Keeping Chickens Newsletter

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egg shells outside of their run. I suspect rats, what's the best way to get rid of them/discourage them?"

My Reply : What a collection! :-) The main thing that attracts rats is food - they may attack chicks if they see any, but their primary interest is any chicken feed they find and the eggs (other predators such as snakes will also steal eggs). So the main way to deter rats is to make sure there is nothing there to attract them (easier said than done, I know!). If you can minimise feed wastage, and clear any left on the floor, and also collect eggs regularly then that might help prevent the rats thinking it is worth their while dropping in. Rat poison is not a good idea around chickens (for obvious reasons) - even nearby, because a dying rat could make it to the coop and then they would eat it. I have a little bit on rats on the blog which includes a couple of old-fashioned solutions
http://successwithpoultry.blogspot.com/2007/04/know-your-enemy-rats.html

Mixing Flocks

12 Week old Barred Plymouth Rocks & 5 week old Rhode Island Reds

Christy Weick : "12th June I'm thinking about introducing our two flocks (Barred Plymouth Rocks are 11 weeks old and the Rhode Island Reds are 4 weeks old) together next week. The RIRs are climbing the recycle green chicken fence that I have around an oak tree for them during the day. The cat, Gre-Gre, has an eye out for them. The dog, Lay-Lay, has left the chickens along since the 10 BPR got out the other day and jumped her. La-La weights as much as a BPR. No matter how I look at the calender the two flocks will be 7 weeks apart. The RIRs are half the size of Patrick's BPRs and they are gaining weight fast. Any suggestions on introducing them to each other or should I hold off another week or two?"

My Reply : There is no one right or wrong way but it can sometimes be easier to mix new chickens if they are of a similar size. When they do get mixed it can also help if they can be seperated but seen and heard by the other ones

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