Recent content by Patty from Ivy

  1. Patty from Ivy

    Comment by 'Patty from Ivy' in article 'How to Handle the Ageing Process of Chickens'

    A very fine article, Thanks. We live in a clearing surrounded by woods and had our coop inside a well built and covered run. When our first hen died, we buried her out in the woods, perhaps 2 feet down, only to find that she had been dug up and taken away a few days later. We have several...
  2. Patty from Ivy

    Do you Clean out poop from the run?

    I have always had construction grade sand lining the floor of my 10’ x 14’ run and use a long handled metal kitty litter scoop and a small galvanized pail to scoop up the chicken poop from the run floor. Now, I only have 4 hens so it doesn’t take long - maybe 10 minutes or so. I keep the girls...
  3. Patty from Ivy

    Official BYC Poll: How do you name your pet chickens?

    I give my Black Australorp hens (no roosters) rhyming names. The first three were Polly, Molly and Dolly. Then Polly broke her neck flying into a post, so I got two more pullets and named them Daisy and Maisie. Then my sweet Dolly died and the two most recent girls are Betty and Letty - short...
  4. Patty from Ivy

    Not A Poll Just Curious

    I have only had Black Australorps. I have a small flock (5 at most) and have to keep them in a covered 10’ X 14’ run to protect them from predators. When I lose 2 or 3 from various reasons (never predators) I find it easier to integrate pullets of same breed. Minimum issues with bullying- it is...
  5. Patty from Ivy

    What do you do with your chickens when they die?

    I have lost 2 of my 5 hens - the first one broke her own neck (flying into a chicken pen post!) and we buried her out in the woods that surround our house, but eventually something dug her up and carried off the carcass - guess we didn't dig deep enough. When my sweet Dolly died (believe she...
  6. Patty from Ivy

    Official BYC Poll: How do you name your pet chickens?

    I got my first 3 pullets in April 2017 and named them Polly, Molly and Dolly - wonderful Black Australorps that were very forgiving while I was learning the ropes. We called their eggs Olly eggs :-) Polly broke her own neck flying into one of the posts that made up their run, so in Summer...
  7. Patty from Ivy

    What chicken breed(s) is/are YOUR favorite? Why?

    Black Australorps! Sweet personalities and great egg layrrs
  8. Patty from Ivy

    Does anyone have only ONE breed?

    I started with 3 Black Australorp pullets almost 3 years ago because of their egg laying chops and I have not been disappointed! One died (she broke her own neck!) and I got two more pullets this past summer and they have kept us in eggs through the winter. The two older ladies are taking...
  9. Patty from Ivy

    Buy? Or Build? Heeeeellllllppppp!!

    I haven’t read all of the posts, but I have a a small flock (4 Australorp hens) and invested in the medium OverEZ prefab coop that I bought through TSC. They are pricey but you can watch for periodic sales and they often throw in $40 shipping fee. Please check them out on-line as I believe they...
  10. Patty from Ivy

    Tractor Supply Co. Chicken Coop Reviews Thoughts Feedback - Why and Why Not ?

    After keeping my three hens in a small on-line coop which we had set up w/in a 10’x14’ pen, I decided to add 2 more pullets after one of my original girls flew into a pen post and broke her neck 😢. Before the new pullets arrived I bought the medium OverEZ from TSC when I found it on sale and the...
  11. Patty from Ivy

    If you kept only one breed...

    Black Australorps - very sweet and great egg producers. Some of them are amazingly curious!
  12. Patty from Ivy

    Tractor Supply Co. Chicken Coop Reviews Thoughts Feedback - Why and Why Not ?

    I got the medium OverEZ from TSC for my 4 Australorps and love it. I waited for it to go on sale and was able to assemble with husband (inside of roofed 10’ x 14’ x6’ tall hardware clothed run) within a couple of hours. Added the PulletShut automatic door and our chicken raising is incredibly...
  13. Patty from Ivy

    Which breeds have you had good egg production from?

    My two 2 year old Black Australorps give me at least 8-9 eggs a week. Trying to get two more!
  14. Patty from Ivy

    Official BYC Poll: Is your RUN Covered or Not?

    We covered one half of our run with plastic panels and the other half with hardware cloth but then ended up covering that with tarps. Will finish covering that half with the panels soon. We have too many hawks in our woods and found that covering the run made for dryer conditions and happier hens!
  15. Patty from Ivy

    Tractor Supply Co. Chicken Coop Reviews Thoughts Feedback - Why and Why Not ?

    My small flock started out in an inexpensive online coop/run which my husband and I had to put in a lot of work to secure against predators. Within 6 months we spent money (2K) to have a sturdy 10' X 14' X 6' tall run built that contained the coop. I wanted to expand the flock and bought the...
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