California - Northern

[tommysgirl]

@PetRock or was it @Happy Chooks sorry don't remember who shared the genius of it all...Took my kettle out to the coops this morning and thought of you. Also passed your advice on to another Nor Cal BYC friend who doesn't subscribe to this thread yet but is part of an itty bitty Broody hatching thread of noobies like me. It's a lot like this thread where everyone is nice and helpful and non judgey. Anyway she had frozen waterers too...she lives in the Oakland Hills and I shared that particular chicken life hack with her.

I have moved my Dorkings and Norma into the new pen where I had Beakface and the babies until I integrated them back in with the Original flock and Ozzie. It is covered so they can't fly out and can't hide eggs and they will be happier away from the mean girls. The mean girls aren't terrible but a couple of them do chase these three from feeder to feeder to feeder. The lower they are in the PO the more likely they are to harass these three. I have roosts in that pen and a xl vari-kennel for them to sleep in. I should probably rig a roost in the kennel for them until I get a real coop built in there. I can elevate it a bit, what do you think?

Re bad coop behavior. My two Red Stars seem above it all. They are the top girls they know it and have no need to prove it. They were the first to lay and it seems like status is linked somewhat to fertility. Have you all noticed that? At least to a degree it seems true with my girls...start laying eggs and there is a spot for you on the high roost, until then stay out of pecking range in the evening. Also my over mated Australorp is of low status with the girls but the boys love her...she will squat for anything in wattles and I know I am anthropomorphizing here, but I find that similar to those high school movies too, where the top girls can be selective about mating but their is always a lower status character who is less discriminate. Just some thoughts on this chilly Sunday morning. I turned off the heat last night and it was 53 in the house when I got up this morning.

And does anyone know of silver and/or coronation sussex breeders around here? I love my Speckled girl and would like to eventually add more Sussex to my laying flock.

 

[liz9910]

Intellicast says is was 25 at 2 this morning. It is up to 27 now but there is a wind. It was a bit nippy out doing the chicken chores this morning.

No Snow in Woodland.

Oh I forgot to add yesterday I saw a naked neck rooster for the first time and he was cute! Lol my friend was horrified but I think I like them oh boy here we go again.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

it is 18 here now though I don't think it got as cold as they said it would. Our High yesterday was only 28
hope to get above freezing today so it helps me with the driveway cleaning that is a150 feet long

 

[Happy Chooks]

You're welcome tommysgirl. I've been out twice so far this morning to make sure they have something warm to drink.

I spent yesterday afternoon chasing chickens. The welsummers have never tried to get out of their run, but this cockerel and pullet were desperate to keep their feet out of the snow.

 

[chrissyr]

@PetRock or was it @Happy Chooks sorry don't remember who shared the genius of it all...Took my kettle out to the coops this morning and thought of you. Also passed your advice on to another Nor Cal BYC friend who doesn't subscribe to this thread yet but is part of an itty bitty Broody hatching thread of noobies like me. It's a lot like this thread where everyone is nice and helpful and non judgey. Anyway she had frozen waterers too...she lives in the Oakland Hills and I shared that particular chicken life hack with her.

I've been doing it too! Thank you @Happy Chooks ! I don't know why I never thought of it all these years. My little birds have had to deal with cold water until now. They LOVE it!

 

[chiqita]

@PetRock or was it @Happy Chooks sorry don't remember who shared the genius of it all...Took my kettle out to the coops this morning and thought of you. Also passed your advice on to another Nor Cal BYC friend who doesn't subscribe to this thread yet but is part of an itty bitty Broody hatching thread of noobies like me. It's a lot like this thread where everyone is nice and helpful and non judgey. Anyway she had frozen waterers too...she lives in the Oakland Hills and I shared that particular chicken life hack with her. I have moved my Dorkings and Norma into the new pen where I had Beakface and the babies until I integrated them back in with the Original flock and Ozzie. It is covered so they can't fly out and can't hide eggs and they will be happier away from the mean girls. The mean girls aren't terrible but a couple of them do chase these three from feeder to feeder to feeder. The lower they are in the PO the more likely they are to harass these three. I have roosts in that pen and a xl vari-kennel for them to sleep in. I should probably rig a roost in the kennel for them until I get a real coop built in there. I can elevate it a bit, what do you think? Re bad coop behavior. My two Red Stars seem above it all. They are the top girls they know it and have no need to prove it. They were the first to lay and it seems like status is linked somewhat to fertility. Have you all noticed that? At least to a degree it seems true with my girls...start laying eggs and there is a spot for you on the high roost, until then stay out of pecking range in the evening. Also my over mated Australorp is of low status with the girls but the boys love her...she will squat for anything in wattles and I know I am anthropomorphizing here, but I find that similar to those high school movies too, where the top girls can be selective about mating but their is always a lower status character who is less discriminate. Just some thoughts on this chilly Sunday morning. I turned off the heat last night and it was 53 in the house when I got up this morning. And does anyone know of silver and/or coronation sussex breeders around here? I love my Speckled girl and would like to eventually add more Sussex to my laying flock.

I know someone who has como eggs up for swap. I used hot water in the duck pond this morning it Was a big hit. Ducks love happy chooks!!

Oh I forgot to add yesterday I saw a naked neck rooster for the first time and he was cute! Lol my friend was horrified but I think I like them oh boy here we go again.

I have 2 crele nn boys that carry a blue egg gene! And 2 smooth sizzle showgirls that could be either sex.. Mwhagaha...

You're welcome tommysgirl. I've been out twice so far this morning to make sure they have something warm to drink. I spent yesterday afternoon chasing chickens. The welsummers have never tried to get out of their run, but this cockerel and pullet were desperate to keep their feet out of the snow.

They seem to know when they have you.

 

[chrissyr]

Hi all, I need a bit of advice on the broody.
So it looks like the broodies 8 babies are growing quickly and she can barely cover them all well. I added a heat lamp with 150W bulb. I hate the 250w, but i'm thinking of having to switch to that. I put the lamp when mom could get under it without touching it, but at that height it doesn't do the babies much good.
What height would you suggest? I'm leary of the mom letting her feathers come in contact. Perhaps if I lowered it a bit more, babies would be better off even with 150W.
She doesn't cover them all day in this weather, but they seem content. Usually they are all eating, then when they want to get warm they start swarming her. But these temps just worry me. What wattage should I use? They do have mom, but it's so cold!
They are 2 1/2 weeks now. She's clucking to them, but a bit less. When they get lost when I let them out forage, she doesn't really react to their distress calls. They have to figure out where she is. Maybe a silky would be a bit more attentive

 

[tommysgirl]

OK so I know you guys have already looked at my Wy babies but I wanted to show you the most recent baby pics. I know my mutt is a cockerel but not 100% on the other two. Here are the pics. The first is chick A, the second and third are Chick B. Then there are some of both (obvi) . B is the lighter of the two and has a more fully feathered breast.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hi all, I need a bit of advice on the broody.
So it looks like the broodies 8 babies are growing quickly and she can barely cover them all well. I added a heat lamp with 150W bulb. I hate the 250w, but i'm thinking of having to switch to that. I put the lamp when mom could get under it without touching it, but at that height it doesn't do the babies much good. 
What height would you suggest? I'm leary of the mom letting her feathers come in contact. Perhaps if I lowered it a bit more, babies would be better off even with 150W.
She doesn't cover them all day in this weather, but they seem content. Usually they are all eating, then when they want to get warm they start swarming her.  But these temps just worry me. What wattage should I use? They do have mom, but it's so cold!
They are 2 1/2 weeks now. She's clucking to them, but a bit less. When they get lost when I let them out forage, she doesn't really react to their distress calls. They have to figure out where she is. Maybe a silky would be a bit more attentive

She should still be able to keep them warm enough, they will rotate under her. If you want to give a bit of heat, you could add a 75 watt bulb. Be careful not to have the lamp too Low, it is a fire hazard.

My babies that are 5 ish weeks old have an ecoglow. Last night I did plug in the 25 watt bulb, just to give them a bit of comfort since it was so cold, and they aren't fully feathered yet. They are outside in a small coop.

 

[ronott1]

OK so I know you guys have already looked at my Wy babies but I wanted to show you the most recent baby pics. I know my mutt is a cockerel but not 100% on the other two. Here are the pics. The first is chick A, the second and third are Chick B. Then there are some of both (obvi) . B is the lighter of the two and has a more fully feathered breast.

I think the one with the yellow comb is a pullet.