Eugene : I have had the problem with freezing water in the past , as my chickens are on an allotment electricity is not an option . So I have been using a Paraffin green house defrost heater surrounded with bricks and checker plate on top of the bricks . The just place a pan with water on top . Once you get the height right it runs for weeks on a few £ and on one know its there.

Do any of your readers have tips for securing Electric fence energisers and how to keep them going in the snow?

Peggy : I thought I would respond to Cheska's letter on the problem with rats.We have had chickens for many many years so over time we have had the odd problem with rats. The one thing we found that worked was, a trap, a two foot piece of stove pipe or anything similar and celery leaves, yup they seem to love celery leaves. First put some celery leaves in one end of the stove pipe and put that end against something so it is well blocked, next place trap at other end and make sure it is secure so the rat doesn't run of with it. You may need to sprinkle a little bait around to get them to the trap. Now its up to the rat. It has always worked for us hope it works for you.

Elaine : I don't know if this is information anyone can use, but here it comes ...
I have two wonderful Black Australorps. I was told they are sisters, raised by the hen who mothered them, and they act like sisters, very interested and concerned about each other. I have room for another chicken, maybe two. But I think it would be a mistake to add more birds, and disrupt their peace and happiness. I live in a tiny house with two dogs and two cats. I would love to take in more animals, but I know that every living being needs a certain amount of room to be content. Crowding them makes trouble for everyone. I don't know the dimensions for contentment, but I have a sense of what works, and I think if we pay attention, all of us can make this kind of judgment.

I loved the comments by the lady who saved her sick chicken. I feel the same way. These are pets that give me breakfast, and when they don't lay anymore, they'll have the same degree of attention and love they get now. I'll just get my eggs at the farmer's market. If, and probably when, one of them dies, I may try to introduce two or three more birds. But three is an iffy number in relationships, so I'll just have to play it as it lays (so to speak).

Matthew : A lot of the readers have the issue of their chickens getting too cold in the winter. Where I live in South Australia the Summers are very hot. Sometimes it even gets up to 46 degrees Celsius (114 degrees Fahrenheit) and the chickens really don't like it. Do you have any suggestions on how to keep the chickens cool? I have a wooden chicken Coop which keeps them significantly cooler but they still get hot during the daytime. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

~There are a few tips for keeping chickens cool on the blog - any more tips anyone?~