California - Northern

[ronott1]

Quote:
If I were designing a coop for up there, I would put wood around the bottom and leave the top vented at the top with an over hanging roof to keep the water from blowing in. I would also put vent at the sides(two sides for cross flow) covered with hardware cloth and make doors for them that close with a latch.

A completely open coop on one side is ok for weather here but what about bears where you are?

Have fun designing coops! I look forward to pictures.

Ron

 

[PetRock]

Hi All!! I've missed everyone! I haven't read through everything but figured I need to get back on here anyways!

My heart goes out to everyone who has lost chickens these past couple of weeks. I was so sad to hear the many stories. My thoughts are with you guys and I hope you guys are all doing ok.

For all of the new people: Welcome!! This thread is the best and I can't wait to interact with you guys! There is a lot of experience and knowledge here so read-up, ask questions, and enjoy!

Amy Beth, Ron, Jason and Jeff - Looking forward to catching up with you guys!


We got back from visiting family yesterday. The humidity in SoCal was insane! I'm glad to be back to my "dry" heat. We checked on our big guys at the ranch and boy are their faces red! Egg time is getting near!! I also brought our baby chicks back home yesterday. They are HUGE!! We were gone only 6 days and they're completely different! It's almost impossible to get pictures because they're sooo fast but I was able to get a picture of each (kind of.. lol) Based on combs, it looks like we have a 50/50 cockerel/pullet ratio so far. Not bad! Here are some pics along with my gender guesses so far!

Basques:
EO Black (GIRL):



EO Blue (BOY - he was mad that's why his beak is open! lol):



EO Brown (GIRL - sorry it's so blurry! Amy Beth: I need your professional skills!!)



EO Green (UNKNOWN - This one is a little disabled I think. It's left eye, pictured, is a lot smaller than it's right eye. Not sure why):



EO Orange (GIRL):



EO Pink (UNKNOWN):



EO Purple (GIRL):



EO Red (BOY):



Pita Pinta's:
PP Blue (UNKNOWN):



PP Green (GIRL):



PP Orange (BOY):



PP Pink (UNKNOWN):



PP Red (UNKNOWN):



PP White (UNKNOWN):



- Megan

P.S. I bought spiral plastic leg bands for them and hate them! They dig into their legs and they're hard to take off. I won't ever use again and wanted to let you guys know my experience just in case you are looking at leg bands!

What cute chicks! ;-) Are they happy to be home? I meant to tell you that the bands are tight on their legs! I would have changed them for you but I don't have any. What kind are you going to get instead of the spiral ones?

 

[Hangtown Farms]

If I were designing a coop for up there, I would put wood around the bottom and leave the top vented at the top with an over hanging roof to keep the water from blowing in. I would also put vent at the sides(two sides for cross flow) covered with hardware cloth and make doors for them that close with a latch.

A completely open coop on one side is ok for weather here but what about bears where you are?

Have fun designing coops! I look forward to pictures.

Ron

My coops will be in Fort Knox lol

I need 4 coops 3 that will hold the pene's and emp's ( planning on keeping 8-10 of each of them.
I larger coop for my Icelandic's plus my ( olive eggers and Ameraucana hens that I keep for eggs plus any of the pene's or emp's that are not up to snuff for breeding still good for eggs.

so maybe that one can hold up to 20.

each coop will be in a run ( no climb fence with 8 ft 5" peeler cores at the corners 4" on the no stress areas. chicken wire on the bottom too for critters with happy hands. there all the runs will be in a large fenced area with the same.
My Garden will be fenced in the same area around the large run. so it is possible one could get through but difficult. It will not be cheap as No Climb fence has doubled in price in the last 5 years or so. I am keeping a eye on Craigslist that is for sure.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

does anyone here ever stagger putting hatching eggs in the incubator?
I set some 6 days ago and thinking about adding more but not sure if I should

 

[Wishing4Wings]

The problem with the ear color is that it works for most of our standard chickens so it confuses us. Penedesencas, Cream Legbars and others do not follow the rule so actually the ear color does not work Universally and is not associated with the egg color. Some people think the darkness of the red in the ear will predict the darkness of the brown too. It doesn't though.

Bye,

Thanks Ron. Darn! I thought I was on to something with my white-eared EE.

We had about 5 minutes of rain last night, and later on heard thunder. Rare around here!
Glad it's cooling off in your area. Must be a huge relief. The chickens will be happy too and give you lots of eggs!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Thanks Ron. Darn! I thought I was on to something with my white-eared EE.

We had about 5 minutes of rain last night, and later on heard thunder. Rare around here!
Glad it's cooling off in your area. Must be a huge relief. The chickens will be happy too and give you lots of eggs!

yes you are... a white eared ee
no maybe try breeding your ee to a Ameraucana for darker eggs or to a maran or penedesenca or welsummer for a olive egger

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
That sounds great!

I am looking forward to re homing my Marans tomorrow. Already planning on getting the Legbars into their breeding pen. The Basque are ready so since no one wants my last two Cockerels that I am not keeping, they will soon become chicken dinner.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

That sounds great!

I am looking forward to re homing my Marans tomorrow. Already planning on getting the Legbars into their breeding pen. The Basque are ready so since no one wants my last two Cockerels that I am not keeping, they will soon become chicken dinner.

Chicken dinner is sounding good. My own rooster to hen ratio is out of control.

 

[ronott1]

does anyone here ever stagger putting hatching eggs in the incubator?
I set some 6 days ago and thinking about adding more but not sure if I should

I stagger hatched form January to June this year. It was fun!

It works best if you put them in a week apart. I used two Genesis 1588 incubators. The old one for incubation and the new one with temp controls on top for hatching. I even had a hatch cam set up so I could watch from work

.

Have fun!

Ron

 

[ronott1]

Congratulations to This thread! We are in the top ten for the last 1 day, 7 days and 30 days! The next level will be all time posts!

When is the meet up in Redding? It is time for a Chciken Stock up there! I bet Nifty Chcicken would give some great prizes too.

Also I am looking forward to the show in Anderson!

Ron