Love how you try not to use the fast method of breaking a broody. I'm the same. Your cockerel is such a handsome boy. Loved the video. All the best. Mags
We have now reported the flu in Utah . I am trying to recover from the wind storm that tore off all of my covering tarps. Also it has been both hot (95 F) and below freezing here with snow last week. Your videos have helped to remind me of what spring is supposed to be.
Great video and so good to see all your chickens outside on grass! One question is: When the hen finally breaks her broodiness, is she reminded of her status within the flock since she was not with the group full time of recent? Mr White is looking fabulous!
Great question. Normally there is a "memory" within the flock of the hens position but they need to prove they are worthy. With our laid back flock that's not really a problem... a look in the right direction seems to do the job
Hi Fiona & Hugh. A chickeny question regarding coop size. I have acquired a wooden childs wendy house. ( the house is wooden, not the children). I intend to use this as my coop with a few modifications. The internal measurements are 113cm x 90 cm. Internal height is between 120 & 150 cm as it has an arched roof. My plan is to site 2 nest boxes along one of the shorter walls which has a window- just right for egg collection. The question is perch length. 5 chickens at most which will probably be Warrens or Warren look-a-likey birds. I think that 90 cm is too short. If 113 is also going to be tight then I could fix the perch diagonally which is 144cm if Pythagoras is correct. What do you think ?
Hi Chris, Hugh here ( coop builder in chief). 90cm is on the borderline of "enough space". They would probably huddle in on cold nights but on warm nights might prefer to spread out. I would be tempted by two 90cm perches 30cm apart. Failing that use the 113cm that should be sufficient.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks CBIC. I might go for a hybrid diagonal perch but not the full 144cm, perhaps something like 125cm. . Ooooh, one other quick question, I have seen people say that the best dimension for a perch is about 3.5cm square with the edges rounded over. I was planning g to use a suitable thickness branch, of which we are blessed in abundance, as this would be closer to their natural type of perch. Unless there is a 35mm square stock with rounded edges tree that I've not yet heard of. !
Hi! The best treatment that we know is Ivermectin. Apply one drop per 500g weight (repeat to eliminate hatching eggs). Available in person or online veterinary services
Good day Fiona. We had a question regarding several small coops in one run. How do the chickens learn which is their coop? We would like to integrate two small bird flocks in a bigger caged area with a free ranging garden beside it. Since some are Silkies, I wanted to make a shorter coop for them and another for the high perching birds. I would keep them separated for some days so tbey could see each other without getting into arguments. Would that work?
That's exactly how we do it. They are , in the main, creatures of habit and once used to returning to a particular coop, generally continue to do so. We do retrain some when we consolidate 8 broody coops and its a matter of shutting the coops we don't want and putting the birds on the ramp of the coop we want them in. They generally learn quickly
I have a question NO ONE seems to cover...WHEN/HOW do you get chickens to get used to dark hours...mine are now about to turn 4 weeks old, and they have light 24/7 no darkness...HOW do you get them prepared FOR dark hours??? and get them used to settling in for the night???
Hi Judi. If you use a brooder plate rather than a heat lamp then there is no extra light - much easier to get them to settle This is the sort of thing brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/ecoglow-safety-1200-chick-brooder/
@@EnglishCountryLife thats not what I was asking...when they are ready to go out in the coop they need to be ready for it being dark all night,it has no electric to it...I was asking at what age us it best to start giving them more dark hours so they know what to expect once they get moved, I dont want them to be stressed or fearful of just all if a sudden being in the dark with noises around from deer or whatever makes a bump in the night, they get startled and could get hurt...
@@Damselfly54315 I understand, we simply keep them in an unlit room with a brooder plate for warmth so it gets dark naturally. This is fine right from hatch day. Obviously with a heat lamp you can't turn it off until they don't need it for warmth
@@EnglishCountryLife yes, thats what I was asking, when are they old enough to go without the brooder light, cuz they need to be at a certain point to acclimate them fir cooler temps...mine are just 4 weeks, so not there yet...but was wondering since ny basement is about an even 80° most of the winter
Great video! Do you know any way to make chickens prefer one nest box to another? I have four nest boxes, but they only use three and most of them like to use one, causing the hens to scream all morning as they fight for the one spot they want instead of taking the other nest boxes (including one nest box that is right next to the one they want, but they still don't want to lay there for some reason).
No, sorry. It's a natural instinct to lay eggs for the flock in the same location. If you think about it, one hen laying eggs will find it difficult to lay enough eggs to lay a full viable clutch for incubation in a reasonable timescale so evolution '(thousands and thousands of years) have taught them to all lay their eggs in 1 place so that one hen can incubate them. There's only so much we can do to fight thousands of years.....
I am new to keeping chickens and am struggling to find a good lice and mite treatment that you can actually put on your chickens. I treat the coop etc with smite powder and spray, but what can you actually put on the actual chickens ? Thank you in advance for your help
Hi could you tell me if you get your chickens and chicks that you hatch vaccinated please ? I having Terrible trouble trying to get my new chicks vaccinated unless I have over 1000 chickens. I would appreciate your help and also are yours vaccinated.
Hi Louise, we don't vaccinate. Advice is that its really needed for large commercial flicks and that's not what our chickens are - as you say its not practical for small flocks. Thankfully we have had no issues so far.
@@EnglishCountryLife thank you , we have had a problem with two silkies with coccidiosis, I think one may have had it when she arrived as she was a lot lighter than the other one and seemed to always have tummy troubles , despite a course of treatment she is still not well, the vet advised maybe the end of the road for her, we have two week old chicks who I have tried to find a vet to vaccinate but it’s impossible. I really think care for backyard chickens really needs to improve.
Your free ranging chickens are a therapy to me!! love it.
Thank you. We love watching them
Love how you try not to use the fast method of breaking a broody. I'm the same. Your cockerel is such a handsome boy. Loved the video. All the best. Mags
Thank you! 😊
We have now reported the flu in Utah . I am trying to recover from the wind storm that tore off all of my covering tarps. Also it has been both hot (95 F) and below freezing here with snow last week. Your videos have helped to remind me of what spring is supposed to be.
Oh woe Gregory - that sounds like a really tough combination!
Thanks for the informative month by month series, it is very helpful and appreciated.
You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful
Fantastic flock ❤️
Thank you! Cheers!
Wonderful 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 thank you so much for the info 🙏🏽
You are so welcome!
Good Day Maam! Can we do an Import of your Buff Orp fertile eggs Breeds here in the Philippines? Thank You and More Powers!
Sorry no, air transport damages the eggs because of low temperature and pressure
Great video and so good to see all your chickens outside on grass! One question is: When the hen finally breaks her broodiness, is she reminded of her status within the flock since she was not with the group full time of recent? Mr White is looking fabulous!
Great question. Normally there is a "memory" within the flock of the hens position but they need to prove they are worthy. With our laid back flock that's not really a problem... a look in the right direction seems to do the job
Hi Fiona & Hugh. A chickeny question regarding coop size. I have acquired a wooden childs wendy house. ( the house is wooden, not the children). I intend to use this as my coop with a few modifications. The internal measurements are 113cm x 90 cm. Internal height is between 120 & 150 cm as it has an arched roof. My plan is to site 2 nest boxes along one of the shorter walls which has a window- just right for egg collection. The question is perch length. 5 chickens at most which will probably be Warrens or Warren look-a-likey birds. I think that 90 cm is too short. If 113 is also going to be tight then I could fix the perch diagonally which is 144cm if Pythagoras is correct. What do you think ?
Hi Chris, Hugh here ( coop builder in chief). 90cm is on the borderline of "enough space". They would probably huddle in on cold nights but on warm nights might prefer to spread out. I would be tempted by two 90cm perches 30cm apart. Failing that use the 113cm that should be sufficient.
@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks CBIC. I might go for a hybrid diagonal perch but not the full 144cm, perhaps something like 125cm. . Ooooh, one other quick question, I have seen people say that the best dimension for a perch is about 3.5cm square with the edges rounded over. I was planning g to use a suitable thickness branch, of which we are blessed in abundance, as this would be closer to their natural type of perch. Unless there is a 35mm square stock with rounded edges tree that I've not yet heard of. !
@@chrishamilton-wearing3232 That should be fine
Hi, Thanks for your helpful information. Do you have any video/tips for treating chicken lice ? Thanks
Hi! The best treatment that we know is Ivermectin. Apply one drop per 500g weight (repeat to eliminate hatching eggs). Available in person or online veterinary services
@@EnglishCountryLife Many thanks 😊
@@Familygarden88 No problem. You want a 1% solution. There are veterinary instructions on chickenvet
Good day Fiona. We had a question regarding several small coops in one run. How do the chickens learn which is their coop? We would like to integrate two small bird flocks in a bigger caged area with a free ranging garden beside it. Since some are Silkies, I wanted to make a shorter coop for them and another for the high perching birds. I would keep them separated for some days so tbey could see each other without getting into arguments. Would that work?
That's exactly how we do it. They are , in the main, creatures of habit and once used to returning to a particular coop, generally continue to do so. We do retrain some when we consolidate 8 broody coops and its a matter of shutting the coops we don't want and putting the birds on the ramp of the coop we want them in. They generally learn quickly
I have a question NO ONE seems to cover...WHEN/HOW do you get chickens to get used to dark hours...mine are now about to turn 4 weeks old, and they have light 24/7 no darkness...HOW do you get them prepared FOR dark hours??? and get them used to settling in for the night???
Hi Judi. If you use a brooder plate rather than a heat lamp then there is no extra light - much easier to get them to settle
This is the sort of thing
brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/ecoglow-safety-1200-chick-brooder/
@@EnglishCountryLife thats not what I was asking...when they are ready to go out in the coop they need to be ready for it being dark all night,it has no electric to it...I was asking at what age us it best to start giving them more dark hours so they know what to expect once they get moved, I dont want them to be stressed or fearful of just all if a sudden being in the dark with noises around from deer or whatever makes a bump in the night, they get startled and could get hurt...
@@Damselfly54315 I understand, we simply keep them in an unlit room with a brooder plate for warmth so it gets dark naturally. This is fine right from hatch day. Obviously with a heat lamp you can't turn it off until they don't need it for warmth
@@EnglishCountryLife yes, thats what I was asking, when are they old enough to go without the brooder light, cuz they need to be at a certain point to acclimate them fir cooler temps...mine are just 4 weeks, so not there yet...but was wondering since ny basement is about an even 80° most of the winter
@@Damselfly54315 In warm weather 10 to 12 weeks - they need to be fully feathered & able to maintain body heat
What are then hens wearing?
They are weating chicken saddles - a welfare item. w
We explain them in this video
Great video! Do you know any way to make chickens prefer one nest box to another? I have four nest boxes, but they only use three and most of them like to use one, causing the hens to scream all morning as they fight for the one spot they want instead of taking the other nest boxes (including one nest box that is right next to the one they want, but they still don't want to lay there for some reason).
No, sorry. It's a natural instinct to lay eggs for the flock in the same location. If you think about it, one hen laying eggs will find it difficult to lay enough eggs to lay a full viable clutch for incubation in a reasonable timescale so evolution '(thousands and thousands of years) have taught them to all lay their eggs in 1 place so that one hen can incubate them.
There's only so much we can do to fight thousands of years.....
@@EnglishCountryLife Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Thanks for the info.
I am new to keeping chickens and am struggling to find a good lice and mite treatment that you can actually put on your chickens. I treat the coop etc with smite powder and spray, but what can you actually put on the actual chickens ? Thank you in advance for your help
Hi Louise, the best solution is ivermectin
www.chickenvet.co.uk/ivermectin-1-spot-on-drops-10ml
Hi could you tell me if you get your chickens and chicks that you hatch vaccinated please ? I having Terrible trouble trying to get my new chicks vaccinated unless I have over 1000 chickens. I would appreciate your help and also are yours vaccinated.
Hi Louise, we don't vaccinate. Advice is that its really needed for large commercial flicks and that's not what our chickens are - as you say its not practical for small flocks. Thankfully we have had no issues so far.
@@EnglishCountryLife thank you , we have had a problem with two silkies with coccidiosis, I think one may have had it when she arrived as she was a lot lighter than the other one and seemed to always have tummy troubles , despite a course of treatment she is still not well, the vet advised maybe the end of the road for her, we have two week old chicks who I have tried to find a vet to vaccinate but it’s impossible. I really think care for backyard chickens really needs to improve.