Coming Soon!

Preview of Woodville Ace Chicken Season 2018

Chicks have been ordered. Our first shipment will arrive January 25, 2018. We will receive weekly shipments of chicks till the first of June. Other poultry will become available around March or April.

Our main hatchery is Mt. Healthy in Cincinnati Ohio. Shipping takes 1-2 days depending on weather, normally arrive on Thursday morning. All shipments come in US postal service and we pick them up at the post office the morning of delivery.

Common chicks we order are PULLETS, meaning that they are 90% female. Special or rare chick breeds come as STRAIGHT RUN, which means they are 50/50 male to female and not sexed at the hatchery.

At Woodville Ace we DO NOT have the skills to sex chicks, your guess is as good as mine!

We have no return, no refund policy on all poultry, once you walk out the door with them they are yours, if they expire we do not replace them.  

Sex-link chicks are your best bet if you are looking for females. Because they are a hybrid breed that males are one color and females are another when hatched.

Ducks, guinea, turkey, geese, silkies, bantams, and all other poultry we purchase from the hatchery will be straight run.

To the left of this post, you will find our policies and procedures for special orders and such. I will soon be posting “what is coming in” or you can call me for special request or fill out a form in store.

We are very excited to help you begin your first flock, or add to an existing flock. We have everything you need for making brooders to ready to use incubators, if you want to start your own. We have hutches and coops, feeders and waters. We also have feeds and treats for all your flock needs.

You can ask for me, “The Chicken Lady”, I will help with your chicken questions.  Watch for some chick specials and events coming up in the store over the next few months. I will be reposting some previous articles and keep you up dated.

Thank You very much for reading our blog and being a part of our Woodville Ace community,

Anice Taylor-Maloy

Woodville Ace Hardware

850-421-9000

Protect Your Chickens

How to Protect Your Chickens with a DIY Electric Dog Fence

 

poultryOne.com  Daily Care, Gardens and Misc 0

Backyard chickens are vulnerable to many different predators, and when you also have pet dogs, the threat can come from even closer to home. Raising chickens in the same area that your pet dogs roam can be a dangerous combination, and it may be necessary to separate your flock. Dogs, especially those with hunting instincts, may want to prey on your chickens. Even dogs who are just trying to “play” can accidentally injure or kill your chickens and disrupt their egg laying patterns by creating a stressful environment for the flock.

In order to separate your flock from your pet dogs – without chaining, leashing, or caging your dogs – some type of fencing is required. A traditional wood, PVC, or chain link fence is a simple option, but a DIY electric fence is another alternative that you might want to consider.

On top of your own dogs neighborhood dogs present a significant threat to your livestock. If you have been struggling with a an uncontained dog you may want to educate your neighbor about the advantages and affordability of installing an electric dog fence which often runs at a fraction of the cost of a professionally installed invisible fence.

Let’s explore some of the pros, cons, and methods of using an electronic dog fence to protect your backyard chickens.

Advantages of Using an Electronic Dog Fence

One of the main reasons people choose an electric dog fence is that it’s more reliable than a traditional fence. If your dogs enjoy digging, they can easily dig underneath a traditional fence and enter the chicken run. When your dogs are particularly determined, they may also be able to jump over or break through a traditional fence to get to your chickens. With an e-collar and electric dog fence, your dogs will be simply unable to cross the boundary wire.

Another significant advantage of an electric dog fence is the cost. Traditional fences are expensive, and the total DIY invisible fence cost will be about 80% less. You can enclose an average size yard for less than $300 total, and the installation is simple enough for anyone to complete as a weekend project. Because an underground dog fence is not exposed to the elements and e-collars often use rechargeable batteries, there are little to no associated maintenance costs over the years.

Disadvantages of Using an Electronic Dog Fence

The main disadvantage associated with underground dog fences is that they alone do not stop outside predators or your chickens from crossing the boundaries. If outside predators are a concern for you, you may need to install a traditional fence. Traditional fences and electric fences, however, can be used in tandem to offer the most protection for your flock. An electric fence will not prevent your chickens from leaving their run, but this is not always a major concern considering your chickens probably like to stay close to home and will not venture into areas where they feel unsafe due to the presence of your dogs.

Create a Separate “Dog Zone”

There are several different ways you can use a DIY electronic dog fence to protect your flock. Because underground dog fences can be installed anywhere and in any shape or size, you have the ability to customize the boundaries. One method is creating a “dog zone” that is an area enclosed by the electric fence that your dogs will be confined to. This will prevent your dogs from having access to your full backyard, which is particularly great for their own safety if you have other livestock, machinery, or a pond on your property. This is an excellent method because it will make your dogs feel at ease to know they have an area of the yard that is their own.

Enclose Your Chicken Coop

You can also use an electronic dog fence to enclose your chicken coop. With this method, your dogs will be able to roam anywhere in your backyard except the chicken run. If you want your dogs to have maximum space to run and play, enclosing the chicken coop will ensure that your dogs are kept out of the flock’s own space. If you have limited space in your yard and no other hazards are present, this method might be preferable so that you can maximize your dogs’ area. You can view other ideas for the placement of your underground dog fence online – it’s a very versatile system that can be used in whatever way works best for you. Of course if you are dealing with other predators putting your property at risk and assuming you have sufficient property to cross or double fence you may want to look into installing an electrified net.

Choosing and Installing a Dog Fence

Perhaps the most important step in the process of installing a DIY electric dog fence is selecting your containment system. There are several different brands and types of fences, so it’s important to read plenty of online reviews and instruction manuals before making a purchase. The size of your yard, as well as the size of your dogs, may influence the type of fence and e-collars you need to purchase for maximum effectiveness. There are also wireless dog fence options that are easier to install, but they sometimes cost more and have a smaller size capacity.

A nearby power source is required for an electronic dog fence. If you don’t have an outlet available, you can purchase a solar panel for about $100. If you use an outlet, you can expect your electric bill to increase by only $1-2 per month. Installing an electric dog fence on your own will save you thousands in installation costs. The only outside help you’ll require is that of your local utility companies for marking the location of any underground wires, which is a free service you can get by calling 811. In most cases, the presence of underground utilities will not require you to change your plans for installing an electronic dog fence.

With an underground dog fence, your flock and pet dogs can peacefully coexist in your backyard. After you’ve installed the fence, it will take about 15 minutes per day for up to two weeks to train your dogs to understand their new boundaries and e-collars. Above all else, the safety of your flock and your pets dogs are most important, so always take whatever time is necessary to carefully choose and implement a containment method in your yard.

New Year? New Chicken Coop?

A Guide to Building Chicken Coops

In part from a new website i just love, check out poultryone.com


When it comes to giving your backyard chickens a home, it doesn’t matter the style of the housing — the chickens don’t care. Some examples include a conventional chicken coop, an open range or an off-the-ground kennel —  so long as you provide the basic requirements necessary for happy, healthy hens. In this guide, you’ll discover what to look for when building a chicken coop or buying a pre-made chicken house.

Characteristics to Consider

The best chicken coops or poultry houses have several characteristics in common.

1. The chicken coop should protect your backyard flock from hungry predators such as fox, coyote, raccoon, hawks and your neighbor’s Golden Retriever.
2. The coop should be constructed of economical building material that’s easily available to you (not applicable if you’re purchasing a pre-manufactured cage or coop).
3. It should be strong and sturdy enough to stand up against unfavorable weather, such as summer heat and humidity, hurricanes, frosty winter mornings.
4. The coop should provide your chickens with the right balance between enclosed shelter and open ventilation.
5. It should be easy to clean and budget-friendly to maintain.
6. The chicken coop should be big enough for your backyard chickens.

Permanent or Portable?

Although there are hundreds of chicken coop styles on the market, most of these housing styles can be divided into two types: those that are portable and those that are permanent.

Portable coops typically don’t have a bottom and can be moved around a field or pasture to provide your chickens with fresh grass, bugs and seeds. It’s often known as the chicken tractor-style coop.

Meanwhile, a permanent coop — think a traditional, colonial-style chicken house with an attached wire run — is designed to stay wherever you first build it and is best if you have only a limited amount of space for your backyard chickens.

Space Requirements for Chickens

Your chickens want lots of space to run around and stretch their wings. The more space you give your chickens, the happier and healthier they’ll be. Generally, you should provide your backyard chickens with a minimum of 2 square feet per bird unless you’re raising bantam chickens, which only need 1.5 square feet per bird.

Tempting as it may be, don’t cram more chickens into your chicken coop than the coop can hold. Overcrowded birds are more susceptible to health problems like cannibalism and disease.

 

Minimum Space Requirements for Poultry
Type of Poultry Bird	Sq Ft / Inside Coop	Sq Ft / Outside in a Run
Bantam Chickens Layer Hens Large Chickens Quail Pheasants Ducks Geese	1 1.5-2 2 1 5 3 6	4 8 10 4 25 15 18

Building Chicken Coops: Proper Lighting

Happy hens love being able to see their friends around them. Proper lighting is important for your chickens’ sense of well-being. It’s also necessary to stimulate egg production in layer hens.

Solar lighting may be an option for coops in a remote location.

Strategically placed windows in the south wall of your backyard coop will provide both natural sunlight, ventilation during the warm months and additional warmth during the cool months. You’ll also want to consider electric lighting, such as a bulb suspended above your chickens’ feeding and watering area, for the shorter fall and winter months.

Building Chicken Coops: Ventilation

If you don’t setup sufficient ventilation in your backyard chicken coop, the air inside can become stale and stagnant. Besides creating nasty smells for both you and your pet chickens, this stagnating air can also create a buildup of unhealthy fumes. Prevent such problems by creating good ventilation, such as vents along the ceiling or small windows placed along the east or south side of your chicken house to create a fresh breeze.

Building Chicken Coops: Roosts

Think of a properly sized roost as the perfect mattress for your chickens. Your backyard hens will naturally want to sleep while perched off the ground on their roost. To give your chickens the best sleep possible, construct your chicken roosts approximately 36 inches or less off of the coop floor and space each roost approximately 14 inches or more apart.

Building Chicken Coops: Nests

If you’re raising backyard chickens for their eggs, your layer hens will appreciate having a private place to go to lay their eggs. No one likes to do such business in public! Plan to have one nest for every three to four layer hens. Each nest should be properly sized, otherwise the hen will become stressed and may not use the nest. For optimal egg-laying, the nest should be 1.5 times bigger than your hens (this is breed-specific). A slanted roof over the nest is also ideal, as it will keep your chickens from standing or roosting on top of the nests where any falling manure can dirty your chicken eggs.

What to do with your chickens when you go off for the Holidays?

Chickens and Holidays

 

Anne Perdeaux 26th April 2014 Keeping Chickens FAQ

https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-chickens-faq/chickens-and-holidays/

Anne asks the question we should have all asked before buying our chickens: What do you do with chickens when you go on holiday?

It’s not the chickens that need a holiday, but their hard-pressed owners. The only problem is – who will look after the chickens?

Of course this should have been given some consideration before buying chickens in the first place, but life isn’t always so well organised and sometimes circumstances change. In any case, it’s important to make sure your chickens are properly cared for when you are away from home, even if it’s only for a couple of nights.

Automatic Equipment

It’s sometimes suggested that chickens can be left for a few days with automatic pop-hole doors, feeders and drinkers. Although these appliances are useful, daily (preferably twice daily) checks are still essential – for the following reasons:

• If the equipment fails, the chickens could be shut in their house all day, left vulnerable at night, or be deprived of food and water.
• If hens are laying, eggs should be collected at least once a day to avoid encouraging broodiness or egg-eating – a difficult habit to break.
• A chicken could become ill or injured. Chickens are good at hiding illness, and can look perfectly healthy one day only to be at death’s door the next. Sick birds are often picked on by the flock, sometimes with fatal results. Apart from the unnecessary suffering this would cause, the owner could return to a very grisly sight.
  An automatic pop-hole opener which can be used to automate the locking up process.
  
  

  Leaving chickens unattended could actually result in a charge of neglect – especially if something does go wrong.
  Organising a Chicken-Sitter
  Chickens dislike change so it’s better if you are able to find a responsible person to take care of them in their own surroundings. If you have a large flock this is also likely to be the only viable option. Here are some ideas:
  (a) Ask a neighbour
  If you are lucky enough to have a friendly and responsible neighbour who just happens to love chickens, holidays should be no problem! Make sure the neighbour knows what to do and is prepared to give your chickens the appropriate care. Don’t forget to be properly grateful and to bring back a thoughtful gift from your travels.
  (b) Make a reciprocal arrangement
  With so many people keeping chickens now, it may be possible to find a like-minded person nearby. You might even be able to organise an entire circle of chicken-sitters in your neighbourhood. You could post a message on our poultry forum – poultrykeeperforum.com to see if there is someone near you who might be prepared for you to help one-another out.
  (c) Pay someone to help out
  A local youngster (or oldster!) may be happy to earn a few pounds looking after your flock when you are away. Unless you know the person well, it’s a good idea to ask for references as they will have access to your property when it is vacant.
  A local youngster may be willing to help out. Photo courtesy of D. Fielding
  (d) Employ a professional pet-sitter
  Pet-sitters will either call at your home to attend to your animals, or even live-in if required (this can be useful if you don’t like leaving your house unoccupied). Look for adverts in magazines, the vet’s surgery, animal feed stores or on-line (try www.ukpetsitters.com). Remember to check references thoroughly, and to confirm that your pet-sitter has some experience of caring for chickens.