Remember, black absorbs heat from sun. I free range in central Florida. Black animals here feel the heat more in the summer. They need more shade. Good luck!
You can move the dog door or put a 2nd one in the kick plate of the screen door. I have had a dog door in my patio screen door for about 15 yrs. We have replaced the vinyl flap 2 times, but otherwise works great! My chicken yard is on the opposite side and there's a screen door there too. My...
My peeps are 1 yr older than yours. I ran into a similar problem this time last yr. I went from 6-8 eggs a day down to 6-8 a wk if I was lucky. I'm in central Florida. By Aug I was lucky with 4 eggs a wk. Do your girls combs look paler than usual, are they kind of scruffy looking, are their...
I'm in FL. Summers can be miserable. My girls free range from dawn to dusk. I have water hanging under the coop and another larger waterer under the trees. I put a frozen water bottle in their larger water bucket mid day. It sure helps to cool the water. They have 2 large oaks for shade in the...
Great Pyrs consider their territory anywhere from 5 miles to 15. Not having full fencing will be a problem. The shock collar will not keep them home, but they will use it as an excuse not to come back in the yard! Lol Pyrs are big barkers. Training classes are a must. Any pup you get will need...
My coop is really a little too small for my peeps. TSC info said 8-10 hens. 😂 Chicken math, 9 came in my shipment from hatchery. Lol. I have buffs & ameraucanas. Good sized girls now. They will be 2yrs old next month. Last summer was too hot for them. My hubby took screened soffit vents and put...
We have an EE mix that turned 9 this month. She belonged to 1 of my friends. Almost 2 yrs ago something got in their coop. She was the only survivor. She refused to go in the coop anymore. Every night she would go to their sliding glass door and jump up and peck the door handle and they would...
I use low dust, small sift pine bedding + PDZ. I use a litter scoop and scoop the coop most days. Miss one every now n then. My coop is small. TSC rated 8-10 chickens. 😂😂. Somehow? Chicken math! We ended up with 6 orps, 2 ameraucana, and a retired 7 yr old EE. Not small girls. I not only scoop...
Gekolady, There are several articles on safe scraps n treats for chickens. Just Google it. I reference them periodically when my hubby decides a new leftover should go to the peeps. LOL!
U_Stormcrow My girls love the marigolds blossoms. They crowd around the porch door in the afternoon in spring n summer waiting for me to bring them out to them. And yes I like the aesthetics bonus to the yolks. 😁
Icy_flames, Be careful with grain free. I use to think it better, but a lot of grain free dog foods are too rich, or higher fat. They are the craze these days but not as heart healthy. Go on line and check pros n cons on grain free.
My girls love marigolds. I bought seeds and they grow here mostly yr round. I give the blooms to my peeps as treats. Save the last few blooms &allow them to go to seed. Then I start a new pot.