Real simple answers from a mom who wants to help you on your parenting journey. Let's talk about everything from breastfeeding to mom shaming to what's in our playroom!
As of fall 2017, also helping families learn about the wonderful world of backyard chickens. Contact me at themama@realsimplemama.com with questions or opportunities. I'm here to help.
If you have a rooster it's not your problem, it's his. If you don't then your hens are looking to you to hold them back. In nature one of the roosters will intervene before blood is drawn.
SSAAMMEE!! So I read early on they regulate heat through their legs so I have the misters, but the nozzles are at their waist height pointed at the ground to spray downward. I'm on a well and I can't let the system run open on a timer because the pressure could cause damage so with the misters I run it half hour before above 95 and a half hour after 95 and depending on the span maybe between. The nozzles are basically drip nozzles at this point. I noticed my girls LOVED the dripping nozzles more and just let them get clogged. OMG I'm so glad my auto pilot did a good😂😂😂
Oh my gosh yes! My little guy there is in middle school now and we STILL use this brand! 🤣 they have a big kid version too. We did have a few “seal” issues through the years but I contact Bentgo directly and they ship out free replacements.
My hen who is 4 years old and in a flock of 4 hens has started crowing. I told my kids but they just looked at me like the old chicken woman that they think I am haha and didn't believe me. Thanks for this validation!
We have 15 chickens as of late July. One is now being driven away from food and being picked on. Sometimes when food is put out, others go for the food and don't let her get any. We feel bad for her, but we aren't sure what to do. Separate her from the others?
Hey there - I feel like separating her will only make the discrimination worse. I’d put out multiple food and water sources; I’d also see if everyone is doing it, or if it’s just one or two bullies. And isolate those.
@@realsimplemama I will share your feedback with my wife. She has been separating "Nemo," but I think that's only going to make things worse. It would be a challenge separating the bullies because there are so many of them. We feel so sorry for her and suspect she's the one not laying any eggs. This is a flock of only hens. No roosters.
Also - thanks for your advice on the misters. I just bought a set. I'm south of you, on the coast. It's brutal. I lost a couple of chickens this summer, too.
He is adorable! So happy for you, that you have a new flock. I am very sorry for your loss. I hope these girls and rooster will bring you much happiness.😊
Bumble foot has been shown as more of a pressure point issue than an actual injury related issue…when they are perching the foot is pressing on the flat wood/perch and it becomes a blister/pressure sore, than walking around it gets sore and infected….wrapping natural rope around your perches helps the feet breathe and comfort them…wrap your perches!
I live in Fl. and it's been real hot here. This summer I go out twice a day and water down all the shaded areas the chicken lay in. Bought mister but have not put up yet. Was worried about hanging them up high due to not really cooling the place down. Your idea about laying them on the ground makes way more sense too me. Thanks
Same problem here in Arkansas. Extreme heat. Often late 90s to 100 degree days. We came up with some things that worked for us. I ran my sprinkler in their shady hangout zones once a day to get the area completely soaked so they could dig in the damp dirt and lay in it to cool down during the day. They have 3 hangout zones. I also got a huge shade cloth that went over the coop and my 12x4 ft run. I put my mister hoses under the shade cloth above the coop. I turned the misters on about an hour before bedtime on hottest days to cool the coop down. The chickens free range in the back yard, so it is really only used to cool the coop before bed. Also an hour before bedtime I ran the redneck AC in the coop with the doors closed to keep the cool air in (I have a small coop). I was able to bring the temp in the coop down by about 10 degrees with redneck AC and misters. Then I take the redneck AC out and slip in 4 giant hard plastic frozen cooler packs around the walls of the coop and run 2 small fans all night-- one is aimed up and it bounces off the ceiling and basically just circulates the air. The other runs on low and is where they can get in front of it if they want. That helped lower the temp in the coop and also kept it cooler during the night. All these things helped so much. I watch them on a baby monitor at night and I can tell when they are comfortable or not. Also my baby monitor has a thermometer so I always know the temp. After we started these things, they really rested so much better. During the day, they stay in their favorite shady spots where I pre-watered before they get out of coop with the sprinkler--sometimes I ran the sprinkler at night and sometimes in early morning just depending on our schedule. I also have 3 waterers which will hold 2 gallons of water. I put 3 large Gatorade bottles filled with frozen water in each waterer with cold water from the fridge each morning to keep the water cool. On really hot days I had to re-freshen it with ice when I got home from work. Each morning, I put out a wedge of cold cantaloupe with their food and water. Then when I got home from work, I would go out and run the water hose on low in their favorite shady spot to create a cool puddle and then I would sprinkle soldier fly larvae and scratch on top of the water so they would stand in the water and cool down. I would let the hose run on low for about an hour. They would usually hang out in the puddle, scratch around, and cool down. I would do the same cooling snack routine about an hour before bed to make sure everybody cooled off. Also, a late afternoon snack of frozen grapes and blueberries. I kept a fan (and at night both fans) running in the coop all the time. I have 2 small ones. One is pretty weak and is meant for a personal desk fan. The second was more expensive, but the strongest setting was very good. The strong one is the one I point upwards and the weak one was pointing where they could get in front of it if they wanted. They would all back up to it every night. I actually have a 3rd box fan that I only use on the hottest days. Their coop is elevated and I put that fan on the ground outside to blow under the coop to blow the cool mist under the coop during the cool down before bed. ALL of these things together were HARD, and probably sound CRAZY (like I feel telling you all this) but it really helped. I had to run an extension cord out and use an outdoor power strip to plug everything in. Now that we are in the 90s during the day and 60s at night, all I have to do is run the coop fans on high an hour before bed and put the frozen cooler packs in about 15 minutes before bed. Also leave a fan running in the coop during the day for when a hen is laying. Whew! I am kinda embarrassed to admit we have been doing all this, but they were really struggling and panting in the coop at night. I couldn't take seeing them so distressed. The whole routine just kinda evolved.
Hi, I Have A 3 And A Half Year Old Silkie Hen, This Morning Her Crop Felt Full And Now It's just squishy And I Can Feel The Food In It. I Gave Her Some Coconut Oil To Help With Digestion, And Water. Other Than That I Haven't Given Her Any Feed Today. As Far As I Can Tell, She's Only Gone To The Bathroom Once Today. She's Not Acting Sick. What Should I Do?
Hi! I would keep her isolated if possible. Offer soft foods like scrambled eggs and fresh water. I would see what she’s like in the morning as it should empty overnight.
@generalgrant2003 hmm ok. If you gave her the oil it might take another day. Then depending on how she looks tomorrow, you can decide what to do next. I’d also look into aspiration so you know not to flip her over or what the risks could be.
Love you, Sara! I go out a couple of times a day when it’s really hot and spray the water hose in the shaded areas and underneath the bushes so they have that to walk-through to stay cool. Great video!🙏❤️
Love you, Sara! I go out a couple of times a day when it’s really hot and spray the water hose in the shaded areas and underneath the bushes so they have that to walk-through to stay cool. Great video!🙏❤️
I have a pair of gay roosters . They were born together. Had 12 hatch and 6 died ( probably all baby hens ) . These 2 roosters grew up with the only hen being the wife of an older rooster who wouldn’t let them mount his wife . So they take turns mounting each other . We’ve since had 3 hens that came of age and they don’t try very hard to mount those 3 hens . It’s funny . They’re all our pet chickens. Not for food . Today, I had a 6-8 week old chick that we’ve always presumed to be a hen come into the house for awhile. She / he started crowing ! It’s the cutest little crow ever. Her name is Sunshine. She only crowed while in the house. We are still trying to guess whether or not she’s a rooster or a hen . She’s feathered like a hen . Her comb is still forming ( barely there ) . She’s part bantam and part serama . Or he . Anyone had a young hen crow like that ? We are trying to tame them . There are 7 in her pen . But the others are different breeds of hens and they’re slightly bigger than her even though they’re younger . We bring them inside at night and cuddle with them . Sunshine is my favorite one and she nests in my hair . I put her in a fluffy beanie hat to catch poop if she decides to poop 🤣
Love it! And I have had hens crow a lot before (I have a video on it too!) but not one so young. I’m sure other people will chime in with their thoughts too! ✌🏻❤️🐓
I wonder if this would affect fertility at all if trying to raise chicks? I bet it would be great for immunity. What do the farmers say? Experience over experts for sure.
My hen made it and it was 108 here. Made sure she had cool water and electrolytes but she was young. I have continued to add shade on the top and plants around the sides of the run
Hi! It’s chicken safe and mine have eaten it for years. I’d assume the same is true for other birds, bunnies, etc. But it’s good to do more of your own research too to be sure! ✌🏻❤️🐓
I can hear in your voice how happy you are! I'm thrilled for you! I love you rooster! And the hens. Also, the pennies need to be old copper pennies. Don't have too much copper because it is toxic to chickens. A small amount should be fine plus keep the water clean. Biochar is also very good at improving water quality plus is good for chickens. It's even awesome to add to their feed.
Aww fantastic news, so happy for you guys!! They’re just precious and Mr Hei Hei is too adorable! 🥰 maybe since he’s a little guy his crow won’t be too loud 😂 so glad you kept Lacie too, these babies couldn’t ask for a better home ❤
If it was a lack of cool air that caused the death & suffering of your last chicken...why have you not made that improvement? I support backyard flocks but I hope you are willing to do what is most needed and create a better climate-controlled environment. You said you had a rat problem. Did you buy hardware cloth to improve your coop/run? Saying you did "improvements" is meaningless unless you can be honest with yourself.
Congrats on the new flock! I can't wait to see how Lacie interacts with them. And OMG I love HeiHei! I can't wait to see more of him. I've looked at R Farm before; I'm glad you had a good experience. I want to get a goose one day, but I don't know if a goose can count as a chicken in SA 😂
Hey girl! I love your channel. Just wanted to throw a tip that I use during extreme heat. I pick a couple spots that I can keep in deep shade. Get a kitty pool, poke some drainage holes at the bottom. Throw in topsoil. Getting some dollar store party cups fill with water to freeze After they freeze get the ice out and burry it under the dirt., and you can wet it down. This method will keep the dirt cool for much longer and my girls will go to sit in it. Of course keep a waterer close by this area. I will also dump chucks of ice around the deep shaded areas and into water to keep it from getting warm. Sometimes I'll add in fresh mint leaves to the water, not sure if that helps them 😅 One other thing I like to do where I run shaded cloth is to attach what people use in car windows to keep the heat out. Reflective bubble wrap insulation works too
This is so creative! I actually plan to poke holes in their kiddie pool to use as a dust bath and this works for that too! Thank you for taking the time to post this! ✌🏻❤️🐓
Hi RSM! Hey Hey is adorable - how old is he? You're fortunate that your town says yes to chickens. I'm in hoa and not supposed to have any. I have no roosters but how you can tell me I can't feed my family fresh eggs and have a pet I want - just no. It's stressful though keeping them quiet. I have wonderful neighbors and give them no reason to complain. But I worry when the girls get a bit mouthy that someone more distant will. If they only knew what a benefit having these birds could be.
Hi! We think Hei Hei is almost three years old. And if you’re worried about neighbors complaining, you could do a quick little note… with a dozen eggs. 😉 Call it bribery, who cares! ✌🏻❤️🐓
@@realsimplemama 😏 I love to share - I get compliments on my beautifully deep colored yolks. I spelled his name wrong - I had never heard that name and think it suits him so well. He would make a really cute photo shoot - you might consider for later:)
lol! Yes she did except the others weren’t always paying attention and they got so confused. “GUYS… did you see that?!? She disappeared!” 🤣 they learned how to go into the coop, but up the ramp was blowing their little minds. ✌🏻❤️🐓
Love to hear your excitement! We got our first little flock earlier this summer & your content has been amazingly helpful & my heart was really hurting for you recently. Happy for new beginnings at JurassChick Park!! 😊
I think he’s honestly never had a “real flock” in a “real chicken run” before. So he’s trying 🤣 but Lacie thinks he’s a joke and he doesn’t know yet to necessarily call the hens over, or put them up to bed. He lived in a barn stall so not the usual foraging, roosting, etc. It’s been really interesting to watch so far! ✌🏻❤️🐓
Congratulations! 😊 You got your work cut out for you. I had a beautiful baby blue silkie bantam rooster that I wish we could have kept, but I'm in Houston Texas , HOA. Ended up taking him to a farm up north.
