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Yes, the AGENDA is moving fast into 2030. Bird Flu is the new COVID-19.

Thank you for your kind feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

Every flock is different! If your flock is healthy, happy, and thriving with your current feeding schedule that's what works for them. Ultimately, you know your flock best and every flock is going to be a little different for a variety of reasons. I only provide treats 3 times per week because chickens will by nature prefer their treats to their complete layer food and it's easy to spoil them to the point of creating a nutritional imbalance. Signs of an imbalance are things like soft shells, poor feather regrowth, dull plumage, lethargy, egg bound condition, and others. It can be very easy to tip the scales and impact their health so I err on the side of caution and share what works for me. Healthy chickens have bright eyes and plumage, good feather regrowth, strong egg shells, they're productive, active, and happy. At the end of the day you know your flock best and if they are thriving, that's what matters. Thank you for your question! Sending you good wishes and blessings from across the pond!

Ooops…..my girls get a few dried worms every day. I also feed them other forms of protein and seeds along with layer food. To me, my hens knocking on the back door for worms is an indication that they’re not getting enough protein during the winter, so I guage accordingly. When they find live bugs, they can’t be bothered with treats in the summer.🤷🏻‍♀

@@joannc147 There is no one right way to feed and provide for your chickens. Every flock has nuances and differences. I'm happy to share what works for me but if you're doing something different and it works great for your flock, I encourage you to do the practices you feel are best for your chickens. If it works for you and your flock, it works. I don't diminish anyone's lived experiences. If you feed differently than me but your flock is doing great, healthy and productive, that's wonderful. When it comes down to it you know your flock best. They sound like very happy and well cared for chickens. Keeping taking great care of your flock. Thank you for being here on the channel and for sharing what works for you and your chickens!

Thank you for your kind feedback. I dearly love my flock as well. I call them pieces of my heart, because they are. I share my love for my flock by providing them with the best care I can and in return they are healthy and they feed my family. I had no idea how much I could love chickens before I had my own flock and it has been a whole new world of joy and alignment. It's a privilege to share my journey with other caring flock owners like yourself. Wishing you, your family, and your flock blessings as well as safety and happiness. Keep up the great work you do caring for them and providing them with an amazing life!

The puzzle box was a new idea I had this year, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I watched my flock enjoy the box and then removed it when the treats were gone so none of them would start to eat the box itself. I don't have an Amazon store or link at this time but as I expand my offerings and available links in the future I will definitely keep the flock posted on all of the new updates. The information on the parrot toy, which I'm not officially connected to, it is a JW Pet Company activitoys hol-ee roller parrot toy, 4 inches. I fill mine with old apple slices and baby carrots from the family kitchen scraps. My flock loves to eat the treats out of the ball. I'm truly grateful for your continued kindness and your support of the channel. Thank you for your presence here and for everything you do to provide your backyard flock with an amazing, quality life.

@ thank you

Saaaaame here. I'm a summer person. Can't and never will deny it. I'm doing my best to embrace each season as it comes. Winter isn't without challenges but I do enjoy things like cocoa and toasty fires in the fireplace. Your flock is lucky to have safe accommodations with you and keeping chickens as indoor pets is thankfully becoming more and more common. While chickens can play many roles in the lives of people like meat birds, egg layers, and show birds, I am so happy to see an increasing number of people see and celebrate their qualities as genuine and excellent companion animals. They are intelligent and highly trainable animals. Another applicable idea, are you familiar with the catio concept? Typically it is a screened in area to allow indoor cats an outdoor activity area but I'm sure the idea could be adapted to make a chicken patio area that is screened in for safety but has safe climbing objects, swings, and perches. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for being here on the channel. Keep taking great care of your chickens!

@@ChuckTheRooster A roo and a hen! Only two, and YES the catio thing is about all we have the space for. we're built into a hill near a treeline. They are normal chickens during the day....and enjoy watching videes, games, and listening to music from the back of my computer chair. (He SECRETLY loves having his neck/chest rubbed in mommy's arms and will zone right out. ) thank you for your videos!

@@valkyrie1066 They sound like wonderful, very well loved, and cared for companion chickens. My flock as they retire from being egg layers also are companion chickens. Chickens truly are one of life's wonderful blessings. Keep taking great care of your flock! Thank you for being here on the channel.

@@ChuckTheRooster I've got "papers" from my therapist saying I NEED a chicken. I cannot explain to you the peace, and joy they give me. We all have warm porriage for breakfast these days. Too cold out there. Their distractions include: foraging...everywhere, sunbathing in the windowsills, and irritating the dog. We're all fighting for space on the electric blanket. LOL. We NEED a tiny fisher price piano, a swing, treat dispensers. Thank you Chuck for your videos! (PS: bonus; a green egg every day, delivered to my closet.)

@@valkyrie1066 I think it's truly wonderful that your chickens are certified support animals. Chickens are highly intelligent and capable creatures that can be trained to do a variety of tasks, including support and therapeutic tasks. I too find their presence comforting, healing, loving, and peaceful. I had no idea prior to owning my own chickens what incredible creatures they truly are. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for your support. Keep taking great care of your wonderful flock.

I created a video about how to prevent mites and lice in your flock. I hope this is a good starting point for some of the information you are looking for. I will do some research regarding your additional questions and address them in an upcoming video. Thank you for your comments and questions. Below is the link to my video about preventing mites and lice. ruclips.net/video/-1BJ5UyVUko/видео.html

I'm very happy you enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing my content and welcome to the flock!

Your comment made me smile. I have seen pictures of chickens wearing adorable outfits. I think maybe some of my flock would tolerate it long enough for me to take a picture, but that would be about it! I would worry too much about them injuring themselves on their accessories. It is a fun thought though. Wishing you, your family, and your flock a safe and happy winter season.

Thank you for your question. It depends on the type of quarry sand. Ideally the sand should be coarse to medium grain in size. It's important the sand does not contain excessive amounts of clay or harmful chemicals. You can rinse the sand prior to use for an additional safety measure if that's possible. You can also use the sand in combination with another ground cover litter like pine shavings to extend your coverage. The sand or any ground cover litter you use shouldn't contain any sharp pieces or sharp edges that might harm your flock's feet. You can also try using the sand in a small area of your run and watch carefully for any adverse reactions, and if you observe none, then use it in the rest of the run. Ensuring the sand has no harmful chemicals or sharp pieces would be my primary concern. I hope this is helpful!

Thank you for your kind words! I found my rain hat online while searching for a woman's wool hat with a brim. It works great especially in heavy rain and I've gotten lots of use out of it. You will find the right gloves! Sometimes it takes a while. The summertime is a great time to look as many winter items will be on clearance. You can get some great deals out of peak season. Good luck with your search! Wishing you, your family, and your flock wellness and happiness.

Thank you! I appreciate your encouragement. Have a lovely day! Let me know if there's any video that would especially helpful to you and your flock.

Thank you for your question. Chicken appetites fluctuate sometimes for a variety of reasons. My first question would be, is this accompanied by any other symptoms? How drastic is the decrease in feed consumption? It sounds like they are still eating and enjoying their treats which is good. A total loss of appetite is concerning. It's possible they are filling up on their delicious snacks and eating less feed because they are full on other items. I'm so glad they enjoyed the homemade flock block! Mine really love a flock block too and it's a great way to bust winter boredom and provide them with some excellent nutrients. Molt can sometimes take months and it can vary drastically even between chickens of the same breed. Some of my chickens finish molt in a matter of weeks while others take up to 4 months. Health, diet, stress levels, environment, and their own unique heritage all plays a factor. During molt, I will add 1/4 amount of all-flock feed (20% protein) to their regular layer mix (16% protein). The formula that works for me is one scoop of all-flock to four scoops of their regular layer feed mixed well. I remove the all-flock portion once their molt is finished. They also make a feather fixer formula feed especially for molting chickens which is another option. Other things you may check is their feed dispenser itself. Sometimes during the winter moisture can condense inside their feed dispenser and cause portions of their feed to mold or sour, which would result in them avoiding it. My guess would be, especially if they are enjoying wonderful treats, that they are full from their snacks and consuming less feed as a result. I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any additional questions. Stay safe out there and keep up the great work providing excellent care to your flock.

@@ChuckTheRooster thank you so much for your reassurance. I will check my feed dispenser. Since I’ve added meal worm just in the last week my littlest girl has gained weight & is looking better during her molt. Thank you

@@Crusher14 That is great news! Meal worms have extra protein to help those new feathers come back in nice and full. In my lived experience subsequent molts will not be as drastic. You're doing great! Keep it up!

I have had a similar experience. It's wonderful to be able to give them options regarding their space but sometimes they will absolutely choose the comfortable warm place rather than explore. I can't blame them at all! I'm glad the tip about the dust bath was helpful.

Using your garage as chicken housing is a viable option. As long as that works for you, your family, and your flock that is a practical solution. I would use a ground cover litter to make cleaning up after them easier and ensure they have a nesting box area as well as safe roosts and perches. I would also remove any garage items that might pose a danger like chemicals or sharp items or tools. There's nothing wrong with finding a solution that works for you and your space. I think adapting garages to be chicken housing is a creative spacing solution. If your chickens are thriving, safe, and happy, that is what matters. Thank you for sharing your solutions and your experience.

@ChuckTheRooster of course. I do have wood chips on the ground

@@pdnarus1 Fabulous! I'm genuinely interested in reading more in the future about the ways you have adapted your space to care for your chickens. That is a very adaptive solution and I'm always interested in reading how different people with different flocks utilize their space to work for them. Thank you for being here on the channel and for sharing your experiences so we can all learn together from our different approaches.

You're very welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I absolutely do love my flock and I want to share that love with the world. Thank you for your comment.

Thank you for being here on the channel. That solution works great for my flock, I hope it can work for yours too.

I'm very glad you enjoyed the video. I'm certain your flock enjoyed the delicious homemade treat you made for them. Stay safe in this winter weather!

Thank you for watching. I hope my content has been helpful to provide you with additional information to keep your flock safe and happy during winter conditions.

Thank you very much. Your kind words mean a lot to me. I'm so grateful you enjoy my content and that my videos have been helpful to you and your flock. Wishing you, your family, and your flock a very safe and happy new year as well full of blessings and dreams come true. Greetings from across the pond! Let me know if there's any specific topic you would like to see next.

You're very welcome. Thank you for being here on the channel.

Thank you for your question. Don't worry, your chickens are in excellent care. The fact you are being weather aware and making preparations for severe weather ahead of time is key. Silver laced Wyandottes are a cold hardy breed. Even without supplemental heat they will be able to thrive in the climate in your area as long as their basic needs are met. These would be my recommendations. Prior to the storm make sure your chicken facilities are as clean as possible. If practical acquire some back up supplies like your chosen chicken feed, an extra bag of pine flake shavings, or any essentials you may need when travel may not be possible due to the weather. Keep your chicken facilities as clean as possible, dry, with ventilation high above where your chickens roost so fresh air can come in but moist stale air can escape. Fill your food, supplement, and water stations prior to the storm and check them when you safely can. With a little bit of preparedness you and your flock are going to do well in the winter weather. Storms can be scary but don't worry, you have what it takes to make it through with your flock safely. And just to clarify, when you say chicks, do you have non-feathered baby chicks less than 8-10 weeks old? If so I would bring them inside in their brooder into a bathroom or garage until they are fully feathered. A non-electric heat solution would be something like a hot water bottle that would be need to checked and refreshed frequently. The hot water bottle would not be necessary for adult chickens with a full set of feathers. I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any additional questions. You've got this!

@ thank you so much for your reassurance. My chicks are 10 months old, sorry I shouldn’t have used word chicks. I have lots of extra feed & lots of pine flakes, 2 heating panels, & crockpot for warm water. Coop is super clean. Their coop & runs is totally enclosed except for about 4” x 4’ gap at the top of the run. I’m just anxious if power goes off & water freezes & I can’t get out to replenish. I’m a worrying mom.🤷‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️😳🙄But you have made me feel better. I really appreciate your advise. I went through 2009 ice storm by myself with no power & I think I may have little PTSD from it. I’ve learned so much from your videos. This time next year I hope to be a pro 🤣

@@Crusher14 Happy to answer questions any time! You're doing a great job caring for and learning about your flock. It is OK to feel anxious about severe winter weather, it can be scary. Thankfully with a little planning and forethought you can prepare yourself, your family, and your flock to get through winter conditions. Your learning mindset is the best tool you have to face any challenges ahead keeping backyard chickens. Keep up the great work and stay safe out there!

Absolutely! I have a whole video dedicated to this topic. I hope you will find these tips helpful. I will link the video here. ruclips.net/video/j_3mBuVA2C8/видео.html

That is a wonderful and protein packed chicken treat! I'm certain your flock really appreciates that excellent nutrition. Thank you for your comment and for sharing your tips.

Thank you so much for your kind words. Improving the lives of people and chickens as well as other animals and living things is my driving passion and purpose. My flock transformed my life in more positive ways than I ever could have imagined. My homesteading journey began with a tiny container porch garden and I have been blessed with the ability to adopt and care for chickens. It has brought me peace, happiness, food security, a feeling of connection, and joy beyond measure. I want to share as much of that peace and joy with others as I can and provide simple easy to understand information about how to care for chickens and homesteading skills at any level. I'm so grateful for flock members like you who share my passion and compassion for these amazing creatures and who share the value of responsible care. It is important that regardless of whether the chickens are being raised for meat or eggs that they have access to and deserve quality lives where they can touch grass, see sunshine, and express natural behaviors. Thank you for being here and for all you do to share peace, joy, and quality chicken care in your part of the globe.

Thank you so much. Wishing you, your family, and your flock blessings as well and lots of positive happy energy. Thank you for your kindness.

Thank you so much for your kindness. Blessings to you, your family, and your flock too! Hello from across the pond! I'm so happy that my videos have been helpful and enjoyable for you. Sharing this information and my love of chickens is what I wake up everyday to do. You help make that possible. Thank you for your great work too and for sharing your experiences.

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experiences. I love reading all the great tips from different flocks all over the world. Thank you for your time spent taking great care of your chickens and for your presence here on the channel.

Thank you for your question. Disclaimer I am not a livestock vet professional. Without being there to see things myself, there are a few things to consider. If the area around the vent seems discolored, caked with droppings, and swollen, you may be describing vent gleet which is a bacterial infection from imbalanced gut bacteria. It is the adult chicken equivalent of pasty butt. If caught and treated early it can be addressed. Gleet can be caused by a combination of many factors like stress, hormone fluctuations, dehydration, and others. Treatments include washing the affected area with a mild soap, topical anti-fungal treatments for the vent area, and providing a probiotic hydration packet to help restore good gut health. Plain yogurt and honey can also help restore your chicken’s normal digestion. Soaking in a lukewarm tub with the mild soap can help break up any particularly stubborn hard droppings caked in their feathers. If the area around the vent does not seem swollen or discolored, irritated your hen may just need some assistance cleaning. Even when provided with a dust bath sometimes your hen may need assistance grooming for a variety of reasons. Molt is concerning to look at it. It has been my lived experience their first molt is the harshest and subsequent molts are a little easier. Loosing whole patches of feathers is par for the course of molt but it may also be a symptom of gleet or the stress of molt, which is a natural seasonal process, could have aggravated other health factors. When my flock molts I mix in all-flock to their regular chicken feed and then decrease and remove the all-flock as they finish molt and no longer need the extra protein. I use the ratio 1 scoop all-flock to 4 scoops of their regular layer feed for my flock during molt. Remember, if you will be transitioning your chicken inside to outside, and vice versa, in a more than 20 degree temperature difference outside, to transition them slowly so they don’t perish from temperature shock. I hope this is a helpful starting point for your research. I would search images of gleet and see if that is what you are observing in your hen. Good luck and you've got this!

Could you do a video on how to have dirt bath available in the winter. My dirt is froze & I am worried they are not able to bath. I use First Saturday in my coop & run but I don’t know what else I can do. I tried breaking up the dirt today & I thought I was going to break a metal shovel 🤣

@@Crusher14 For my chicken bath I use a combination of materials. I add 1/3 cup of food grade diatomaceous earth to my tub of clean fill dirt, construction sand, and wood ash from non-chemically treated wood. If your bath froze you can try moving it to some place warmer like a garage or covered porch to allow it to heat up before trying to break it up. Adding additional sand may also help. Be sure it is positioned someplace where it is not accumulating water because this in addition to making it less effective to bath in will cause it to freeze. A video all about chicken dust baths is a good idea! Thank you, I will add that idea to my list for next year! I hope these tips help. Wishing you and your flock a very happy new year!

@@ChuckTheRooster thank you for info, I do use DE, & sand under covered chicken run but it gets so hard I can’t brake it up, it’s in large galvanized tub. Maybe I don’t have enough sand? I will add more sand & see if that works

Thank you! I appreciate your kind words.

Merry Christmas! And same! 18 degrees here today. I bundled up extra for morning chores. Wishing you a very new year as well!

You are as well! Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, joyful holiday celebrations, and a wonderful new year!

Thank you! I was so nervous to post it but it was inspired by my deep love for my flock so I decided to share it. Thank you for the encouragement and kind words. I appreciate you!

Merry Christmas to you too and thank you! I'm very glad you enjoyed the song.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you as well! Happy new year ahead!

That's so true. Thank you for your kind words.

Thank you very much. I appreciate your kindness and encouragement very much. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a joy-filled happy new year!

Yes! The is the beauty of deep bedding method. The litter builds up in layers for every area that gets soiled I add a little litter on top and that stacks and compresses and begins composting creating minor heat in the winter. Seasonally in the spring the entirety of the litter from the run and coop is removed and placed in a compost pile. After a year of seasoning it's ready to be put on the garden and then the whole cycle begins again. The used litter makes great fertilizer but it needs to break down before it can be used on the garden or else the excess nitrogen can actually burn the garden plants. There are also some parts of my chicken area that I maintain via spot clean and scoop method. Those areas are cleaned and refreshed daily. If you would enjoy a whole video about deep bedding method let me know! It is not appropriate for every chicken situation but it works great for our homestead.

Forgot to say that the "L" shape also let my ladies choose sun or shade.

Welcome to the flock! Very happy to have you here on the channel. I can't speak to the use of ceramic heaters but you have the right instinct. If you think there is a chance they would do more harm than good or pose a potential danger it makes sense not to use them. I use the wall mounted panel heaters because I have elderly and ornamental chickens in my flock and our grow zone 6a weather is very harsh in the winter. Most chicken breeds don't require the use of any heat source as long as they have dry, clean, well ventilated housing and are protected from the elements and draft. Your set up sounds like it is working great for your flock. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

Thank you! I'm very happy you found the information helpful. Let me know if you have any specific video ideas or questions.

Hello and welcome to the flock! Thank you for sharing your experiences. It sounds like you take absolutely excellent care of your flock and that they are very loved and well protected. Thank you for sharing your ideas about the dust bath and also for sharing the care methods that have worked great for you. I look forward to reading more about your happy and healthy flock.

I have not seen the Carolina Coop but that would be my guess as well. I live in grow zone 6a which experiences winter extremes that are sometimes -20 degrees F. Moist straw would retain moisture and freeze in my chicken run. I do use straw in my coop which is entirely dry and leak proof with a metal roof. My chicken run has a tarp roof and removable seasonal winter walls. It is dry, but not as dry as the coop so I use pine shavings in the run especially until I can afford a metal roof for it as well. I think whether or not straw could be used as a litter material depends on your facilities and your regional weather. Unless the facilities are totally dry and leak proof I would not recommend straw personally based on my experiences with that material. If you have a mild climate or a leak proof run, it may work for you. You have to make the choice based on your facilities and your region's weather. I hope this answers your question. Thank you for being here on the channel!

Sounds like you have a developed a litter method that works great for your flock and your region. That's awesome. What are your favorite things to grow in your garden? Wishing you a wonderful day ahead!