Recent content by suzyQlou

  1. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    For those feeding crossbeaks food mixed with water, any suggestions for freezing weather? I figure I can refresh food a couple times a day or try to keep the food warm. I use an electric heated dog dish for the regular water. Anyone try something similar for watery food?
  2. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    Uh-oh. I see trimmers in our future. I've been wondering why my crossbeak runs to the road when I let her out. I thought she was eating the gravel, but she won't touch the extra grit I've been leaving for her. I think she's been trying to scrape her beak, like MotercycleChick mentioned...
  3. suzyQlou

    Chick with cross beak *pics*

    I was so worried about her as a chick, but my baby crossbeak laid her first egg this week. The pretty greenish egg is so tiny, but so exciting! I hope all the rest of this year's chicks are growing well. Night is now 5.5 months old, and she eats crumbles mixed with water. She has...
  4. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    What a cutie you have there, TXMama3boys. I think you have a good idea about separating your little Teek for meals. My little crossbeak jumps at the chance to come out for breakfast. The extra space really seems to help her eat her share.
  5. suzyQlou

    Size of mobile Tractor Run if you only want to move it every 4-7 days?

    I would agree with those who said you'll need to at least double the recommended size. I would also agree that tractors get heavy fast. If you do build the run and coop separately, you'll have more flexibility with your design. I'm in similar conditions as southern Ohio (south central PA...
  6. suzyQlou

    Small Chicken Tractor

    Very cool. Those plans are going to be a goldmine for someone just starting out. Thanks for sharing!
  7. suzyQlou

    Portable chicken coop and winter

    Hi LLMama. It's nice to see a PA neighbor online. Hope you are having a good chicken experience! My coop is pretty small. It is 3x4 and holds 4 chickens (right now). It is easy enough for me to move by myself, and I do so every few days now that it's summertime. The "coop" part is like a...
  8. suzyQlou

    Chicken tractor question

    If you're worried about the 3-4 inch space, you might want to search the forums for "retractable wheels". Here are a few bookmarks I've kept over the years: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/217080/tractor-wheels https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/179114/wheels-on-chicken-tractor...
  9. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    So sorry to hear of the losses robinwiththechickens - Nothing has kept me humble like having my chickens die. I lost my first to a dog, too. It stinks! We all try to protect them the best we can, but nature doesn't always cooperate. I hope the farmer in you comes back strong! Missi -...
  10. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    You know, apps, I agree with you here. I spent a lot of time worrying about my little girl, but she seems fine. Keep an eye on her behavior. Make adjustments as needed to keep her active, eating, and growing. I bet she will be just fine.
  11. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    Thanks for your ideas about grit, chooks4life. I have been feeding my chicks free-choice grit because I do know chickens need grit to digest tough foods. It just took me a while to wonder how the heck my cross-beaked chick was going to peck it. I will go ahead and mix in some small grit with...
  12. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    I'm wondering how important grit is to our cross-beaked chicks. My girl is eating mostly mash, so I'm not sure she'd need it too much. On the other hand, I don't think she can pick up the grit on her own.
  13. suzyQlou

    Diary of a Crossbeak: Support for Special Needs Chickens and their Keepers

    Here's my little girl, Night. She's a six week old Americauna chick. Thanks to the advice here, we trimmed her beak at 3 weeks. At that time, I had just started to notice the problem with her beak. What I noticed more was that she made a huge mess of her crumbles, and seemed frantic when...
  14. suzyQlou

    Who else got some 2013 chicks?!

    There's nothing like some baby chicks to bring me back to BYC. It's so much fun seeing all your new little fuzzy peeps. And, I just gotta share these two new chicks. Sunshine is a Buff Orpington and Night is an Americauna. I'm looking forward to watching them grow and join my tiny flock.
  15. suzyQlou

    chicken excape artist

    If you're really only concerned about letting this one chicken get back in easily, how about adding a little step on the outside of the run? Maybe turn over a 2 foot tall box or something. If she's able to fly out occasionally, she'll be able to hop up 2 feet, then fly the rest of the way back...
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