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and I just want to add that I am not using wood chips like in some of these photos, I buy big bags of aspen chips, they are clean and a sort of light yellowish color and smell great. They are soft and the chickens love them. No splinters ever.

Wood chips in the run is a great idea and wood chips smell good. I used to use hay but it's harder to keep clean and I found myself putting tons of hay matted around poop into the decomposer. Poop easier to pick up in wood chips and I spray a little essential oil in my run and toss lavender I...

I agree that a fan is a great way to cool them off and keep air circulating. Other ideas for some of the folks out there are ice cubes in the water and my girls favorite, corn ice cubes (not in the water) but in a bowl for them to pick at and cool off at same time. And finally, don't minimize...

our metal roofing panels (ordered right from home depot) are perfect, water tight and reflect the sun. We put a ridge cap at the peak and used roofing nails with a neoprene washer. It looks nice too! Highly recommend.

Hello! I see your skirt is at a right angle and not buried 8 inches or at a more obtuse angle as most literature recommends. You find this prevents everything from a fox to a rat?

Thanks for reaching out! As a college professor, this is a particularly busy time of year which conflicts with my farming duties, lol! I ordered 3 Plymouth Rock Barred ladies 2 years ago and was sent 4. I will never know who the "extra" chick was, but the dynamics among them is amazing. And with...

overall a good article with a great list of items to feed, but it's super easy to just ask google if in doubt! not sure why nuts are on the avoid list, not even a specific one type but all? My girls don't like bananas. I take the fruit out of the peel, is that how others feed them? not sure why...

I have ALL bells and whistles ( 1/4 in all around, metal roof, secure locks, 2 automatic doors, motion flood lights, elevated coop, even wifi speakers for music all day—- AND 1/4 inch galvanized wire buried under the entire coop and run. This buried wire is the ONLY thing stopping these pests...

I do love the photos you posted and would like to know how the chickens are protected during the day when free ranging like this? do you have a specific area for them that is covered above? I had a barred owl attack at 6PM in the summer which is still super sunny and light out AND I was but a...

water grows algae? gross! Please don't wait that long to change the drinking water! plus, it's an opportunity to add cider vinegar, probiotics or even liquid calcium supplements. just don't fill waterer too much so you don't waste your additives b/c it WILL GET DIRTY quickly!

Do you have a wildlife vet, exotic vet or bird specialist any where near you? This is accelerating so quickly I don’t know if you have time to solicit advice from our online group. Please keep us posted.

Explore your zoning laws, most coops need to be a specified distance from your dwelling and shared property line and do not allow fowl inside. There are many docile breeds that enjoy human contact and being held but as far as low pooping? If you can train your hen to go in a litter box and if...

All chickens have some type of spur, depending on the breed it can remain a small bump or smaller spur in comparison to a rooster but the 2 years is what is interesting!

or even a video so those with more experience can see her body language. Sorry you are getting hurt in the meanwhile.

Have a pair of boots/shoes you only use in the run/coop. You can transfer things from your shoes to your flock as well. Sloggers are great for gardening and flock-mastering. I wash them in a slop sink or with a hose in nicer weather. Feces = bacteria (and smell!). I wear gloves in the coop when...

I was SO sad to read about this. what a tragedy and horrible to find. I know this is not helping what has already happened, but we have a nest camera installed in our inner run. It's fun to watch them but it's super helpful to ensure everyone made it in before the automatic doors close and in...

Excited to have found this group. Read lot's of material before deciding to raise four Plymouth Barred chicks, Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia. We have a coop inside a large enclosed "cage" that's about 15ft x 10ft so the girls have plenty of access to space both in the coop and run area. We...

This is good to read b/c I have several potted strawberry plants and they are regularly attacked by squirrels, birds and chipmunks so I wanted to move the pots into the large chicken run—— at least my girls can have them if we cannot!