this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2025
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Backyard Chickens (and Other Birds)

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[Were you a mod of backyard chickens on Reddit? Message me if you're interested in modding here.]

This is a community for people who keep chickens in their back yard. This includes pets, layers, and meaties at levels that are sub-industrial. Family farms and homesteads are included.

EDIT

The Fediverse is small. There probably aren't enough people here to make up a community for every type of bird that someone might keep so for now, everyone is welcome. Bring us your ducks and geese, turkeys and quail, Guineas and Peacocks, emus and parrots. The community will be focused on chickens but until there are enough of each bird community for their own community they will find care and comfort here.

/EDIT

There may be discussions of animal processing. This is part of chicken keeping. If you don't like it leave and block the community.

You may also be interested in:

Homestead

Parrots

Cockatiel

RULES:

  1. All Lemmy.ca rules apply here.

  2. Everyone (see rules 4 and 98) is welcome.

  3. If you've seen a question 100 times answer it the 101st time or ignore it. Even better, write a complete, detailed answer and suggest that the mod(s) pin it to the community.

  4. There will be ZERO tolerance for shaming, brigading, harassment, or other nonsense of those who keep and process chickens. You will be permanently banned the first time.

  5. No, it's not a calcium deficiency. Wrinkled eggs are the result of insufficient or insufficiently viscous albumen. Tiny eggs and missing shells are misfires. They happen.

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[Did you actually think there were 98 rules?]

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I've got some determined leghorn pullets that I'm hoping to keep free range, but they are really getting good at flying now. I'm going to run an electric wire over the top of my fence so that they can't perch up there and plot their escape. Does anyone have experience with electric fencing and chickens?

I'm worried if I buy a normal kit it will be juiced up for horses and the like and I'll end up harming the hens. If there are recommendations for energizers that would be great too.

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[–] bravesilvernest@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

We lost my favorite girl to a fox this summer after a year of true "free ranging," no fencing at all. After that attack, the only thing I've trusted is a 6ft chicken wire fence around the area I let them range in.

We got electric fencing, but its more directed towards predators in the area than at the girls, who would (to your point) just flutter over it. I know they have full on fencing that is electrified, but its a bit out of my current price range.

The energizer we're using is the Parmax 6V 25m solar charger. Works well for a couple lines around the coop and beehive (we also had a bear get some honey this year).

[–] Luvs2Spuj@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'll check that one out, thanks. Just something like a wire on the top of the existing perimeter rather than a full fence should be within my budget. The extra predator proofing is a bonus but the dog does a pretty good job, so far at least.

A bear getting honey from a beehive will never not be funny to me, sorry.

[–] bravesilvernest@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago

It was hilarious seeing an exploded box, a large flattened grass area, and a big ole pile of poop 😂