2018 Newbie Chat!

[JMotuzick]

14 days today, I think the rangers are growing so fast! First move of the tractor today. They loved the fresh green! They are using the cuddle box but not heat tonight... first night I took the heat out of the cuddle box. We will see in about 8 hours how that goes! Busy day for all my birds!

 

[JMotuzick]

Most where still in the box but a couple where hanging out on the top of the heat plate at 5am. ALready day light so who knows where they slept? I’ll give them another week with the heat. The cuddle box can stay longer. I’ll be out of cord for the hot plate though!

 

[CannedMonster]

Oh gosh I miss having cute little fluffy babies! All of yours look spectacular! I got five eggs today out of six hens laying (what in the world am I going to do when I have 18 laying hens!!!) one of them was the biggest egg I’ve ever seen! Thought I heard an abnormally loud egg song this morning, no wonder! View attachment 1419829

Looks like you have a double yolker there

 

[CannedMonster]

My dog, Charlie, attacked Loki just now.

Loki is fine, thank God.
It was over a corn cob I had given the youngsters.
I’m aware my dog has food aggression issues but I let it slip my mind and it could’ve ended badly.
He’s not even food aggressive with his everyday food. It’s high value food like meat, cheese, etc (and apparently corn!)
We’re going to have to be sure we secure Charlie before we give certain treats to our chickens.

In other news...Emily found a snake this evening!
It’s a young gopher snake and boy were the littles interested in that!
I even called the biggies over to see.
Nobody seemed to feel it was on the menu though. Probably too big.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

So Nala has recently developed a habit of sleeping outside the coop. It's safe, because the run is predator proof. But I'm hoping this won't continue eventually when it gets colder outside.
I tried putting her into the coop myself a couple nights but she keeps doing it.
Thoughts?

 

[JMotuzick]

Bzzzzzt
You Don’t lock your little ones in at night? That’s the safest thing for them. I don’t care how good your run is it’s never going to be predator proof.

Pulled the heat out completely last night. Everyone seems happy in the median. The little ones are all doing well too. No recent pictures though sorry.

Our-year-old rooster is headed to the pot tomorrow. I have a friend who is doing his batch of meats and I’m bringing him along and helping out. Can’t wait! As soon as he hears me into the run in the mornings, he runs out and I text me. It’s been nice to have him isolated from the rest of the flock this past week.

 

[BBZZZZTT]

Bzzzzzt
You Don’t lock your little ones in at night? That’s the safest thing for them. I don’t care how good your run is it’s never going to be predator proof.

Pulled the heat out completely last night. Everyone seems happy in the median. The little ones are all doing well too. No recent pictures though sorry.

Our-year-old rooster is headed to the pot tomorrow. I have a friend who is doing his batch of meats and I’m bringing him along and helping out. Can’t wait! As soon as he hears me into the run in the mornings, he runs out and I text me. It’s been nice to have him isolated from the rest of the flock this past week.

Nope!
I can't do that. 10 hour variable shifts have me leaving and returning from work at all kinds of time. Plus I'm out of town this weekend.
The inherent risk of predators is just something I have to live with, otherwise I wouldn't be able to have chickens. Which is why I built the run the way I did.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

So Nala has recently developed a habit of sleeping outside the coop. It's safe, because the run is predator proof. But I'm hoping this won't continue eventually when it gets colder outside.
I tried putting her into the coop myself a couple nights but she keeps doing it.
Thoughts?

View attachment 1421396

Two things! How big is your indoor roost? She may not feel she has enough space or isn’t safe from predators in the coop.
Is the roost in the run taller than the roost in the coop? If it is that may be your problem! She could also be “kicked out” of the pecking order so the others may be making her sleep outside.

 

[JMotuzick]

Just a quick shot from
Tonight....
Left to right. Black jersey giant. Lavender Orphington. I think the one on the right is an Easter egger

 

[CannedMonster]

View attachment 1422613 Just a quick shot from
Tonight....
Left to right. Black jersey giant. Lavender Orphington. I think the one on the right is an Easter egger

So cuuute!