David Beachler

I'm always glad that my livestock hasn't read the books on what they can and can't do! Our best girl was a simple Leghorn who lived for 8 years under our care. She laid an egg every other day until she left us. She would outsmart the predators that come by occasionally for a free lunch. She wouldn't have made much of a meal in a soup pot, she was light as a feather. We always felt that our birds can stay with us until they pass on, eggs or no eggs. Not every breed is as productive, but the economics have always worked out for us.

I like the insulating blanket, we've used sheep's wool because we have an abundance of it that isn't otherwise usable. Our ladies have taken to pecking any insulating board so I need to find a better wind break/thermal blanket. Our Ducks usually "Duck up" any standing water dispenser so we have a heated hanging drinker to make sure there is clean water, only an issue for a mixed flock.

I don't think you need to plug the heater into the thermo block as they typically have their own thermostat to run only when needed.

I'm curious about your training. Our chickens all naturally eat mice. Just like me and Bacon, no training needed. Our flock loves to play mouse football. Toss in a mouse or two, one grabs the prey and runs around as the others chase and try to take it away. We use live mouse traps in the Sheep feed room. I collect the mice, drop them in a bucket of water, They get tired out so they run a bit slower for the chickens.