2018 Newbie Chat!

[No More Empty Nest]

I'm getting ready to bring these guys back in for the holidays. I won't have to worry about them being safe or cut my visits short. I put together a nice little area. I was looking for wood all day because I refuse to buy it. I need it to put in my temp area I made for them. Had no luck, then I was leaving work and some guys were putting up a door and I saw the crate the door came in and asked about it. The guy pointed to the truck and said all that wood is going on the trash. Well not in my watch...lol. He even cut the longer pieces so they got in the car. It's really good wood, hope to get the same kind for the coop. I got really lucky, I felt like a kid at Christmas.

Fantastic find!!

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I'm getting ready to bring these guys back in for the holidays. I won't have to worry about them being safe or cut my visits short. I put together a nice little area. I was looking for wood all day because I refuse to buy it. I need it to put in my temp area I made for them. Had no luck, then I was leaving work and some guys were putting up a door and I saw the crate the door came in and asked about it. The guy pointed to the truck and said all that wood is going on the trash. Well not in my watch...lol. He even cut the longer pieces so they got in the car. It's really good wood, hope to get the same kind for the coop. I got really lucky, I felt like a kid at Christmas.

great idea about keeping them in so you don't have to cut short your visits and what a great find with the wood! So nice of those guys to help you out too, such kind acts even if so very small can go a long long way for the receiver, well pleased for you hun

 

[llombardo]

great idea about keeping them in so you don't have to cut short your visits and what a great find with the wood! So nice of those guys to help you out too, such kind acts even if so very small can go a long long way for the receiver, well pleased for you hun

So true. I also found out that as a handyman he can put my dog door in(haven't found anyone in 4 years) and he is not opposed to building chicken coops and runs...we may have a very long relationship..lol

 

[CannedMonster]

So true. I also found out that as a handyman he can put my dog door in(haven't found anyone in 4 years) and he is not opposed to building chicken coops and runs...we may have a very long relationship..lol

It sounds like with as much money as you’ve spent so far and you’re still having problems, hiring someone to build a strong solid structure for you will actually save money in the long run.
I hope perhaps you can relocate your coop so that it won’t be under the tree that has falling limbs but still have shade in summer.

 

[llombardo]

It sounds like with as much money as you’ve spent so far and you’re still having problems, hiring someone to build a strong solid structure for you will actually save money in the long run.
I hope perhaps you can relocate your coop so that it won’t be under the tree that has falling limbs but still have shade in summer.

He is one of the supervisors husband at work. I'm hoping to keep this on the real cheap side. By cheap I do not mean short cuts, but getting most of the wood for free. I think the guy who built my duck house was planning on helping me. He us such an awesome guy and very handy-a perfectionist.

I work in the garbage industry and I have them now on the look out for 2x4s, windows, any kind of roofing for the run(they see the tin and corrugated come thru often). The only thing I will need to buy is the plywood and nails by the time I'm done, hopefully.

I'm not building anything until the tree branches are cut. I will lose some shade but I'm staying firm with most of the run having clear roofing panels.

 

[llombardo]

I got the ducks inside, boy were they happy to see the tub. They sound little toddlers swimming, splashing and diving. Prince is not to happy I took them, he is screaming at me ...lol

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I got the ducks inside, boy were they happy to see the tub. They sound little toddlers swimming, splashing and diving. Prince is not to happy I took them, he is screaming at me ...lol

Any chance you could post a video of your ducks in the tub? Just would be a lovely sight to see ☺

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Can anyone tell me what it means when a chicken growls - I don't mean like when they trill or purr it's an actual growl and sounds very much like a dog growling? Lilah is the only chicken I've heard growling and my observations have been that she does it after they've been spooked by gulls or crows flying over our garden. Is quite fascinating really as she really does sound like a dog growling - any thoughts on this please?

 

[CannedMonster]

Can anyone tell me what it means when a chicken growls - I don't mean like when they trill or purr it's an actual growl and sounds very much like a dog growling? Lilah is the only chicken I've heard growling and my observations have been that she does it after they've been spooked by gulls or crows flying over our garden. Is quite fascinating really as she really does sound like a dog growling - any thoughts on this please?

That’s an alarm call.
They have different sounds for aerial predators and land predators.
She’s just warning the others to keep a lookout because it might be a hawk or owl.
Usually when she does it you’ll see the others stop and look up.
That’s also another indication that Lilah is your dominant lead hen because in my flock the roosters do it.
In flocks with no roosters usually one hen will take up watch duty.

 

[CannedMonster]

We’re starting to get more eggs!
Lucy, one of my Partridge Rocks, has started laying.
Her eggs are bantam sized right now but they’ll get bigger.

From left to right: Lucy’s egg, Bootsie’s egg, Cricket’s egg and Itsy’s egg (below) If you look closely and zoom in you can see that Itsy’s egg has little speckles on it