Thanks. Since we created true walls, with insulation between, the thickness turned out really well. We also stapled plastic along the north wall before we insulated since, here in PA, it's not unusual to have winters where it falls to 30 below or more. Last winter was brutal! We had colder days...
So it turns out one of the 16 Australorp chicks keeled over in the night. We found him buried under his brethren. I feel bad, afraid he might have been crushed even though we had the heat lamp positioned right. I think it was right. The chicks did spread out and didn't pile up except when we...
I'm an introvert who works from home, so I know these feels. I go out to shop and I'm totally blasted for the rest of the day. Hang in there. HS seems like forever. It's not. Then real life happens and things get really interesting.
I'm afraid you might be right. And I was so hoping for one of each.
In more positive news: pics of the winter coop, at last: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1020568/our-camo-coop
I had promised a few folks I would post pics of the new winter coop we just finished, and I wanted to share.
My goal was to build a winter coop for around 20 chickens for $200 or less. We had collected a lot of dumpster dives over the years, and almost everything we had went into it.
A...
Australorpalooza!
I know it's hard to see and count them, but we wound up with 16 out of the 24 eggs. We still have WAY more than we anticipated (or wanted, really) so now we have to decide if we're going to keep them all or not. It's hard to imagine letting them go, though. They...
Oh, our rocks were a spoiled bunch of brats. They had the best grain, corn, and their favorite, yogurt mixed with oats and raisins. So, yes, they had good (if brief) lives. Wonderful temperaments too. We've had chickens in the past, mostly Production Reds, Buff Orpingtons, and some Easter...
We closed the incubator back up immediately after we gave him a hand. He half broke out and managed to flip himself over on his back so he was distressing. He's resting now.
Hatch day came early. Check out this little overachiever. He broke right out of his egg and stood up!
23 Australorps left to go. We have two more pecking their way out even as we speak.
They were sold as white rocks, but the sales lady admitted they were white rock hybrids with some Cornish in them. Is it possible that was the cause? I have never heard of anything like that. She insisted they were excellent layers. Naturally, I assumed that meant you could keep the as layers as...
We purchased 6 white rocks from Tractor Supply around April. About a month later, one juvenile seemed to have respiratory issues and died. The other five remaining turned out to be all roos except for one hen, Miss Liz. We culled 3 of the roos (we are not allowed to have roosters here) and kept...