California - Northern

[OR4-hmom]

Oh, Ron, it does have a cover. I zip tied chicken wire all across the top, a hen could jump on it and not fall through. The problem is I left a little space where I can pull it back to access their food and water, and it keeps leaving a small space where they can escape. I need to fix it tomorrow so it stays down but can still be opened. Not sure how I'll do it but I'll figure something out

Speaking of chickens being good fliers...I accidentally locked them out of the coop one night and found my Splash Andalusian 12 feet up in a tree!

I used the extra rack from my oven for weight while still allowing air flow and light to get through, it's easy to lift off and replace also on small areas.

 

[BCollie]

 

yes they are stunning.  I had a couple Dark Brahmas and a couple Partridge and they were stunning together.  

While it may look good to you folks, this bird has a major DQ. Vulture hocks.

Walt

You silly, I was just obsessing over the pattern. But what are vulture hocks?

 

[Kaylish]

Well, my little Cream Legbar chick named Lady just gave me a major heart attack. I went out to the coop to check on the babies in their pen one last time before bed, and I noticed that Lady was not in the pen. The chicken wire on top of the pen is zip tied to the pen, but I left a small space where I can fold it back to access their food and water. WELL, in that little space the chicken wire was sticking up meaning she could have easily flown out. I looked EVERYWHERE for her. I listened for stressed peeping, nothing. I checked in the coop, under the coop, in the bushes in the chicken yard, all around the chicken yard...she was nowhere to be found.
I walked back to the coop/run to double check for her in there, and a little movement caught my eye. I found her. On top of the door to the chicken run!!! She thought she was going to roost up there for the night like a big girl. All the other hens get to roost up high, so why can't she, right?
Crazy bird. I put her back in the pen and she is going to have to use the branch I put in there as a roost. They don't like it because it's only half a foot off the ground, but it's all I can do for them. They'll get used to it. Tomorrow I need to fix the pen so the babies stop escaping.
I'm still recovering from my mini panic attack! Crazy bird, I love her so much.

Crazy awesome birds! Glad she's ok!

 

[capayvalleychick]

While it may look good to you folks, this bird has a major DQ. Vulture hocks.

Walt

But what are vulture hocks?

I've read the definition and looked at the illustrations in the SOP, and I still can't tell the difference between vulture hocks and correct feathering on feet.
Not that it applies to me, because I have clean legged breeds. Just curious, though.
Vulture hocks refers to incorrect feathering growing on the lower thighs. (Can't quote from the copyrighted SOP).

 

[chiqita]

You silly, I was just obsessing over the pattern. But what are vulture hocks?

The feathers on the feet sould be like feathers on the butt and not feathers on the wing.

 

[casportpony]

Stay cool today! It's already 78° here and I see it's quite a bit warmer for others!
http://www.wunderground.com

-Kathy

 

[EZFarms]

Would i be able to let out mh seramas with everyone? (Ive had ghem for 5 days) i dojt wanna have to leavd them in the coop

 

[BearPatch]

Actually we are off I-5 south of Castella. We graduated from DHS in '69 & '70.

 

[BCollie]

Okay, another question. Both of my Buff Polish have all their feathers, including their tummy & butt feathers, except for the ones on their neck. Now, the ones on the neck have little pin feathers coming in but they're not all the way out yet. Is it safe for the Polish to start living outside? It's a low of 63 tonight, and the lowest it's going to get is 52 on Sunday/Monday night. Is it okay for them to start living outside, or do I need to wait until those neck feathers have grown in all the way? I only ask because they're accidentally trampling the young babies in the brooder.

 

[chrissyr]

The Orpingtons are so sweet.  When my brooders are too full I put the 8 week olds in the Orp pen and they baby sit them.   

So the orps sit on and take care of the babies even if they're not broody?
That would be the perfect hen