Welcome to Club Yoke! (new pics page 7) - Page 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennarahl 

 

We (as in I) looked at about 20 places this summer before deciding on ours. We knew we wanted a little bit of land, at least 2.5 acres, and a big enough house. The thing that really settled this house was it's outbuildings, a huge 2nd garage and two sheds that are solid on three sides. I still have to build my coop, but the sheds will be wonderful when we get pasture animals (sheep, goats, alpaca, we're not sure yet). I'd say we're two of the same kind of girl. :)

 

 

LOL we really ARE the same kind of girl. I wanted this place so I could have horses (there are 2 stalls in the barn) but unfortionatlly the soil quality here is HORRFIC so I guess that will have to wait. My husband and I wanted a place around 20 acres but we just coudllnt find it so we got this place and will buy land nearby in a year or two.... if we can.  We also want to have all that stuff. Hubby likes the idea of producing wool

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennarahl 

I'm a spinner, so the idea of having my own wool flock is really appealing. We have bad soil quality too, at least the chickens will help with the composting. :)

How do you compost yours? My neighbors have told me that when they tried it before it composts too hot and still has too much ammonia in it even after a long time and it burns up plant roots in the heat. Is there a better method that helps to compost it?

we bought a compost bin to use for most of the household stuff and I will also be makeing a larger bin especially for the chicken manure/bedding ext. I was wondering if you use anything to aid in the break down of the compost? I bought a bottle of organic enzymes. It claimes to sped up the process.. but I dont know really.  I have been adding all the household stuff so I guess we will have to wait and see!

The chicks have graduated to 'the big chick box' ;)  One chick was starting to leap up the sides of the tree box. Granted she woudln't have made it over for a while yet but hubby and I decided that it wasn't worth the risk. This was orgianly set up out in the garage but the recent cold weather has meant that the chicks will have to stay inside for a while longer. So.. we brought the box brooder inside. The chicks chirped very loudly for a while but now they are running from end to end all over the box. I think they like all the extra room. Hubby thinks at this angle the lap/table looks like some kind of freakish one eyed alien monster bent on devowering chicks ;)

So much more room!  5 mins in new home... and its already nap time.

what one does... they all do!  Scratch scratch scratch

Derpetto says "wahhhh? oooh HI "  I think shes the silver polish but shes A LOT lighter in color than the chicks on the MMH hatchery website. Could she be a blue and not a silver?

Testing the temp... new thing must be pecked into submission!

Scary new place!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!! Shy guy doesnt take to changes very well... as you can see.. no one else seems even the slightest bit concerned that my little scardy chick is runing around at full steam chirping loudly... I think they have all learned to ignore this chicken littles freak outs.

\

Look at all of our big chick feathers coming in!

Chickzilla aka Silly Zilly made an attempt at a sneak attack on Spitfire... it failed due to the little fact that when one is the biggest chick in the box... its nearly impossible to sneak around the side of the waterer and sneak attack someone whos watching you come at them. She got pecked for it. ;) Are bantams usualy this fiesty!? Spitfire is one no-noncence bird.

Angle wings.. I know I know... 'thats water foul and not chickens' but I dont know what else to call this. One of my chicks has an issue with her wings. The wings turn out and the feathers rotate and twist upward EXACTLY like my friends goose that has it. I know.. I know... Ive been told that chickens dont have it.. but what do you think... (shes the white one... more pics bellow)

It really does twist over so that the part that should be under is ontop. Do I split it or just leave her be?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennarahl 

Nope, the only thing we add is dirt because it contains all the stuff needed to get it started. Sometimes we'll add a little of an older compost.

 

Love the new setup, they'll be big enough to get out of it by then end of the week if they're anything like my babies. :)

 

I haven't a clue about the wing, but if she doesn't seem to be in pain when you touch it, then I wouldn't see it as a huge problem if she's just a yard chicken.

We will be covering it so HOPEFULLY they wont get out. lol We left the sides on so that we can pull them up and tape them up so it will double the height. Even if we have to make chicken Alcatraz ;)  I will be moving them out to the barn when the weather improves.

No the chick doesn't seem to be in pain and this is just the way she seems to have been born. It doesn't look to be injury or anything. Well yes my chickens will just be yard chickens... ok... coup chickens. We cant let them run loose due to the road and predators.

I also have to wait to make repairs on my coup/run as well. My hubby is getting a new job and will have to go off to work in another state. He will be home on the weekend and hopefully we will have the money to get the things I need too. Such is life huh? 

Hopefully in 3 weeks I will be able to get these guys out to the barn. If they can jump and flutter that high... it will be time! I will most likely keep them locked in the hen house for a while because I worry that the little ones will manage to sneak out through the chicken wire. I think in three weeks they must grow a lot but truthfully the chicken newbie that I am doesn't know just how big they will be.