California - Northern

[sewandgrow]

I suppose I deserve this one occasionally...

They need a sign like that in our local WalMart. That place is a zoo sometimes...........kids running loose everywhere & seemingly never taught any manners to boot...... I am a grumpy ol' lady aren't I....?????? LOL

The Video is ready!

What a good Mom too.

Very sweet to watch something I miss out on with my set up.

I think it's more of a state of mind rather than geography ! Santa Cruz is definitely NoCal.

Absolutely....WELCOME.!!!!!

Hello all! It has taken a long time to try to catch up, and I still only skimmed the last 2000 or so posts... was away from home most of May, and way too busy to keep up. There were things that I wanted to comment on... but it would take too long to figure out how to quote a post I just have a vague memory of. So instead, you get a rambling reply to "California-Northern" in general.

I was in Santa Barbara for 3+ weeks. I think someone else on this thread was talking about SB... maybe a new person? (Welcome, all the new people on this thread!) Or maybe someone else went down there too? Anyway, Santa Barbara! I like Santa Barbara! I grew up there, but moved up to the bay area after college for more job options. Anyway, I was in SB because my sister had a baby! I'm so excited about my new niece!

Some of you at Karen's Party may have seen my other niece (3.5 years old)... she's the one who could only be enticed out of the pool to have cotton candy, snow cone, and popcorn. I'm sorry I didn't really get to talk to people there. We were able to make it to the party only because I needed to come back home to check on my chickens and file Violet's cross-beak. My housemate was taking care of the chickens in general, but it's really too much to ask to also deal with special needs. I'm sorry to everyone who has had losses and illnesses recently!

Apparently my chickens were not entirely well-behaved while I was gone. They were let out to wander the yard sometimes, as usual. And on hot days, the run was hosed down. Elanor must have decided she was going to take matters into her own wings, and went for a dip in the pool one day. I guess she managed to get herself out, and didn't need extra drying. Both Edith and Mary went through some broody spells, and currently Sybil and Elanor are really hoping some of those pine shavings will hatch. Although my girls don't have any... Congratulations to everyone with new fuzz buckets!

Bantam eggs... I think someone was talking about blowing out eggs because they are so cute! I only have bantams, and it took me a long time to stop saving shells. I have two shadowboxes and an Easter basket on display, and have given others as gifts. I just recently decided I don't have to weigh and record every adorable egg, after about 400 data points. But speaking of weighing... Kathy, I am so glad I am not the only one who weighs her birds. Sometimes I feel like I am being silly, but I use the time to snuggle each one of them, and check for health issues.

Here's a log graph of my girls so far... you can see who likes to go broody:


I signed up for the Silicon Valley Tour de Coop this year. I had a great time biking around last year and visiting local backyard coops, and it was fun talking to all the people who were just like me! I got sort of behind on planting a garden (in the front yard) this year, but the fruit trees are doing well... pluots, nectarines, apples, and avocados all coming in! I hope the squirrels don't get them all before they are ripe. The chickens are helping with the compost, although we still have a bin also. Our compost worms died, but my mealworms seem to be doing well. I keep thinking I want bees, but then I realize it is much easier to call up my friends with bees and offer to help in honey harvest! My favorite part is using the hot-knife to cut off the caps, but spinning honey out of frames is a close second. I can do without the coveralls taped at wrists and ankles and the bee hat. Someone else can deal with calming the bees down while dismantling their house.

Speaking of coops... Good job, Chris, on the fancy new coop you built! And who was it who used extra garage doors as building materials? My run was built with spare lumber we already had, and the poultry nipple watering system is all random short PVC pipe bits we seem to accumulate. Some might say we are packrats... but it's so useful when you come up with a project! Debi, I want to learn how to build a PVC feeder! I was poking around the material we have, but I don't think I have what I would need... I'll have to do more research about what could work!

Ok, other references...
Ursula Vernon! We have all the Digger volumes, and some art of hers on the wall (it's a capybara though, not a steampunk cyber-rooster).
Lord of the Rings! "Hen's Deep"! "The One chicken Ring"! LOL
Hyperbole and a Half! Clean ALL the things! ("Set all the eggs!")

Alright, I need to work on dinner. It's the first weekend I've been home in a month and a half, and did a lot of chicken chores, gardening, errands, etc. Hungry now!

Dawn, I was so glad you & your Dad got to come & bring your niece. The confection machines were sure a hit with the kids......We like to use (recycle) whatever we have collected here too. I just finished a rabbit hutch that way. Your set up is great & so cute....what a good use of space you & your Dad did. He was telling me about it at the party. Glad you had such a nice time while you were gone.

I let the buffs into the run this morning and the Del's chased them all over. I think the only one who didnt joing in was Clara.

One of the buffs likes to be a lap chicken so she was easy to rescue from the others. This was the most aggressive I think Ive seen the dels with them. Of course this is only thier 3rd day in the new place so I think they are just a bit off. They still have not got the hang of going into the new coop. Came home late last night and didnt see the dels but could hear a few wimpers. Looked in the coop and there were no chickens. Couldnt see them in the run either. I though maybe someone had stolen them for a minute till I found them all huddled between the wall and the old coop. We picked them up and put them in the coop and they shuffled off to pile into the nest box. I was a little worried that they may have hurt one of themselves last night because they were all piled on each other in a little space but they seem ok. I guess they need more time separate to get used to each other and forget that the buffs are occupying thier old home.

It looks like they will do fine Chris. They are not too far apart in size. It just may take a bit of time.

Hi my NorCal peeps,
I started building my coop today.

The nest box will be in the right corner - 1"cubed, is that really big enough for a Brahma?

Coleen, what a nice start you have. I some up on stilts like that made out of old peach bins. It has worked well for me.
Quote:

The Chickens enjoying the run this evening I tried to set up a video but having trouble with that so here are the stills



You can see the buffs keeping their distance from the Dels they often run for cover under my chair.


Rare moment when everyone is happy.


Penny/Pete

THE COOP IS ALMOST DONE!!!



Which is good, because the chicks are only getting bigger, and I've had to be creative in placing their feeder and waterer because they were destroying them in their chariot races around the brooder. Better news, no pink/red combs yet!

Also, maybe a coop where I augmented the plans and let my artistic side run amok wasn't such a great idea for my first go at building a structure...

It's darling.......I can't help but want something a little cute .......

I'm trying to determine the order among the 4 dels. It appears that Penny has taken it upon herself to be in charge of putting the Buffs in their place. the others do not go much out of the way to push them around unless they show too much spirit. We shall see how things evolve. Ill try to get them together more over the next couple of weeks. I need to get the second feeder in the run. The buffs are a little small for the water container in the big run. I need to figure out how to lower it a bit.

Interestingly the chicken behavior specialist that spoke at Saturday's seminar said the low on the pecking order chicken in an establish flock is many times the aggressor when new ones are introduced, wanting to make sure her place is above them.

Thanks for the info. You are right about the dimensions and they will have the underneath, too. I don't know how long the run will be yet - at least as long as the ramp! Lol.

I'm putting the nest box along the right side, inside the coop, with a hinged lid to get at the eggs.
How the space (2'x2'x3') on top of the hinged lidded nest box is in debate and I would love opinions. I think the chickens should have access to the space will just think of it as another place to roost / sit. My parents think the chickens will lay eggs in both places (on top of and in the nest box) because of they can "sit" both places.
Maybe this is why everyone puts the nest box outside the coop?

My biggest problem in my raised bin with the nest box up in the top is they poop inn it all the time. I was thinking of putting another nest box down stairs in the corner.

 

[sewandgrow]

This reminds me I think Spurs are coming in on some of my chickens. Im feeling this little bump about mid way up the lower leg on a couple of them (of course its the red faced ones) Its only on one leg at the moment,

I have had bumps on pullets some just one leg.

 

[Audio51]

I let the buffs into the run this morning and the Del's chased them all over. I think the only one who didnt joing in was Clara.

One of the buffs likes to be a lap chicken so she was easy to rescue from the others. This was the most aggressive I think Ive seen the dels with them. Of course this is only thier 3rd day in the new place so I think they are just a bit off. They still have not got the hang of going into the new coop. Came home late last night and didnt see the dels but could hear a few wimpers. Looked in the coop and there were no chickens. Couldnt see them in the run either. I though maybe someone had stolen them for a minute till I found them all huddled between the wall and the old coop. We picked them up and put them in the coop and they shuffled off to pile into the nest box. I was a little worried that they may have hurt one of themselves last night because they were all piled on each other in a little space but they seem ok. I guess they need more time separate to get used to each other and forget that the buffs are occupying thier old home.

Sometimes it takes them a while. I think that is why lots of folks confine them to the coop for a few days if weather permits. If it's too hot during the day you can put them in when it starts to get dark.

12 little quail babies into the brooder this evening, DD has misplaced the cable to her camera so unable to post. We thought we were done moving them when I heard scratching. When I took out the egg flat, Scooter" was underneath! The feet on scooter were bent backwards, after only 2 hours they are pointed forward but toes haven't separated yet. I'll check when I get home in the morning. Having enough room to stand up is a good thing. Still a few more in the incubator, hoping for a few more tiny faces in the morning.

I candled the silkies, still 4/4 swimming there and the lone maran egg is still going but with a smaller air cell.

Congrats on the quail! They are so adorable! I was not told they actually hop when they get excited! As for the egg flat thing....I think that is a quail thing. I have had 2 hatches and use the quail egg flats the BobWhites came in from GQF. Both times the babies wuld get under the flat and I think my little on this hatch had her problems as a result of that, I believe it was a slipped hock and she did not recover from it. I may have to elevate the flats a bit for future hatches. I hope yours gets bettter!

Well, to bed early tonight. Tomorrow I go to school to pick up my diploma(I did not want to go to the graduation ceremony), then I go to the doctor at 11, get home by 12:30, get Splash ready to go to the vet, take her to the vet, get the blood sample ready to ship, go to FedEx, drop it off, then finally go home. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day! Today I managed not to cry about my girls possibly having mg, lol. But I have been an emotional wreck the last few days. I definitely need a good night's sleep. Good night, all!

Wo...you do have a busy day ahead! Let us all know how it goes later!

Quote: What cuties!

The Chickens enjoying the run this evening I tried to set up a video but having trouble with that so here are the stills



You can see the buffs keeping their distance from the Dels they often run for cover under my chair.


Rare moment when everyone is happy.


Penny/Pete

Very nice set up! The ramp does look a bit steep though. Could you do a 'switch back" set ...where it had a more gentle slope with a turn or two?

THE COOP IS ALMOST DONE!!!



Which is good, because the chicks are only getting bigger, and I've had to be creative in placing their feeder and waterer because they were destroying them in their chariot races around the brooder. Better news, no pink/red combs yet!

Also, maybe a coop where I augmented the plans and let my artistic side run amok wasn't such a great idea for my first go at building a structure...

Beatiful coop! Nice work....

Quote: I don't think they go thru the ASPCA. If this is the same group that was placing the egg farm hens from here in Chico, they have possesion of them and you have to apply to adopt, pay a big fee and agree to have them come out to "inspect" you premises. I think they would have much better luck finding homes if they were not so "over the top" about the whole process.

 

[ronott1]

Sometimes it takes them a while. I think that is why lots of folks confine them to the coop for a few days if weather permits. If it's too hot during the day you can put them in when it starts to get dark.

Congrats on the quail! They are so adorable! I was not told they actually hop when they get excited! As for the egg flat thing....I think that is a quail thing. I have had 2 hatches and use the quail egg flats the BobWhites came in from GQF. Both times the babies wuld get under the flat and I think my little on this hatch had her problems as a result of that, I believe it was a slipped hock and she did not recover from it. I may have to elevate the flats a bit for future hatches. I hope yours gets bettter!

Wo...you do have a busy day ahead! Let us all know how it goes later!

What cuties!

Very nice set up! The ramp does look a bit steep though. Could you do a 'switch back" set ...where it had a more gentle slope with a turn or two?


Beatiful coop! Nice work....

I don't think they go thru the ASPCA. If this is the same group that was placing the egg farm hens from here in Chico, they have possesion of them and you have to apply to adopt, pay a big fee and agree to have them come out to "inspect" you premises. I think they would have much better luck finding homes if they were not so "over the top" about the whole process.

They are a part of the group we cannot talk about on BYC. IMHO, they really do not want to send them away. Look up what "they" want to do with all pets and livestock within one generation.

 

[casportpony]

I don't think they go thru the ASPCA. If this is the same group that was placing the egg farm hens from here in Chico, they have possesion of them and you have to apply to adopt, pay a big fee and agree to have them come out to "inspect" you premises. I think they would have much better luck finding homes if they were not so "over the top" about the whole process.

Seriously? Inspection? That's crazy... Sounds like some people have way too much time on their hands.

-Kathy

 

[ronott1]

Seriously? Inspection? That's crazy... Sounds like some people have way too much time on their hands.

-Kathy

Yes, I filled out the form once. They want to know where we all are.

Bio security is only one problem with it. Some on here have had odd people just show up and want to see the place.

 

[liz9910]

This Saturday I sold 6 Serama chicks to this couple from San Francisco..they originally wanted 3 but I brought 6 haha and the mother in law said she wanted all of them. It was great! They have 2 homes and bring their Seramas with them wherever they go. House chickens for sure. I'm down to 15 Seramas and 4 LF.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: I get the same thing here, usually people that want to buy chickens or ducks, but the fence and gate keep them at the street, lol.

-Kathy

 

[SpringPeeper]

I don't think they go thru the ASPCA. If this is the same group that was placing the egg farm hens from here in Chico, they have possesion of them and you have to apply to adopt, pay a big fee and agree to have them come out to "inspect" you premises. I think they would have much better luck finding homes if they were not so "over the top" about the whole process.

Ah- that was just the organization mentioned in the post, so I tried to look there. I know what you mean about the adoption process. When I was still in Chico I tried to adopt some hens and one the form it asked if I was vegan and said "If not, please EXPLAIN". They never even responded to my application.

I ended up 'adopting' my little flock of hens from people who got cute Eastrer chicks and then realized they weren't permanently cute Easter chicks instead.

This reminds me I think Spurs are coming in on some of my chickens. Im feeling this little bump about mid way up the lower leg on a couple of them (of course its the red faced ones) Its only on one leg at the moment,

My production red hen has pretty good size spur buds on both legs, and is my best egg layer. Not that those two are related, just that I wouldn't worry too much over spur buds on pullets.

 

[chrissyr]

So in case anyone ever wonders: Bresse make great moms. Day one.
But Have any of you ever seen a broody peck a little at the chick (it's feet actually) I think to get it to go back and hide under mama?
I don't recall seeing that before. I think that's what she was doing. Happened once, then that was it