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"It has gutters!" is often the first comment I hear. Indeed; and we'll get to the reason for that eventually. But let's start at the beginning. As my esteemed colleague and sometime-bartender Paul tells me: you can change a plan, but only if you have one.
Not to scale. 12' long, 6' wide, 8'...
I started this coop by laying down two 8' 2" x 4"s then putting five 4.5’ ones down in between them. The boards were roughly two feet apart and fastened using two screws in each end.
Next, I added some 2” x 2" s in-between those short 4.5' boards. I alternated them 18" and 16" from the...
Introduction
I took these pictures on my iPhone through Safari, so it may look different on your device. If you have any suggestions please pm me or leave a comment! If you still have questions, you can post them here. Let’s get started!
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I built my ideal coop for me and I want to share it with others as it really really has made chicken raising fun.
In short, it is a 5x8 with a 6x12 run, and a connector between. It is ALL moveable. As of now, it is predator-proof. No chickens lost to digging predators. No chickens lost to...
I live in south Texas, near San Antonio, and it’s hot here almost all year. I knew ventilation would be the name of the game and after seeing a few open air coop designs online I said “how about ALL ventilation then?” So that’s what I did! It doesn’t rain often, but it’s possible to get a pretty...
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Introduction
Keeping a house chicken is a very debated topic. In this article we will cover a few individual experiences, statistics, tips, care, and other options. Please be respectful and considerate of any opinions that anyone has on keeping house chickens. Also, this...
Phosphorus Problems in the Land of “Perfect” Calcium
I get asked a question often: ‘My chickens eggs are shitte- but I feed calcium grit'. Well… Let’s say your chicken has “great” calcium provisions, no infections—but their phosphorus is dragging behind and creatinine’s waving a little red...
Raising chickens is a rewarding and educational experience. Whether you're homesteading, farming, or just starting a backyard flock, understanding how to hatch chicks and raise them properly will lead to healthy birds and successful egg or meat production. In this guide, I'll go over how to...
Raising Ducks: A Beginner’s Guide to Care, Housing, and Feeding
Ducks are friendly, hardy birds that make great additions to farms, backyards, or homesteads. Whether you’re raising ducks for eggs, meat, pest control, or as pets, understanding their basic needs is key to keeping them healthy and...
My coop is 8 yrs old now. I started out with a 4x4 dog house my husband had built and the dog didn't use he raised it up a couple feet, a ramp and added a pull out tray to clean under the roost. At the time I started out with 4 silkies. Then in a couple weeks time I ended up with 13 silkies. I...
If you're a gardener or homesteader, you probably know how frustrating it is when bugs invade your plants. One day your garden looks perfect—and the next, it’s full of holes from caterpillars, grasshoppers, or beetles. But what if I told you there’s a bird that can help protect your garden...
Splay legs, curly feet, malformed quail or chicken feet. This has been a game changer for me. Build an easy cardboard maize. Put newborn button quail or Coturnix or chickens with splay legs or curly feet into it.
They heal in a day or two. I used to think these were genetic or dietary...
Some people are very, very confused. Oftentimes, I get asked, "Are you two different?"
This persistent question is something that many a poor, confused soul who just woke up asks.
It's this simple: I am @notabitail. My name ends with a "L". I am the Original. I have one alt. It was banned...
From City Life to Chicken Wisdom: A Journey South of the Thames
If a clairvoyant had told me in 2003 that I’d end up living south of the Thames in Croydon, I would’ve shrugged and walked away without paying. Yet here I am, more than two decades later, deeply grateful I took my sister up on her...
Thinking about adding guinea fowl to your mixed poultry flock? You're not alone. These quirky, helmeted birds are becoming more popular on homesteads and backyard farms, thanks to their loud alarms, bug-eating superpowers, and hardy nature. But one big question keeps coming up: can guinea fowl...