Backyard Fowl Keepers

Chickens are creatures of habit, and young ones can be particularly stubborn about change. If your chicks are making noise at night and not heading inside, they may need encouragement. Try placing food and water inside the coop earlier in the evening, so they associate it with safety. You can also ...

Keep an eye on her, but be ready for a split hatch. The first chicks may be ready to move while the last ones are still developing, and she'll have to make a choice!

If feeding fish, consider cooking or freezing first to kill parasites. Chickens can handle most meats, but bones should be raw to prevent splintering. Too much protein can cause excessive growth issues, especially in young birds. Make sure their primary diet remains balanced with a good feed.

Grass clippings are an easy and free option, but they don't absorb moisture well. You might need to change them out more frequently than traditional bedding. If you have a dry, well-ventilated coop, it could work, but I'd suggest using them as an addition rather than the sole bedding material.

Before adding anything, check for rat activity,if they're still around, trapping and removing them should be the first step. After that, I'd suggest a combination of sand for drainage and mulch or deep litter for insulation. If you want to use soil, mixing it with compost or mulch can prevent it ...

If you're seeing mucus, it might be mycoplasma. In that case, Tiagard or another macrolide antibiotic would be the best option.