4 coops DAILY!

@Sheri Karpa we use permethrin spray to keep mites away and sprinkle some coop herbs around and in nest boxes. Seems to help.

@Sheri Karpa I remember going to our local fair when younger and seeing the chickens in cages up on display. The owners weren't there with them and now I couldn't do that to any of our chickens, just leave them all day in a cage. Hope it's changed since then...it was YEARS ago lol! Needs to be more like a dog show, look at me 😍 for a couple hours then go home.

Protection from predators. Every location is different, some have a particular problem with certain ones. Here in SC ours (at least in our backyard) are hawks and snakes. We are rural...20 acres but do have a few neighbors with one close by with chickens. Hawks are their major problem as well. We do what we can and what we have to do but some expert ideas on how to keep the suckers AWAY would be great!

@Brandye Ewing Ain't this the truth! And the joke...if you have 10 what's 10 more? Twice the dang work that's what's more 🤣 But I am definitely a chicken math gal, we have 46 and I'm getting more girl chicks this month 🫣

Hawks if you free range! Oh, it won't happen to me...eventually those (insert ugly word here) will find y'all and come. We had one swoop down once about 5 years ago...I walked away from our small flock of 12 at the time to go inside and while in I heard my husband yelling so I quickly zoomed back out and he told me hawk came down and tried to get a couple of our girls...our lab dog got over there and saved the day! We have had several hawks come sit in the trees and watch, don't even know they are there until you get too close and they fly away! SNEAKY! We feed our crows and they chase them off but the crows ain't always around 😕 And snakes, if you can't hardware cloth everything be prepared to find a rat snake, we killed 7 last year. Every year it goes up. And yes, I grab em and kill em because one tried to swallow a young pullet but she was too big so the snake just spit her out and left her dead and it broke my heart. Be prepared for predator attacks, they are coming.

@Nicole Broomfield Yes, thank you 🥰 and how sweet to share chickens with them 🩷 they can be sweet and snuggly and so much fun

@Angelique Richard Yay! Another bachelor flock owner 🥰 Roo's are the best!!

We have 46...Buff orphington's seem to be the most "affectionate" breed we have, they love to snuggle. Easter Eggers are too cute with their puffy cheeks 😍 New Hampshire's are so curious and all around you while raking 😅 Black jersey giants are kind, gentle and in our case often broody. We have other breeds as well, hard to pick a favorite but if I HAD to...buff orphington, they are so darn loving and talkative 😁