I have broody hen raised birds. Chicks are far more resilient than most seem to believe. Coddling also does not make for a strong flock. Most of my chicks have been fully feathered at 5-6 weeks and are usually weened at about 6-7 weeks depending on the hen. They are capable of surviving the 'wilds' of the chicken run and ranging on their own at 5-6 weeks. Most birds can be put on pasture at 5-6 weeks, as long as it does not drop below 50. I've had 4-5 day old chicks running around forging in the mid 40s and they are all fine and happy to this day.

I love hens’ noises..they sound curious, or concerned, or worried..so funny..

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes and it’s so fun to imagine what they’re saying! I’ve read that each chicken can make over 20 distinct noises.

My first flock was gifted to me by a sweet little old man at my mamaws church. He gave me 9 adult hens and a rooster. In my big chicken yard, which use to be our papaw garden, we have an old raised garden box my papaw built a LONG time ago! He was 6'7 and hated bending over so the thing is a good 4 feet off the ground (it actually works well, I plant chicken treats in it rye grass and sunflower spouts are their favorite). About a week after getting my chickens I was out with them and all of a sudden they all ran and huddled up under that box. I was like that's weird. Then something caught my eye and it was a HAWK! wasn't even flying really low...but my chickens knew! And ran to saftey! I could not believe it!

@realsimplemama

4 жыл бұрын

Wow! Yes sometimes it’s amazing that they notice so much. And other times they stand out in the rain and look confused and I think they must be the dumbest creatures on God’s green earth. 😆🤦🏻‍♀️

@whosedoingwhat

4 жыл бұрын

I have both , BIG crows and hawks, one sat on top of my fence watching me in Lanai like a hawk lol also black snakes 😱 and corn snakes sure worse I hate snakes, also coyotes saw one again. Behind property is a golf course now shut dn overgrown the coyotes lived out there even while open in a bush cluster. Now back they travel great distances in the city, the golf course makes it perfect for them and electrical runs, creeks etc. We are going to fence wht vinyl around back & side perimeter and do those angled flag type canopies over outside smaller run area to deter hawk bombers. They will have roost, coop run & a outside run.

Great video, thank you! Our Silver Laced Wyandotte began laying on September 27th and our Leghorn and Black Australorp both started laying today!

@realsimplemama

4 жыл бұрын

Hooray! Congrats!

Also I lost a cat because he caught a rat that had been poisoned. So that tip definitely goes for all animal species!

@realsimplemama

4 жыл бұрын

Oh no I’m so sorry. And I had never thought (pre-chicken) about how things like that will travel from one body to another, but it’s true! I think rats or mice are pretty much inevitable with chickens anyway.

@CarolReidCA

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I lost a cat to that years ago, too. It was pretty horrible. RatX isn't toxic, and it works if you keep water sources up.

Your videos are very helpful. Thank you!

I use hardware cloth too, we buried it 2 ft out as well

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

It’s a lot of work but do it once and you’re good to go!

@CarolReidCA

Жыл бұрын

I put a hardware cloth floor in my run and used hog clips to put it together, like a huge cage. I'm using those toddler floor pads as a floor, and then I am planning on using gravel over that. We'll see how it works.

Right on target as always Mama.

I freaked out because I dropped staples in the coop.

I know this is old, but hopefully this will help... RatX is awesome for mice and rats, and is non-toxic. Also, rats and mice can carry diseases, so you need to keep them out of your feed. I use a metal trash can to keep their food in. For weeds, I use a butane torch, and literally burn those I can't pull out, using caution and keeping a hose nearby, of course. Don't do this where there is a fire hazard! Great info to brush up, Thanks!

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Ooh thanks for the suggestion! I’ll look more into that. ✌🏻❤️🐓

also be aware that other people in your neighborhood could be using poison to kill mice and those mice could potentially get into your yard after they've ingested it. I know some of my neighbors do this, so I try and kill mice first using snap or electric traps.

@realsimplemama

4 жыл бұрын

Aaaah yes you’re right! That can be so stressful. Consider asking your neighbors what (if anything) they’re using. I know pesticides were used on this home before we moved in and my girls wouldn’t touch the rose petals I’d given them (for the nesting box). They knew.

I’m going with metal garbage cans & prob. figure out a lckg latch method on two sides. So essential oil or lemon TY! Guess could spray lemon concoction. We have fire ants powerful bites! Hey it’s Fl. aka Jurassic Park😱 If using, chg things wait a while to doc. reactions before doing/adding new stuff.👍🏻

Woman! Make ranch dressing with all that parsley and garlic!! Oh and we both think that parsley lacks flavor, uh that is until you add too much in the dressing recipe. You will never eat bottle dressing again. 🌿

nice info

I have to use hay for beding during the winter, they dont eat the hay strings, they need to be feed a mix diet that fulfill their needs, i never leave food in the coop, i have them in a feeding schudale, breakfast and lunch and the food is inside the garage in seal containers, rats are bad because they can dig a net of caves under you coop.

Hi from South Texas. Binging. Lol! Binge watching your chicken 🐔 vids.

@realsimplemama

4 жыл бұрын

Lol hi! Let me know if you have questions or if something doesn’t make sense.

@intexas218

4 жыл бұрын

I will , but, probably when and after my coop is done and I get my chicken and after I do everything wrong. Lol! Thank you for reaching out.

hello!.. awesome vid.... whats best, for the chickens food and water be inside the coop or outside the coop? thanks!

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi! I personally keep it inside. (I end up having water both inside and outside the coop yard but I feel like my predator proofing also protects food from being eaten by mice and rats.)

Have you tried baking soda and corn muffin mix for get rid of the mice/rats? Not where the chickens can get it, but in with the feed? I have not had a rodent issue (so far) but have heard that it works.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Whoa I’ve never even heard of this! ✌🏻❤️🐓

You can by human mouse traps and they do work with something sweet and sticky Inside to tempt them

@whosedoingwhat

4 жыл бұрын

Human or humane? 🤔

I have discovered a Red Ant colony in our chicken run do you have any idea's how to get rid of them?

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Boiling hot water poured on them. White vinegar (optional use essential oils like peppermint and/or lemon). I can’t remember if diatomaceous earth would work. You’re smart to double check though as poisons would be a no no! Remember I’m not a medical professional so confirm with other sources too! ✌🏼❤️🐓

@470ohio

Жыл бұрын

@@realsimplemama Thanks

What about peat moss for ground cover? It's sterile and the chickens love it apparently. It's been recommended by top experts. Ive never tried it.

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi! The only things I would say in caution is you need an open air area for ventilation since it can have dust (and chickens are really sensitive to dust and respiratory issues). And… it can be expensive to do a big area. 😁 But otherwise I ADORE IT and would sleep in it if I lived outside! It’ll break down over time but it’s so soft, absorbent, and smells lovely. ✌🏻❤️🐓

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Oops forgot to say I have a video all about it too!

What’s in your ant spray???

@realsimplemama

Жыл бұрын

Hi! I don’t have an ant spray per se - I like stuff made with vinegar and essential oils because it won’t kill my chickens or dogs. I have a video here with a deodorizing spray - basically you fill the bottle with white vinegar and water, and then add essential oils of your choice. I like lemon, lavender, and mint - and the bugs don’t! ✌🏻❤️🐓

Just buy a pvc pipe the wire will fit through and bury it.. Yeah, my coop is brand new, I’m worried about little wire pieces I can’t see getting dug up eventually and eaten. I really wish I had made it bigger...it’s 6 by 10 with nest boxes on the side wall to the outside, I guess it’s big enough, but, in hindsight, it could be bigger..

@realsimplemama

3 жыл бұрын

Just get another coop! And then more chickens... and then repeat. 😁 welcome to the life of a chicken tender!

Are all laying?

@realsimplemama

4 жыл бұрын

They are all of laying age, yes! They’re about 2.5 years old so I get 4-5 eggs per week from each bird. I don’t let them get hot and I minimized the effects of their annual molt by providing extra protein.

You talk about keeping the food dry and I think having a fan blowing while your mister is on is counterproductive. It looked like it was misting your feeder.

@realsimplemama

4 жыл бұрын

You’re right, it can look like that! But because I’m me (aka Type A and over analytical) I do random food quality checks on them. 😊 If any mist does land on the food (hard to tell from the angle), it evaporates or gets eaten too fast for it to mold. Some people even wet their chickens’ food down daily so that it makes more of a mash. 🙃