I have heard from expert chicken keepers that they can't see at all in the dark and if they are plunged into darkness they will sleep on the floor instead of the perches. i have an automatic door opener (light sensitive) and the chickens go in about twenty minutes before it closes but come out in th...

My chickens go crazy for corn. I have mixed a scratch treat for them of equal parts corn, dried meal worms and sunflower hearts. I have heard this referred to as chicken crack and can see why. I give them a small handful between the four of them in the morning and before bedtime. They go crazy for i...

Thank you to all of you for your input on this. My conclusion is to carry on using D.E as its benefits out way any down fall. I think as you all point out, it would take a long time to cause damage and is unlikely to cause a chicken to die earlier than it otherwise would do. I really value all your ...

The hen I read about on the blog was two years old, so not that old. The owner was totally shocked.

I wonder if anyone out there knows the answer to this. Everything I have read says D.E is good for chickens externally and internally to deter mites and parasites. I have always sprinkled it around and in the coop and my chickens love to peck at it through the coop door first thing in the morning an...

Thanks for all your replies on this. We have filled all gaps except of course the weld mesh and seem to have stopped the rats but not the mice which I think proves that you are right and they can get through it. As someone said it is easy enough to pick up a few mouse droppings with the morning poop...

We have recently been getting mice and rats in our chicken enclosure. We know from droppings. We have spent days blocking up every possible gap but wonder if mice can get through one inch weld mesh. This is now the biggest gap left. We hope it was designed to keep everything out but are aware how ti...

My girls also peck at all of those things. Bluebell my mildest hen twice pecked me hard on the back of my leg, broke the skin and caused a bruise. I later realised it was my freckles. They all peck anything shiny, tweak my hair, peck the hem of skirts and any dots on my cloths, plus buttons, rings a...

It sounds like you are going through similar to what I have just been through. I too had only had my chooks a few weeks when one developed a crop problem. I thought it was impacted and treated with live yogurt in the morning for their digestion and live maggots in the afternoon which they loved. I r...

Hi Everyone Thanks for the advice. I took her back to the farm where we got her and they were very good. The guy massaged her crop and tipped her upside down to empty it. It was then that he said to follow up with Aviguard, which I couldn't find. I have since kept an eye on her and she looks much be...

Hi Everyone, I have a bit of a problem with one of my chickens and I was wondering if you guys could advise me. One of my chickens has pendulous crop and I'm not sure of the best treatment. I realised a while ago that my chicken had a pendulous crop, and it got bigger and bigger, and eventually I to...

I have Knowels net over the top which I was advised is the correct net to keep the hens from getting out or anything getting in, it is quite tough. Also they will be shut in the coop at night. I have done everything that I have researched to make it safe. I value all advise though as I want to do ev...

Hi Everyone, I have been lurking for a while but haven't had anything to say until now, but yesterday I finally got my three Dominique hens! It was so exciting! I have learnt so much from reading the posts on this site, and you guys seem so enthusiastic about chicken keeping. Today they are out in t...