;)

Lol, true, true...but I don't have to so I don't. We're getting at least 1.5 dozen eggs right now for my family of 4, at that rate the dog can have the cracked ones.

We've had a streak of really, really cold weather and have had quite a few frozen eggs. I try to get eggs several times a day when it's bad but that is not always possible. I feed a couple to my dog per day, twice when I had a large amount of frozen eggs I scrambled up and fed them back to my...

I can see your concern about the predators, that is a very valid worry. If you make a habit of throwing some treats (this time of year I use corn) wherever you want them to go in the evenings, then close them up. Once it becomes a habit they will do it every night whether or not you give...

I've never had a BO, but have you tried Australorps? My McMurray hatchery Aussies go broody fairly frequently. I had a mama raise 19 chicks last March (4 she hatched herself, and it was COLD, and 15 I added from the hatchery), she did an amazing job! I'm hoping she will do the same this year.

Honestly, they might be too hot in there with a heat lamp in that small space. You don't need a heat lamp, especially at 45 degrees. 10 month old chickens have plenty of feathers to keep themselves warm under a shelter.

We start ours on regular chick starter. We follow the Welp hatchery guidelines and it has worked great. I have never lost a Cornish Rock to flip. I believe we've done 5 batches. I've never used Ideal's Cornish Rocks but in my experience they are all very similar. Size and age for butchering...

Electric netting is great. We had a fox get into our pen of meaties last spring, We lost all but one. Stupid me had left the door propped open for ventilation, thinking the 2 6-foot tall fences would keep anything out. We actually don't have a heavy predator load here, usually. Lesson learned...

Beautiful!

When my waterers start smelling funky I bring them in and wash them out in the bathtub. Just using a washcloth and hot water, sometimes a little baby soap. Using a splash of Apple Cider vinegar in the waterers keeps them fresh longer.