3 dead chickens

[bekkers]

Thanks Posey,

a canopy or other "built" shade would work sometimes but the danger is that it is SO windy, it comes down the mountain straight down our street at awfully high speeds, I think it would carry away anything like that as if it were a sail. I am thinking about the backyard situation and how to figure something out there, I think there is more shade available if they were placed strategically next to a fence with their tarp on the other side, etc, but, dh says he doesn't think it is worth $100 to build another structure for 3 chickens. Maybe I can find something else or old fence or something to repurpose, I will put a request on freecycle as well. What is an inexpensive sturdy fence or structure like item that could be used to enclose chickens? We have a shed I can use for them as a coop, but I don't want to enclose them inside all the time, we got them to let them be on the grass and scratch for bugs, etc. I was thinking that if we set up the shed for them we could put up a fenced area in front of it so they chickens could come and go as they please. I will continue to work on this.

The chickens are now in the front yard sort of under the tree (as much as the ark fits under the low branches) and where someone would need to be more obvious about walking up onto our lawn to get to them. They seem healthy and happy, they have water and the grain feed, and last I checked 2 of them were very actively scratching around in one little area and pecking for bugs. oh dear, now I am worrying about the one who was just standing around apart from them... I will keep checking on them.

 

[posey]

Bekka:
Try not to fret so much, darl'n. You are as bad as me.

I understand about the wind too. We are in a wind zone and today is incredibly windy maybe 40-50 miles an hour. My poor chickens are fighting to stand up right and sometimes get blown clear off of the ramp as they go up and down to the coop. Poor babies.

The shed could be used as a coop. My hubby built a coop to comfortable hold the 12 chickens we got on June 13th. Then 4 died and the man we purchased from gave us 9 more, now we will have 17 in the coop and it's not big enough. So he is going to build an addition to it so that when the 9 babies who are 1 month old now are ready to join the others they will all have enough room.

Currently he has built a temporary run in the front of the coop opening so that they can peck around. But we also have6 guinea fowl in there too and between all of them the grass is completely gone. I take grass clippings and fresh greens out to them everyday and give them cracked oats and some scratch just to give them something to peck at.

We are still trying to decide what to do. We'd like to make a tractor type of run so that they could graze on a new spot each day. We would only feel safe with that if I was home with them. Which would also limit us to be able to be gone all day or over night.

Like I said we are still working on it. Buy the way, our coop was made out of old wood, windows, and roof tin. Everything was recycled or reused, with the exception of the screws. It is possible to find wood and old windows, etc that can be used to make a coop. Freecycle and Craigs list are great places to look, so is the county dump - sometimes they have a place for people to drop off left over construction materials.

Poulty netting is inexpensive to make a pen or run out of. So is rabbit fencing. They aren't really predator proof but work well enough if you are home to check on them occasionally during the day and just put them up safely at night.

Hav a good weekend

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
As for inexpensive materials, I've seen some coops made with pallets. You have your basic four poles, a little framing, and then the pallets used with the side that has more slats on the outside. In your weather, this and a tarp secured to it could be an inexpensive proposition. You can probably find construction leftovers for the roof, or in a small enough coop just buy tin and secure. You might want to check out the "Coops" page here at BYC for more of those coops. There are a few there made strictly of second hand discarded materials.

On the feed, I agree that the feed doesn't seem right to me and am glad you provided extra protein. I'd love to see the tag of it if you get more. I suspect it's a gamecock feed as gamebird feeds are usually higher protein for smaller birds with higher metabolisms.

I'm still wondering, too, about the BB's. That sounds just like something some kids would do, and you did say you saw one mark on a bird's head. The whole idea of that sort of thing terrifies me and really makes me quite nauseous. I'm just disgusted really even at the thought of it. /sigh

And I SOOO second Posey on this. Do not give up. You're exactly the type that *should* have chickens as you're investigating, considering their feed, etc etc. Trust us on this.

 

[bekkers]

Well, I have been checking on the 3 remaining chickens just about constantly b/c I've been so worried, but they have all been very happy looking and scratching and pecking in the grass, and ate up all the organic peanut butter and homemade yogurt and leftover (grass fed) beef we gave them yesterday along with their grain feed, and we have been misting them several times per day (which seems to annoy them more than anything, but it must cool the area off for a few minutes at least) and this morning we found our first egg!

I wasn't expecting any eggs until September b/c they are only just 5 months old (or almost) and it is SO hot here right now, but here we are! I do feel more confidant now b/c these 3 seem to be doing so well, they must be reasonably healthy and getting fed alright to lay now, right? The egg was quite small but I read that this is normal for pullet eggs and the size will increase as they get older.

I also feel better having them right in front of our front window, didn't leave the house yesterday b/c I wanted to watch them, but I may go out for a bit later today or tomorrow and feel a bit better about it b/c of where they are. I am working on the backyard run concept, I think that our shed is too big for the three of them, so maybe the pallet idea placed in another corner of the yard and try to find some fencing materials for a run or another ark type contraption. I think we will try to have a look at the dump, someone told us you can go there to scrounge for materials.

I even thought of an idea to make a secure tiny coop for the front yard that could have access to the ark if we wanted to leave it in one place for a while (Say, in the winter if it is snowy and the birds don't want to be out much anyway) if I can find an old dresser or something to gut and leave the bottom drawer (for deep litter) and put in some roosts, and maybe a spot for a heat lamp. It would be small, but it seems about right for just 3 birds and they could step outside whenever they wanted if we have a carpet flap or something installed in the front. Plus, they could then run into their little coop if they need shade or shelter (it never rains here but we run the sprinklers everyother day and it has been a real hassle makinng sure the ark is on the gravel before the sprinklers go off since I can't move the ark by myself, so if we could just leave it in one place for a while and they co go "indoors" away from the water that would be great. Actually last nigth was the first night we messed up b/c I didn't want to move the chickens awayy from our front window so I asked hubby to turn off the sprinklers for the night, which he of course did not, so I stopped them half way through the cycle and the poor birds must have thought they were getting rained on for the first time in their lives, but when I checked on them they seemed completely fine, they were snoozing on their roost and didn't seem to notice. I wonder if it isn't as big a deal as I thought.) from weather or predators/people.

Well, off to check on the girls again.
--Rebekah

 

[posey]

That's great, you are doing a wonderful job.


How fabulous to get your first egg!!!!! Ya'll need to celebrate!

My girls have been so sick that when we get our first egg it will be a big triumph. So I have a bottle of champagne with their name on it. We are going to celebrate big time when that first egg shows up.

Keep up the good work and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

[threehorses]

Aww the first egg!!

Well, it's time those girls are on laying feed and some oyster shell!

I love this time with hens - they're so awesome! Congrats.

And see - here you were thinking of quitting them. /wink And your hens are laying early!

Woot!