Recent content by Icemaiden

Oh, and provided that your coop is in a fox-proof run, there's no harm in having an automatic pop-hole opener to let them out into the run in the mornings. It'll only take a few evenings of training before they learn to put themselves to bed before the door closes again.

Hi Marius. If your flock are to free range, you or another responsible person need to be there while they're out, to defend them from predators. When I first started researching, as you're wisely doing, I mentioned on this forum that I planned to adopt some ex-battery hens. The last thing that I...

We have a plastic coop these days, but I still don an FFP3 mask & dust the coop with diatom after I've cleaned it. Needless to say I wear the mask when I deep clean the coop too. I hadn't thought about the hazard of breathing in diatomaceous earth until you mentioned it a few years back, Chris.

Hi Chris. I'm glad you were able to advise. Your years of experience are a blessing on this forum...

I knew that chickens can carry poultry lice on them, but I didn’t know that red might could stay on them in the daytime. We seem to have red mite breeding in the run this year; there are three narrow rolls of chicken wire on the ground at the bottom of the fence walls, where previous hens had...

Chris's replies didn't...

You did the right thing in adding a greater number of new birds to a smaller number of established birds. E.g. adding three newbies to two existing hens would be much better than adding two new birds to an established flock of three.

If their scales are coming away because of the mite poo, I hate to think how much surgical spirit would sting. I wouldn't put it on a cut on myself, so I wouldn't inflict it on a hen either. At least olive oil & benzyl benzoate don't sting...

I use them to encourage my girls to lat their eggs in the nestboxes rather than in the coop. I've lost a couple too- both when other people have been looking after the girls when I've been on holiday. I suspect that they had a tough time making their breakfasts!! I resorted to writing on the...

You're welcome. Enjoy your eggs. You may find that your girls are happier if you gradually switch from their current feed to their new feed. Top up their feeder with the Smallholder layers' pellets (on top of their existing feed) and they'll get a mixture of both, followed by just their...

But there's nothing natural about what's done to the geese & they have no choice in the matter. I think that before anyone is permitted to eat foie gras, they should have a tube shoved down their throat (with no anaesthetic) and be force fed grain repeatedly for 3 months. If they're still...

Have you tried ringing the BHWT hen helpline? tel:01884860084 (that's a UK number so if you're elsewhere you'll need +44 1884 860084.

Sorry Suzy, but it's really hard to tell. Chickens seldom pose obligingly when you need to catch them from a certain angle...

Hi Blaine. "Smallholder" layers' pellets https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/layers/natural-free-range-layers-pellets/ Youngs Animal Feeds in Somerford & Homefeeds Pet Supermarket in Shavington both sell them (I just looked for stockists close to the Cheshire Cheese at Wheelock). I have...

I've just looked up HJ Leas layers' pellets, as I hadn't heard of them, & have deduced that you probably live in Cheshire. In that case I'd strongly recommend Smallholder Layers Pellets; they're what I use & contain marigold flowers to enhance yolk colour. Be warned: feed with artificial...