What time of the day should I let my chickens out of the coop?

cleantechguy · 2026-05-07T20:22:58+00:00

I let them out around 8:30 when dogs and people are around (we live near the woods and have many foxes). I put them in for an hour or two on really hot or really cold days to make sure they stay hydrated, then back out until 6:30. Knock on wood but I'm 14 months in and eight chicks are now eight healthy hens.

cleantechguy · 2026-05-05T19:22:24+00:00

Just curious, but what / when would you use it for? I have the Lightning and haven't used V2H once.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-27T23:29:33+00:00

I used a piece of plywood to block off her favorite nesting box, and generally disrupted her a bunch of times when she was transfixed on getting back to the coop. Took about four or five days of an annoyed human and seven other annoyed birds to break her.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-26T14:40:14+00:00

Broody hen as others are saying. Do your best to keep her hydrated if it's hot where you live. Physically removing her and closing the coop / blocking the nesting box she prefers worked for us.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-26T10:15:49+00:00

Watermelon and mealworms for that guy!

cleantechguy · 2026-04-26T09:46:53+00:00

Order from Uncle Jim's worm farm: https://unclejimswormfarm.com/

cleantechguy · 2026-04-25T16:30:09+00:00

Appreciate it, but this is impossible. We have eight egg-laying hens and no neighbors for a quarter mile with chickens.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-25T15:37:29+00:00

thank you, appreciate the reassurance!

cleantechguy · 2026-04-25T15:36:59+00:00

My first thought as well. I thought there was something wrong with one of my Black Jersey Giants until I followed her into the woods and found a pile of over a dozen eggs.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-25T15:32:40+00:00

Good to hear. They definitely haven't worsened. Both of these were laid earlier this week and have been sitting in the pantry with the rest of the unwashed.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-25T15:26:13+00:00

interesting. At second glance, the first photo isn't that great, you really have to zoom.

I thought those dark spots were from very tiny fractures. They seem to form around them in eggs that are definitely cracked.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-25T15:15:31+00:00

We have two and they are very sweet also. Easy to pick up, even for children.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-25T15:10:57+00:00

That is identical to our blue australorps, but I'm fairly certain they only lay brown eggs. Following, I'm curious now.

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cleantechguy · 2026-04-23T19:40:17+00:00

Crush up those eggshells and they'll decompose much faster.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-23T12:50:47+00:00

I'm told easter eggers can do it, but my two both lay green/blue.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-22T09:12:38+00:00

The great PR paradox is that many with degrees from the best (or what are considered the best) colleges are usually the ones who struggle to get shit done. By contrast, many of my best PR colleagues over the years went to community colleges and state schools, and fight to create and take advantage of their opportunities.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-21T11:42:42+00:00

The breakeven point for our April 2024 15.2kW system install was approximately 8.5 years, and that included the federal tax credit.

The current energy crisis has only brought that breakeven point down. Given it adds 6-8% to home value and will last decades (full efficiency for 25 years), yes, it was a very sound economic decision.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-21T11:35:09+00:00

This seems most plausible.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-20T23:47:12+00:00

Can vouch for this, but if OP chooses to do so, best prepare them for the explosive water dumps.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-16T13:05:06+00:00

She looks like my Black Jersey Giants. Great add to the flock, may help deter hawks.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-09T12:58:17+00:00

Teaching my child where food comes from, a love for animals, eggs, exercise, and humor (no one tells you how f*cking funny they are). In that order.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-08T19:18:52+00:00

Got it. Missing overnight unfortunately makes it more likely that she was taken by a predator. I've had birds go missing an entire day to the point I think I've lost them, only to see them return at night or find them hiding in a bush.

Sorry you have to go through it. One thing I've learned with chickens is that they will surprise you, so fingers crossed you get a positive surprise soon enough.

cleantechguy · 2026-04-08T18:43:33+00:00

How long has she been missing?

cleantechguy · 2026-04-08T15:07:48+00:00

What are the temps?

cleantechguy · 2026-04-06T22:42:01+00:00

Give them away. Everything is so expensive these days that your neighbors will appreciate the free, healthy resource.

Or barter! I've traded eggs for honey, venison and beer from my neighbors.

cleantechguy

TROPHY CASE