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I've been experimenting with a DIY process for drying unseasoned timber to use in the wood burner. It must be lower than 20% humidity otherwise the flue soots up. 25% of the water content is 'cellular entrapment', which means you have to break the cells open to get the water out. This is...

We had a coop made of that imported wood. It came free with three hybrids; the original owners realised immediately that the run was too small and started building a bigger one. But two weeks later the husband developed a chronic allergy to chicken feather dust and they had to go. The coop...

Hi Jacqfrost and welcome to the forum. First thing I would say would be to double your expenditure on a coop and buy something re-saleable. I am not keen on Bluebells -funny natured things and ours was a problem. Perhaps think of a plastic second-hand coop (wood has pest issues).

We had a very minor infestation in one coop (couple of thousand max). They appeared second generation as they were all very small so their parents arrived a couple of weeks ago I would say. The coop they were in was creosoted internally 18 months ago, but was still partially effective as the...

Good point Alice. Lucky you could find someone to look after them. We didn't holiday for four years because we had too many chickens to entrust someone with. In the end we took them all (28) on holiday with us permanently. They are all pets to some extent -one lives in the house.

Hi Tanglechuck and welcome to the forum. Pure breeds will give you eggs at around 26 weeks. The size and quantity will depend on the breed and strain so this is an important question to ask. We have Leghorn bantams which lay 200+ a year at between 46 and 50 grammes. We had a 12lb black Orpington...

We have a spanish semi-automatic incubator from Ascott which, because we used it without a surge protector socket, had the thermostat circuitry melt down. It's a good solid unit and has had many successful hatches. We replaced it with a Covatuttu24 (€170 -ouch!), another good unit, until I could...

Our pet (animal domestique over here) cockerel Bottom, a 6 year old Buff Orpington, has been ill almost constantly for the last 9 months. He started with an ILT flareup caused by the stress of the move. Then respiratory problems due to damp. Then Carbon monoxide poisoning. Then a massive rapid...

Hi Ryan and welcome to the forum. Good article in Practical Poultry this month about starting with chickens -I've copied it for someone else. Have a look at the main site as well www.poultrykeeper.com. Plenty of info in there.

Hi MrsBiscuit and welcome to the forum from a Brit who is in the process of relocating to France. We have Pine Martens here too. They hate chicken wire -presumably because their semi-retractable claws get caught up in it. In the problem areas here people park their cars on chicken wire to stop...

Welcome to the forum Caradog. Sounds like it will be you giving some of us the tips!

Yes MalcomP. People develop their own ways of dealing with problems but fail to accept that they are not necessarily the best way. That's where a forum comes in. Lots of people trying lots of different solutions with an open mind and by sharing results reach the best solution.

Hi Spela. I know nothing about geese so will be learning from you. Birds are incredible and very fragile. They have no backup systems because they must be lightest to fly. So when one thing goes wrong it's all over for them. Challenge is to keep them fully fit.

Hello and welcome MalcolmP. Great intro which I really enjoyed reading. So you know where to go if you have serious problems but perhaps the forum can turn to you for your experience? You clearly have a lot, even if you don't realise it.

Hi Ruth and welcome to the forum. We had a RIR hen for a while -really feisty she was but a good layer.

Hi Nikki and welcome to the forum. You may know more than me about ducks already -we've only raised two Mallard chicks so far. We're from Derbyshire. Derby then Ashbourne then Lichfield Staffordshire then Burton-upon-Trent then Dordogne France then???

Hi Cliodhna and welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are developing Morehens disease already.

Hi Jennifer and welcome. Fire away with your questions.

Hi DanniC and welcome to the forum. Had to read your introduction several times before I realised your praying mantis wasn't actually dead, but looks like a dead leaf. Call me thick if you like!

Well I have heard (and there are so many old wives tales involved in this) that half a dozen Guinea Fowl can scare a fox away. Well someone who had 8 had them all eaten by a fox!! So can't rely on the fox scaring aspect. They do talk a hell of lot to each other. They are a French seasonal...