It was dreadful summer with at least one being off colour for many months. During winter all the girls are fully feathered (instead of the oven ready look some seem to sport in the autumn) and they are in fine fettle. Only problem is no light = few eggs; averaging about two eggs per day at the momen...

Buy a garden shed and then kit it out. Much more affordable and you can keep everything in one place with a bit of thought.

This year I have had one bird go broody twice. First attempt ended when all the eggs were broken I blamed her and the other girls. Second time she moved out and it took me a week to find her, she had a clutch of 9 or 10. I was worried about the foxes so I moved her back inside, a few got broken agai...

Well it was the 1%, the egg was rotten and exploded when I gave it a tap, I am now covered in rotten egg . The problem was I needed to move her as we have hay coming in this week and I couldn't wait.

Some of my birds are virtually bald along there back and they have never been near a battery. I tend to use sudocrem for any really nasty red rashes. The birds won't starve to death (unless unwell) but I would gently shoo them out until they get the idea. Do you have to put them to bed ie is run sec...

This is an issue if you keep them in a run, I'm fortunate in that all my girls free range so never really have any issues. The only problem is who goes where on the perches at night and on the odd occasion I will move one but generally just let them get on with it.

18 girls and 3 boys they get on fine but the boys have their moments and it is best leaving them too it. That way they will sort out who who is the boss once or twice a year there will be a bit of blood and snot but then they all muddle along and the secondary boys just know when to keep out of Big ...

I have 18 girls these days a few haven't laid in ages and peak production was about 13 this a month or so back. Currently down to 6-9. The answer is buy more chooks ps Half the reason for my low production I reckon is because the girls free range and have better things to be doing (and eating too mu...

Have a look at my thread from last year and you can see the battle I had then:- http://www.downthelane.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=48393" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This year I have a very small problem which I am keeping on top of so I am not going to quite the same lengths...

Need some thoughts on this. My initial thought is let nature take its course. My Barnevelder has been sitting on two eggs (started with 7 :( ) and one hatched yesterday at between 10-11am I am 99% sure there is a live chick in the other egg but no sign of it hatching yet. What do you guys think do I...

I have just been out to add two eggs and the whole clutch was broken. MIL dog had got in to them, so I have had to start again.

I think I will add two more eggs she only had 4 as one was broken early and I managed to break one when something fell out my pocket a couple of days ago.

Thanks guys.

My broody came off her eggs last night and slept in the coop, this morning she has gone straight back to her eggs. The eggs are about a week in to their gestation.

Do I throw them out and start again?

Not around for today so can't reply (probably).

They have just had a big change in their lives and will need time to settle in as long as they have food and plenty of water available I wouldn't be too worried They will be hungry soon enough.

Don't be tempted to put down treats at this stage as their systems will not be used to that.

I would have her down from there pretty fast and popped in to bed if it was me. Repeat until she learns.