ALABAMA!!

[spurrer]

How many people are you feeding with this feast?

 

[Wisher1000]

Hi, Spurrer! Welcome to BYC and the Alabama thread. I don't know to what post you are referring, but I am guessing that it is an old one. Just keep poking around, you'll get the hang of this site in no time.

 

[spurrer]

Hi , I have only two chickens, dominiques. I got them just so we could have a few fresh eggs. My husband has Parkinson's disease and I hope he will become interested and enjoy them. He can do very little, can't walk without a walker and when we go out I push him in a transport chair. He has some dementia along with the PD.
I ordered a small chicken tractor on e-bay. It is okay just not big enough so my daughter and I built a chicken run 10ft long and 3 feet wide out of PVC pipe, hardware cloth and plastic ties. It is not the prettiest thing but it serves the purpose. I have hawks and coyotes about so we built it so nothing can get in except maybe a small snake. It is light enough to move whenever I move the tractor so they are basically free range. I have built a chicken feeder that I saw on a video that works great and am going to build a chicken waterer as soon as I get a drill bit the size I need to make a hole in the bucket. It uses a nipple that lets the chicken peck and get a small sip of water at a time. It keeps the water clean as the chickens can't get to it to walk in. I am having fun with this but don't intend on getting anymore chickens. I have learned a lot on here that I have put to use. I live in Attalla, Al about 60 miles east of Birmingham.

How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not.
Part of Matthew 23:37

 

[Sassysouth]

Welcome Spurrer. I hope your husband enjoys your chickens.
We have 4 production reds in a kiddie pool on my screened in back porch and I am going to miss them when I get their coop built. I love peeking on them every few minutes! I think they are close to 4 weeks based on pictures for comparison.
Yesterday I had them in the yard in a small run (one I had bought at TSC last year for baby ducks) and I was across the yard working on their permanent coop, but could still see them (or so I thought). I walked over to check on them and there was a hawk perched on the coop!! The hawk couldn't get to them, but my babies went back to the porch quickly.

 

[chickenzooo]

The eggs my broody has been on hatched last night! 3 are still working their way outta the eggs but there are 7 out already I'm so happy

 

[spurrer]

We have a hawk in our pasture who nests in a big tree every year. I also have seen coyotes. We have a friend who put 20 goats in our pasture. They had 15 kids last Dec. He had to move them a few weeks later because of the coyotes. They or something moved a dead full sized goat before the owner could come and remove it. My neighbor keeps lots of chickens and she has lost several to hawks and she says a huge black bird. Don't know what kind of bird that would be. Biggest black bird I have seen is a crow.
Do you plan to get more chickens? If you are interested in making your own feeder and waterer let me know and I can tell you how or tell you about videos where I learned. My husband enjoyed two freshly laid eggs for breakfast this morning. I know I am not saving money on eggs, my neighbor sells hers for two dollars a dozen and often just gives me some. It is just the fun of taking care of an animal and receiving something special from them in return. I have a cat and just having her snuggle up to me in bed at night is worth all the trouble I go to for her. This and feeding birds keeps me sane. This life as a carer for a PD sufferer isn't easy. We have given up all the things we used to do together, hiking, sailing and traveling. The man I married is slowly going away.

 

[Sassysouth]

I would love to hear more about your feeder and waterer. That is on my list after my coop is built. I am saying only 4 chickens, but I can see chicken math isn't real. We really don't eat many eggs and I kind of want to see how 4 will be for now.
I watched my grandmother with my grandfather for years with his dementia and I know how exhausting, mentally and physically it is. I am a nurse and I have seen many people in you role and have idea of what you are going through. It is so very sad to see our loved ones becoming robbed of who they once were.

 

[Sassysouth]

Is this normal? Do their ears(?) start darkening?

 

[spurrer]

go to RobBobs chicken feeder. I think it is the first video on chicken feeders. I made one and it works great. I only have one opening but you can make two. I used a Tidy Cat litter bucket. I ordered the feeder part from Agua Barrel and they cut it just the way it should be. You may have to use some bricks to set it on to get it at a comfortable height to match your chicken's height. Mine started eating from it immediately. There is also a video on how to make a waterer where they get the water a sip at a time. It uses chicken nipples. If you order some make sure you get the ones with the nut, washer and o-ring. If you don't have a hole cutter for the feeder and plan to buy one get a 4 inch. Or you can always cut a hole with cutters. I am sure your husband can do this. I had to do it on my own because my husband can't understand anymore. And he has been doing carpenter work since he was 16 and retired as a construction supt at age 75.
My son is a CRNA and his wife is a nurse in San Francisco. So proud of them both.

 

[PeacefulHippie]

Hi! I'm new to BYC. I'm from Morris, Alabama. I'm organizing a chicken swap at the Tractor Supply in Gardendale and I'm petrified no one is going to show up! Does anyone here want to participate? or have any tips? or know someone who wants to participate?? Help!!! oh yeah, can I link to the event here? is that okay to do?