California - Northern

[Audio51]

So excited! I got a couple of local gals in on the Urch order and it is going to happen. I am sending it off tomorrow and will be getting 9 mottled houdan for myself as well as buckeyes dark brahma and silver penciled Wys for the other two people.

I eventually hope to work with the Houdan. I am enchanted by what I have read about them and I think they will make a good addition to my flock in the interim while I get situated to focus on them.

They will be here in April and I just believe I will have a broody mama to take them at that time. No evidence that such a belief is warrented, I just think it is. Last year I wanted to participate in the Easter HAL so I signed up for it and I prepped the coops for broodies in hopes I would have one and then I got two. Then except for a hiatus in early fall I have had at least one hen either sitting on or brooding chicks ever since. Right now I have 3 mamas raising chicks and one setter who is getting a few feed store bantams on Friday Night.

I love chick season!

I am so glad you got enough people to go in with you! Can't wait to see pictures when they arrive...

 

[TheKeeper]

So excited! I got a couple of local gals in on the Urch order and it is going to happen. I am sending it off tomorrow and will be getting 9 mottled houdan for myself as well as buckeyes dark brahma and silver penciled Wys for the other two people.

I eventually hope to work with the Houdan. I am enchanted by what I have read about them and I think they will make a good addition to my flock in the interim while I get situated to focus on them.

They will be here in April and I just believe I will have a broody mama to take them at that time. No evidence that such a belief is warrented, I just think it is. Last year I wanted to participate in the Easter HAL so I signed up for it and I prepped the coops for broodies in hopes I would have one and then I got two. Then except for a hiatus in early fall I have had at least one hen either sitting on or brooding chicks ever since. Right now I have 3 mamas raising chicks and one setter who is getting a few feed store bantams on Friday Night.

I love chick season!

I am so glad you got enough people to go in with you! Can't wait to see pictures when they arrive...

Me too! Ditto for pics.

 

[TheKeeper]

Nothing dreadful, I promise! It just means that for the first week you prop it fully open with no treadle/lid action so they get used to eating out if it. Then you adjust it so it's partially open and the lid and treadle move a little but the lid doesn't actually close (get them used to the motion). Then you take the training bolts out, by which time they should be used to the motion and the idea of how to get to their food.

Ok - that's makes sense. Great explanation.
I like the idea but I've been concerned about the flock freaking out at the motion.
Did it come with the training bolts & instructions on how to use them?

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Quote:
Yep. It's a Grandpa's Feeder. Pricey, but it's the only one that's water/weather-proof (as well as rodent proof), and that was important to me.

 

[ronott1]

Yep. It's a Grandpa's Feeder. Pricey, but it's the only one that's water/weather-proof (as well as rodent proof), and that was important to me.

I have seen plans for making your own.

 

[lavenderllama]

Gosh, I thought this was a site for chicken breeders and fanciers not a geography site.

 

[liz9910]

Gosh, I thought this was a site for chicken breeders and fanciers not a geography site.

Welcome to BYC! Everyone is welcome on this thread What kind of chickens do you have?

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Quote:
Me, too. Out of wood. Which isn't going to be water/weather-proof and as I don't have a woodshop, would be a royal PITA (standing over my father trying to get a project done when I drive down for the weekend is never all that fun, LOL!). I went with what worked for me.

 

[ronott1]

Me, too. Out of wood. Which isn't going to be water/weather-proof and as I don't have a woodshop, would be a royal PITA (standing over my father trying to get a project done when I drive down for the weekend is never all that fun, LOL!). I went with what worked for me.

I looked into making them and decided that I would buy them instead. Of course I still have not done either.

I do have a new nifty water system now though. It is a 5 gallon bucket with a float that hooks up to a garden hose. The chickens drink from vertical water nipples. I is working great so far!

 

[HighStreetCoop]

I do have a new nifty water system now though. It is a 5 gallon bucket with a float that hooks up to a garden hose. The chickens drink from vertical water nipples. I is working great so far!

That sounds great. I love my automatic waterer. And my hose end has two more spaces if I want to add a misting system for the summer (you know, for the two weeks it gets hot, LOL!).