Recent content by SchoolPsychMom

I'm still pretty new to chickens. I started with Buff Orpingtons and Americuana that are turning 2. I have my first rooster; a Rhode Island Red just turning 1. Surprise! BAD job on Tractor Supply: 3 chicks turned out to be White Leghorn NOT Barred Rocks (1 of which died within days) and 1 of 3...

I'm delighted to see your chick's progress!

I was surprised to see nuts on the 'no' list. My girls adore raw peanuts as well as raisins. My standby treats are black sunflower seeds, raw peanuts, & raisins. I would prefer to go with table scraps, they aren't always available. My standbys are cheap, shelf-stable, & at the store year-round...

Agreed! Compost piles are a HUGE hit. When my chickens began free-ranging this year, they decimated my compost heap. Completely! From 3-4' across and 2-3' high, that area is now just 'slightly raised' and completely 'heap' free. I've given up on having compost. :-( My chickens have also dug...

45 with a high of 65 expected. Good chicken temps!

Mine ladies eat Dumor Layer Pellets daily. They eat table scraps and will indeed devour any hint of butter (learned from left-over potato)! They DO NOT eat lettuce or broccoli. They adore tomatoes, berries, empty carbs (Stale crackers, Honey Nut Cheerios, bread, etc.), any berry they can get...

I completely relate to the struggle to keep the ladies cool! I'm on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Zone 9a, so it's hot and it's humid. My pool was 97 Fahrenheit at 5:45 pm yesterday! I researched heat tolerant chicken breeds before getting my first hens. Frost is rare where I live, but we...

Thank you both! Sorry it's not a better pic, the chick just would not cooperate with my teen. We appreciate the input!

We have 3 Rhode Island Reds, approximately 5 1/2 weeks. This one is a bit more aggressive and spends a lot more time observing the environment than the others. I know it's early and I don't see a waddle, however, I've only had a chickens for a year. Our 3 Reds and 2 Barred Rocks, all about 5 1/2...

How did the build go? Did you start? I have a 16 year old who wants us to build a pen and get some quail. I'm curious how your journey has gone.

That BLUE is fabulous! I'm very excited to se this come together. I really think my teenager and I could do this!

Thank you for the article and sharing your coop design. Everything I have been reading is prompting me to move what I have which is unfortunately a pre-made (terrible choice is retrospect) coop and metal framed run (1/3 is covered for shade). I just got my ladies this past spring and there is NO...

Did I miss the final coop? I don't see the completed coop. I'm super excited to see how this goes as my 16 year-old is begging to get quails and they will need a hope. Which is part of my big argument for "you don't need quails...admire my chickens instead."

I'm really excited about starting my flock. Next step is the run! They have a coop ready for when they are a bit bigger. Although I would love to let them free range with a safe area to return to, I have an energetic dog who already wants to the play with them. I also have to worry about hawks...

We started baking bread when COVID closed the world. Even the dog gained weight. I was doing really well with sourdough (I bought a starter through Amazon) and my oldest does an fabulous focaccia. We had to stop with the homemade bread. We enjoyed making...and eating it...a bit too much