California - Northern

[ronott1]

Thank you so much!


I'm in Sacramento. I'm not 1100% sure yet. I'm pretty sure that chicken math is going to affect my life in a huge way, though. We seem to start with one of something and then it multiplies... like dogs, cats, kids...

Right now I kind of have my eyes set on BBS orpingtons, creme legbars, and maybe some plain old EE's. I'd like something that isn't too flighty and is friendly, since I have small children. Any recommendations?

Thanks so much!!!

Watch for heat hardy. Some Breeds need a bit of extra help with cooling when it gets to 110.

 

[ronott1]

Ha! Yes, that's definitely one reason. We don't have much of a predator problem here, just the normal city stuff like raccoons and some hawks, but we do have a bad rat problem in my neighborhood.

Many of us have fruit trees so those little buggers just love it here. We are going to completely secure and fence in half of our yard for the 'run' area, including along the bottom of the fence, so that we can hopefully keep the rats out. So gross and I hate that I have to deal with them but it is what it is. And we'll build the coop too.

Don't get me started on Rats!

I am doing ok with them now but Spring will likely bring them back.

 

[manychitlens]

She has great quality birds & is really nice to visit with.

They are so gorgeous! I can't stop looking at how fluffy they are. My older kids (6, 4, and almost 3) love looking at her website, we've watched the orpington video that she has about a million times already. They're like 'WE WANT TO WATCH MR. T!!!!!!!!!' haha.

 

[manychitlens]

Thought I should say "hi" & re-introduce myself. I joined sometime ago & been mainly lurking.
My name is Lisa & I'm a chicken-a-holic.
Got my first pullet 16 years ago (a banty silver duckwing OEGB) & was complete hooked. Now I have 30+ in my motley flock.
I found that I most prefer to hatch eggs (so I can talk to them in the shell) then to grow out the peepers, picking out my favorite personality, then passing the rest on to create new addicts.
You all are such a wonderful source of information & support. I don't feel so "off in left field" when I get chance to visit the website.
Thanks!

Hello! I'm new but thought I would say hi. I'm a little worried about this new addiction, I don't even have chickens yet and I'm already totally obsessed.

 

[ronott1]

Hello! I'm new but thought I would say hi. I'm a little worried about this new addiction, I don't even have chickens yet and I'm already totally obsessed.

Chickens are amazing! They are very good at giving us eggs but it always exciting to go out and get one form the nest box!

Big fluffy butts are so cute too.

 

[manychitlens]

Watch for heat hardy. Some Breeds need a bit of extra help with cooling when it gets to 110.

Yes I've thought about that. Are orpingtons okay in the heat? I've been reading about what to do when it gets hot and I will definitely be doing everything that I can for them. Not so worried about the cold, but the heat, for sure.

Don't get me started on Rats!

I am doing ok with them now but Spring will likely bring them back.

I hate rats. One of my dogs (an Akbash/border collie mix, he's very tall like an Akbash) will jump up and snatch them off the fence when he can get to them. I always feel a sick sense of pride when that happens.

 

[ronott1]

Thought I should say "hi" & re-introduce myself. I joined sometime ago & been mainly lurking.
My name is Lisa & I'm a chicken-a-holic.
Got my first pullet 16 years ago (a banty silver duckwing OEGB) & was complete hooked. Now I have 30+ in my motley flock.
I found that I most prefer to hatch eggs (so I can talk to them in the shell) then to grow out the peepers, picking out my favorite personality, then passing the rest on to create new addicts.
You all are such a wonderful source of information & support. I don't feel so "off in left field" when I get chance to visit the website.
Thanks!

When I run the hatch cam, I have to make sure that I do not cluck to the eggs while they are hatching.

If I have room for it, I will set up a camera for the hatch this weekend. It is gonna be a tight fit though!

 

[manychitlens]

Chickens are amazing! They are very good at giving us eggs but it always exciting to go out and get one form the nest box!

Big fluffy butts are so cute too.

They really are so cute. I can't wait to have them walking around my yard. If we didn't have a baby I would probably already have them. Good thing the baby is cute. My husband has been trying to convince me for years to get chickens, and now that I'm on board I think he might be rethinking that idea, haha. I am totally hooked and it's all I can talk about.

 

[member 142084]

I built a 15X22 run and it has wire on all sides including the top. Will eventually line the sides with hardware clothe so I don't have to worry about coons reaching through. But I see it is you do it right the first time and it saves you money in the long run.
I got cats and thy keep the rodents out.


@ron Thanks me too! If I get a good hatch I will have straight run chicks to sell finally. So far i just barely get enough for us.

 

[manychitlens]

I built a 15X22 run and it has wire on all sides including the top. Will eventually line the sides with hardware clothe so I don't have to worry about coons reaching through. But I see it is you do it right the first time and it saves you money in the long run.
I got cats and thy keep the rodents out.


@ron Thanks me too! If I get a good hatch I will have straight run chicks to sell finally. So far i just barely get enough for us.

That's our plan too, to do the top with hardware cloth, too. I'm nervous that it won't keep everything out, but I think if we do it right they will be okay. We've been researching the best way to secure everything. I also want to set up a nice garden in there so that they have plants (I do realize that they will tear it up and I'll have to replant, but I'm okay with that). I'll have to measure the space. It's a pretty big area (for a city lot, that is) so I hope they'll be happy in there.