Raising Chickens

[Spaulding Smails 1552]

3 hours ago, kurioster said:

Any recs on netting or the best hawk deterrent? 

This is what I've used.  Works great and is easy to replace.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-14-ft-x-14-ft-Polypropylene-Bird-Block-Netting-and-Barrier-NMVBB1414/310977979

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

My son shot this rat snake inside one of the coops a week ago. I’ve never seen one not get pulled off the fence overnight. This is kind of amazing. Nothing left but skin, bones, and the eggs that were in his stomach. I guess this was nothing but the flies and maggots. 
 

 

[Incredulity 11644]

Also posted in holy shit

 

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

That’s awesome. 
 

Wife and I are here on St John for a few days (first vacay without the kids in a couple of years) and I love watching all the feral chickens. It’s not quite that bad here but it’s close. They are everywhere.
 

This morning I woke up early and sat outside to watch the sunrise with my coffee and the air was filled with continuous nonstop rooster crows for about an hour. I loved it but if I lived here permanently, probably not so much. 

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

Killed another snake this morning stealing eggs.

Not sure if it's the drought causing it or what, but it's only June and I've already killed 4 rat snakes in the coops this year when most years I might just get one.

I guess they are really hungry right now and not finding what they need in the pasture. 

[kurioster 66]

First egg! Now if I can just get them to lay in the nesting boxes.

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[Mother mopar 3318]

First egg! Now if I can just get them to lay in the nesting boxes.

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Put golf balls in the nesting boxes, it will encourage them to lay there.

[kurioster 66]

4 hours ago, Mother mopar said:

Put golf balls in the nesting boxes, it will encourage them to lay there.

I've got one in each of the four boxes - I don't currently have a ladder/ramp from the ground to the nesting boxes as their not too far off the ground (18 inches approx) but might add one or possibly a landing/perch this weekend.  Second egg was laid yesterday afternoon/evening  underneath the nesting boxes so that's an improvement! 

[Mother mopar 3318]

I've got one in each of the four boxes - I don't currently have a ladder/ramp from the ground to the nesting boxes as their not too far off the ground (18 inches approx) but might add one or possibly a landing/perch this weekend.  Second egg was laid yesterday afternoon/evening  underneath the nesting boxes so that's an improvement! 

Baby steps...headed in the right direction. The ladder will help too. Once one starts laying in the box it's a matter id time and then they all do, at least in my experience.

[Kennythetiger 9374]

Never had ladders but they seemed to enjoy perching outside of the boxes. 

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

On 8/3/2022 at 11:11 AM, Mother mopar said:

Baby steps...headed in the right direction. The ladder will help too. Once one starts laying in the box it's a matter id time and then they all do, at least in my experience.

This. 

You can get plastic training eggs at tractor supply or off of Amazon. Put a couple in each nesting box and they'll all be laying them there in no time. 

Golf balls - mentioned above - sometimes work, but the training eggs are more effective, imo. 

[Mason 0]

We do, four chickens in total.

Three hens and one rooster. One thing you must have is an auto door, Like RUN-Chicken and omlet, chicken guard.

Have you heard about Chickcozy's automatic chicken coop door? I think it is the best-looking one.

Edited August 23, 2022 by Mason

[kurioster 66]

Update time. Golf balls worked, didn't take long. Getting 10-11/day for the last week from 13 hens. Rat snake found its way into the coop before they started laying but was too fat to squeeze out/got stuck in the fence when I attempted to coax it out. No hens were harmed but at that point they were weeks away from laying and I know the snake would have come back. Cottonmouth was found about 50 yards from the coop but on the carport this past weekend. I have a just beginning to zoom around yet still a wobbly toddler so there was no coaxing that time.

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[davidg 4036]

Edit. Never mind 

Edited September 8, 2022 by davidg

[KYHorn 17004]

Just got 6 chicks. Any recs for a good beginner coop? We don't really have time to build one right now. We've been considering this one: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-villa-chicken-coop-12-chicken-capacity

Any thoughts/suggestions? 

[Kennythetiger 9374]

I wonder what ever happened to @Errestaurants

Hope he’s ok. 

[Jameslaw121 4448]

On 3/10/2024 at 1:23 PM, KYHorn said:

Just got 6 chicks. Any recs for a good beginner coop? We don't really have time to build one right now. We've been considering this one: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-villa-chicken-coop-12-chicken-capacity

Any thoughts/suggestions? 

I've gone through about 4 chicken coops so far. These are by far the best and easiest to clean.

 

https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/modern_chicken_coop_eglu_go/

 

I wish I had bought this first. 

[Jameslaw121 4448]

On 3/10/2024 at 1:23 PM, KYHorn said:

Just got 6 chicks. Any recs for a good beginner coop? We don't really have time to build one right now. We've been considering this one: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-villa-chicken-coop-12-chicken-capacity

Any thoughts/suggestions? 

The main problem I had with coups similiar to that is getting in there to clean of change food is a pain in the ass if you are over 4 feet tall.... especially if you need to get under where the "house" is