And sometimes if you convert a roost to a platform they like it because it is safer from rodents and less drafty. You can also scrape it clean daily, save bedding and never have a buildup of ammonia from the droppings...

I agree, I waited until my youngest was 3/4 adult size and one is bigger than my alpha hen. Youngest is 4 months 2 weeks, oldest is a little over 5 months and you can tell how big they are in the second photo. Plus I have an exceptional rooster: here he is making sure the pullets can sleep undisturb...

Well - we had to move Poppet after she invited three more masked bandits to nest with her. I mean, it just isn't done , and they are boars! Two were so aggressive that they began to follow me, tryng to enter the coops and growling at me. David went to the loft this morning and out on quite a male sh...

I'm merging two flocks at this time and as Wendy suggests, keep them busy. I put in some corn cobs recently and after they demolished the kernels they spent hours ripping apart the husks. And be sure they have places to run and to avoid eye contact- even a wooden box in the run can provide this.

I love it when people drop in when you're with the animals or in the garden. Even a certain religious recruiting person can be great when she helps you weed! Word gets around fast about eggs, I wish I had producing hens at this time, and some are asking for egg to hatch in the spring. I have to stay...

I'll get pics soon. Mostly the big birds come into pullet space but today a couple of pullets spent time over the border with the adults.

Can you buy 'fence staples'? They look like the shaft of nail sharpened both ends and shaped into a 'U'. You can re-nail your mesh with that.

We use wind/snow boards of 1/4" pluwood and the run is roofed with corrugated vinyl (PalRuf) that holds a snow load. I realize our winters may be more severe, but I'll post some pics which may give you some ideas for yours. Our building is insulated, vapor-sealed and tuck-taped for winter warmt...

Getting some mingling now, rooster is very gentle and lies down beside pullets and 'speaks' to them. Relief all the way round.

What fascinating roos you have had!


Is he moulting Sara? Mine is a bit quieter now even with new pullets to entertain. I'm giving baby vitamins in the water with vitamin D, no added iron. And poultry spice might be another alternative.

Update- Adults are on their side minding their business, zero harassment; pullets are in their coop, quiet and a bit timid though they could be anywhere with others. . No one is bothering them and I expect they want to sleep there overnnight. I'll make them feel safe and try again tomorrow morning, ...

It passed just south of us and we heaved a sigh of relief. Be safe, get everything done, as Richard says it's that time of year anyway...

I seem to have a good rooster (my first) and I've come up from the barn to find him attending his mate in her nest as always, and one old hen with them and the other in the nursery coop herding the pullets, but pleasantly. They are *all* bigger than her, she seems not to notice. The entire area is o...

Well it's September 10 and time to combine a little flock of 6 pullets with a adult flock comprised of an Australorp rooster and his mate who are in with two elderly golden comet hens. I started at 7 am while it was still cloudy, noting that the rooster seemed in a particularly good mood. He had bee...

It's all we ever ask of pets and guests, that they are housebroken!