Backyard Fowl Keepers

You could try placing food and water close to her nest so she doesn't wander too far. That might help her stay focused on incubation.

Instead of just dumping soil back in, consider adding a retaining edge around the run to help keep it in place. A mix of sand, soil, and mulch could work better than just soil alone. Also, if you use hardware cloth again, anchor it well with heavy-duty landscape staples to prevent shifting.

Medium egg size may be genetic, so if your hens aren't laying large eggs now, you'll need to select for bigger egg genetics. First, identify your best layers by using a tracking method like trap nests or separating birds for observation. Once you know who's laying what, breed only from those laying ...

Cold air might actually be more comfortable for them than a sealed-up coop, especially if ventilation isn't great. Maybe check your airflow balance inside,too stuffy could be just as bad as too drafty.

I would recommend continuing to let her spend time with the others during the day, but try to monitor them closely. Sometimes chickens need to reestablish the pecking order, and it may take time. If you're still concerned, you could try separating the aggressive bird for a day to reduce the bullying ...

Sometimes sudden cold snaps can stress birds, making them more susceptible to illness. The fact that his comb is discolored and he's acting withdrawn could indicate something more serious, like heart strain or even the early stages of illness. If he's the only rooster, he doesn't have competition ...

If you introduce them gradually and provide dry spots for the chicks, they should be fine together after the brooder phase. Ducks just love making puddles!

As long as they can escape the rain when they need to, it's totally fine for chickens to free-range in wet weather. Mine actually seem to enjoy it and often go out in light rain to search for bugs. Just make sure their shelter stays dry and comfortable for them when they want to take a break from ...

For interesting eggs and winter production, try mixing Welsummers (dark speckled eggs), Ameraucanas (blue eggs), and Barnevelders (dark brown eggs). They're all hardy and lay reasonably well in the cold!

If they're still getting over a 7-foot fence, you may not have clipped enough. Check that you're trimming the primaries and not just the secondaries.