Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[OneMountainAcres]

Looks like my "pure blue silkies" are not silkies :/ I was so sure but their little feathers coming in are all regular feathers, not silkie feathers. That means that daddy was most likely BCM. That would explain why they're all blue. Splash silkie + BLACK copper marans should give 100% blue. Oh well, I tried.

 

[Werforpsu]

Morning all!

Well winter is just flying by! Every time I get on here I realize that it has been weeks since I was here last!

Life is pretty calm around here. I am personally excited that it supposed to be cold the next few weeks. I want to get my kids skiing before spring comes.

Our chickens are doing the same old same old each day. There have been no roosters 'attacking' humans recently, but I have been trying to keep them in some since it has been so wet and rainy. My hens have been learning that when I come to gather eggs from the boxes, they can get out of the coop if they are fast enough. It all started with a hen that was sitting in the nesting box when my son lifted the lid. She decided to jump out. We have the outside of the coop boarded up for winter so we can't see inside the nesting boxes. Then whenever I lifted the lid she would run to the nesting box and jump out before I could even get a hand on her. Two or three days ago as I opened the lid THREE hens barreled out of the coop. They are off like rockets and then I am 'forced' to let the rest out so the roosters can mind them. I don't mind them being out, even if it is cold, but I had my husband build an 8x12 coop so when the weather was bad I wouldn't feel bad about keeping them in!

The roosters (even though I hate them because they are aggressive towards humans) are doing a fairly good job of keeping the hens safe with the winter predators. Ever since we lost the one hen in the fall, they work as a team instead of butting heads with each other. They used to care more about the other rooster then the hens, that changed. My one rooster was not pleased the day the hens decided that they wanted to explore in the snow. He didn't want to come out of the coop, but as soon as they started to scamper away a bit and he couldn't see them, he went after them.

Our heated waterer is doing great. We haven't had any issues and my husband seems happy with it.

I'm starting to think about spring and chicks! I realized how late Easter is this year. We are out of town for 48+ hours so I am going to have to figure out a chick plan before we get them. I mentioned getting a dog crate and using it as a brooder and taking the chicks with us (4 hours in the car), leaving them in my sisters garage so we can check on them regularly etc. My husband gave me a strange look LOL! So my second option was to see if friends would want to keep them for the weekend. These friends have chickens and goats, including a large garage/shed that has a goat pen for the winter. They are perfectly capable so I think I am going to see if she is interested. That way I can confidently get some chicks!

Hope all is well with you all!

 

[dheltzel]

I always count my chickens. Just a force of habit. I think it's a good idea. But if Dheltzel had to count all his chickens he'd never get any sleep.

Very teue, and counting chickens as a way to go to sleep doesn't work like counting sheep. I keep remembering ones that I wanted to move to different pens, but by the time I get that worked out I have to start all over because I lost count . . .

 

[Lelanae]

Hello! My name is Stacie and I live in Harford, PA (no "T" in Harford : ) about 30 min north of Scranton and near the Harford Fairgrounds.

I am thrilled to find a PA group, but hoping to find a Susquehanna (Lackawanna, Wyoming) County group to actually meet other chicken keepers. I have two chicken keeping friends, but I am looking for more, so please say hello!

Hi Stacy --I am in Chester County!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:
oh Florida! how fun, I hope you enjoy your trip. it also looks like you could put a poop hammock in to help clean since coops look fairly big!
here is an image JUST IN CASE you havent seen them

 

[OneMountainAcres]

oh Florida! how fun, I hope you enjoy your trip. it also looks like you could put a poop hammock in to help clean since coops look fairly big! here is an image JUST IN CASE you havent seen them

Ooh! I like that! I like my poop boards but I like that type of roost better

 

[Sally Sunshine]

great pics! I love the goat pen you posted a while ago too. I need a better shelter for my bucks, you've given me ideas...

@Sally, no toulbants, I set BCMs

@dheltzel I figured I would let you know I found an ad on craigslist of someone wanting to trade muscovys for hay so I sent them a text asking if they would consider selling a pair and they were more than happy to infact they are selling me a trio for 25 dollars. I will be getting them tommarrow They might not be show quality but it will be nice to start with. Here are some pics I will get my own pictures tommarrow once get them set up in quarantine.


The first picture is the Drake then the second picture is the two hens

That blue is so puuuuurrrrdy!!!! GO YOU!!! great score! Hope all works out with them!

Hello! My name is Stacie and I live in Harford, PA (no "T" in Harford : ) about 30 min north of Scranton and near the Harford Fairgrounds.

I am thrilled to find a PA group, but hoping to find a Susquehanna (Lackawanna, Wyoming) County group to actually meet other chicken keepers. I have two chicken keeping friends, but I am looking for more, so please say hello!

Hi Stacie, North Berks Here

what breeds are you keeping?

Looks like my "pure blue silkies" are not silkies

I was so sure but their little feathers coming in are all regular feathers, not silkie feathers. That means that daddy was most likely BCM. That would explain why they're all blue. Splash silkie + BLACK copper marans should give 100% blue. Oh well, I tried.

that is a bummer Jess, I am sorry, but they are seriously cute anyways!

Morning all!

Well winter is just flying by! Every time I get on here I realize that it has been weeks since I was here last!

Life is pretty calm around here. I am personally excited that it supposed to be cold the next few weeks. I want to get my kids skiing before spring comes.

Our chickens are doing the same old same old each day. There have been no roosters 'attacking' humans recently, but I have been trying to keep them in some since it has been so wet and rainy. My hens have been learning that when I come to gather eggs from the boxes, they can get out of the coop if they are fast enough. It all started with a hen that was sitting in the nesting box when my son lifted the lid. She decided to jump out. We have the outside of the coop boarded up for winter so we can't see inside the nesting boxes. Then whenever I lifted the lid she would run to the nesting box and jump out before I could even get a hand on her. Two or three days ago as I opened the lid THREE hens barreled out of the coop. They are off like rockets and then I am 'forced' to let the rest out so the roosters can mind them. I don't mind them being out, even if it is cold, but I had my husband build an 8x12 coop so when the weather was bad I wouldn't feel bad about keeping them in!

The roosters (even though I hate them because they are aggressive towards humans) are doing a fairly good job of keeping the hens safe with the winter predators. Ever since we lost the one hen in the fall, they work as a team instead of butting heads with each other. They used to care more about the other rooster then the hens, that changed. My one rooster was not pleased the day the hens decided that they wanted to explore in the snow. He didn't want to come out of the coop, but as soon as they started to scamper away a bit and he couldn't see them, he went after them.

Our heated waterer is doing great. We haven't had any issues and my husband seems happy with it.

I'm starting to think about spring and chicks! I realized how late Easter is this year. We are out of town for 48+ hours so I am going to have to figure out a chick plan before we get them. I mentioned getting a dog crate and using it as a brooder and taking the chicks with us (4 hours in the car), leaving them in my sisters garage so we can check on them regularly etc. My husband gave me a strange look LOL! So my second option was to see if friends would want to keep them for the weekend. These friends have chickens and goats, including a large garage/shed that has a goat pen for the winter. They are perfectly capable so I think I am going to see if she is interested. That way I can confidently get some chicks!

Hope all is well with you all!

I dont believe we ummmm MET if thats the word to use

and please be careful with aggressive roosters, a rooster doesnt have to be human aggressive to protect the rest. I have seen so many images from friends on here that got it bad by aggressive beasts. They are quickly made into soup here at this point.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I am hoping to fit a single dip in the pallet coops even though there is not much room under, and something like this image so I can grab both poles of the tarp and get it out. it may or may not work, the chickens are sure to be scared of it at first! I hope my sewing washing will sew a tarp, or maybe I can just duct tape all the edges?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Okay, now I've seen it all.

@Lelanae, I can't believe we still haven't met. I'll bet we pass by each other at the Giant or the Wawa.