California - Northern

[zooweemama]

Plus you gotta move fast before the DH changes his mind.

You're not kidding! bwahaha!

 

[zooweemama]

Woot! The City of Yreka (Northern-Northern California) passed Measure M, which allows up to six backyard hens! I just looked back at the thread I started when this all began, and it has been 15 months we have been working towards this. Finally! I feel like quoting Dr. MLK Jr. "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free [to have hens] at last!"

Rachel

Woohoo! that's SOOO awesome. Now off to window shop eh? What do you want to do get?

 

[zooweemama]

Bahahaaha exactly!

Zoo - I'm so excited for you! Can't wait to see chick pics!

Thanks me too! I'll upload some tomorrow evening. Woohoo!

 

[zooweemama]

Here's some pictures of the new babies outside of their coop for the first time! They were awesome! The dogs didn't go after them, they left the dogs alone but weren't afraid, and they went back to their coop when we called them. Umm how awesome is that?!

Weird side note: My dog Gia (the brown one) loved the dried worms Johnny was feeding the chickens. What a weirdo!


1 1/2 of my new girls (with my little one Gia in the background making sure she's still Johnny's #1 girl)

My sweet roo (seriously, he is soooooo friendly!!):


One of the pullets won't let me take pictures of her and does NOT like being pet. It's kind of cute how she hides behind the rooster... but I will definitely be working on her. She won't be shy for long!

Aww how old are they? I want one Roo out of the 6 straight run I am ordering...were it only as easy as that though.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

My OEG's are supposed to hatch tomorrow!

They're under a broody so I can't see anything, but I may hear something....

 

[zooweemama]

My OEG's are supposed to hatch tomorrow!

They're under a broody so I can't see anything, but I may hear something....

I don't know what an OEG is but I read the word hatch and got excited for you!

 

[somadlyinlove]

My OEG's are supposed to hatch tomorrow!

They're under a broody so I can't see anything, but I may hear something....

What kind of OEGs? I have Bantam Creles, looking for a few BB red bantams. I have some Marans due to hatch on the 14th but I'm not at all sure they are fertile and have no hope of candleing them! I'd love to see pics of your new hatch.

 

[zooweemama]

Okay my very ugly and sad looking coop. I welcome suggestions on fixing it up. It ONLY needs to last us until next Spring. At that point we will decide which way we will go with our chickens. We will always have ducks- we have a pond and we just uncovered (this whole property was in disrepair and weed overgrowth was insane) a lovely patio BY the pond (a week ago) so I cannot imagine not seeing them out there now! 2 weeks until we get to let them out on the pond.

So here is what I have to work with for JUST this year. If we decide to lean towards the chickens for eggs - we will build a new large coop. If we decide to keep the flock fairly small- we will build a new small coop. Plus it will give us the chance to read through designs and pick what design would work best for us and our needs once we decide what they are.
(that's my oldest son) It's an 8x8. I will be making an all new door weekend after this one. Myself- or at least as much by myself as I can manage. I am not known for my outdoor abilities. But this chicken 'project' is all mine. My personal money from my my business paid for the chickens, I'll be paying for the feed and supplies needed and I will be attempting (with dh help) to fortify the excisting coop, make a new door and new lay boxes.

I will be making lay boxes that I can re-use next year when we build the new coop. Nothing wasted eh? Door too!

I will be digging up the floor a bit as it's been in disuse for likely a long long time. Leggy weeds have take hold. I did find a layer of mesh wire IN the dirt so I assume the previous owner knew their chicken stuff and was keeping out coons and possums etc. Should I dig that up and lay down new? I think I will also be digging up fresh dirt from another part of the yard and putting it inside the coop...so I could always not dig up the old wire and just lay new wire down and then the fresh dirt?

My husband is uber handy and already has a door design for me. We are still trying to figure out the lay boxes but thinking of sticking to the basic design that is there but fresh materials- a little more support...and doesn't it need a ramp of some kind? I am looking at what is here and thinking...how the heck did those chickens get in those boxes? LOL


'
I will be removing garbage, tarps, weeds, cobwebs...

My husband suggested- although not 'pretty' right now- to take some more of that aluminum (new stuff though from home depot. the roof and the back are covered with it) and put it all around the base for now to keep out predators. He said it would be a simple solution if I don't mind how it looks.

I welcome your inputs though! I'm almost embarrassed to show you where I will be housing my chickens- especially since I purchased from a reputable breeder. But I really want to start smart and start small. So 6 chickens, an old 8x8 coop is it until next year until we discuss our ducks, chickens and geese and decide which ones we want to have for what reasons. Which will tell us what kind of coop we will need, how big etc.

My babies will be here around 530-6pm tonight. EEK!

 

[zooweemama]

Do any of you vaccinate your chickens?

 

[debs_flock]

Your plans for refurbishment sound fine (new door, strenghten corners, braces, etc, clean out floor - I like sand, clean boxes). The main thing I'd add, pull off the chicken wire (like tissue paper to a raccoon) and put on REAL wire, 1x2 inch at most, preferably hardware cloth. The wire on the floor, you can just rake it all out and put down the fresh soil/sand. They won't need a ramp, they'll jump onto the bar and go into the nests. Add straw or shavings into the boxes to make them cozy.

Good luck.

Deb