Checking-In On Peeps - Post Here To Say Hello!

[ronott1]

Howdy all, sorry for not being around much, been having fun with the coop, existing structure upgrades, and expansions, redesigning some areas. Added a connection to compost through the chunnel, added some more new babies. Daily egg production has slowed, time to cull the older birds but I just love them so much, it has been hard. Thanks for all the answers when I still have questions!!

It is nice to see you!

It does sound like you are keeping busy with the flock. Egg production can slow down quite a bit when they get older.

 

[ronott1]

I visit this site regularly but typically don’t post.

Latest news for my flock:

I got day old chicks for the first time ever this year (from TSC), and it has been an interesting experience. It looks like we may have three roosters in the mix out of a total of 10 chicks purchased. Not too bad, considering a couple of the varieties I selected were straight run - plus TSC is not known for being accurate in their breed/sexing identification. I was OK with that since they were having a buy one get one free special.

I’m not sure I’ll try this again to be honest- it was a bigger challenge than I had planned for, mostly in terms of housing and supplies. Until this year I always replenished from started pullets in the 8 to 10 week old age range. I’ve even added a few adult rescues after first quarantining them.

My next experiment will likely be letting one of my broody hens hatch a few eggs and see how that turns out.

You are having too much of an adventure!

I hope you do get a broody to hatch for you. I had one broody hen here in the city. I can't keep roosters here so I can't do that anymore.

 

[ronott1]

Hello! I'm still here but don't comment often. I keep forgetting to save my login info. Right now we're having a rough go of it. Lost 5 of the 6 to the heat and hope to get at least one other chicken soon for sweet lady Tater to get a friend (after quarantine, ofc).

We ruled out avian flu (thank god!!) and other diseases, set up misters and an auto-waterer, and added ventilation to the coop and nest. Fingers crossed we get out the other side of this heatwave!

I am sorry for the losses! Heat is a real problem for chickens. We are in a heat wave currently with temps over 110 for the next 10 days or so. The misting system, shade, fresh water and ventilation are what I do to keep them from dying in the heat.

 

[Misfits Farm 92]

I have been busy. The most recent thing I've done was trade two goats for thirty-two ducks. I've actually enjoyed the ducks a lot more than I thought I would so far.

 

[janiedoe]

I have been busy. The most recent thing I've done was trade two goats for thirty-two ducks. I've actually enjoyed the ducks a lot more than I thought I would so far.

Sounds like a bargain to me!

 

[Flock In Texas]

Sorry I haven't been around. I went through a nightmare divorce and sold my house and chickens. The bright side is I came out smelling like a rose and have saved a ton of money. I'm building a home on 6 1/2 acres in East Texas and I'm paying cash for it. 2br/2ba with a 1000 sf workshop and 1100 sf of porches. The metal shell is built and I hope to finish enough to move in by the end of the year.

I've salvaged left over sheet metal and will build a coop to match the house. I plan to hang the coop from the trees with my tractor and have a trap door/ramp for chicken access. Animals won't be able to get into the suspended coop at night and it will be watched with night vision cameras. I'm still deciding on daytime security plans. I'm shooting for February 2026 to open the coop.

 

[RaisinChicks7]

So much has happened it’s difficult to keep track. We free range our chickens here in Florida. We have a large property so they are very free. They have very secure coops and are all locked down at night. Having said that we lost 3 RIRs to a ground predator that took down 2 horse fences to get to them next to our garden. It literally looked like a giant hog came through there. We really can’t figure anything else that heavy (considering the damage.)
So we ordered more RIRs and our mystery chick was another Roo. Cute as a button Buff Cochin. We named him Sampson but now he’s over mating Rhodies and killing them. I have had 2 die in my arms. No feathers on their backs, limping not good. I tried removing them for a couple weeks which helped but the problem is the rooster - it the hen. We thought of giving him away but I don’t want someone taking him and eating him. We are still deciding what to do.
Then my Buff Orpington (Buffy) hatched a Rhode Island Red-Buff Cochin cross. Our second natural hatch. (Dakota our African Goose was the first.) She is very unusual and the most adorable chick. Her name is Amica (Latin for Sweetheart.)
Lastly, my African goose Murray who is healthy as a horse suddenly could not walk. Couldn’t use the R leg at all. That was 2 days. Then on day 3 he got his R leg back and lost his L leg. He has very strong legs and bones. He intermittently stands with help; stays on his belly most of the day; not able to graze; will not initiate movement however I can coaxe him into walking short distances. He seems more passive (personality change) or he could be depressed. I know I would be. He’s my best bud - my feathered comrad. It’s breaking my heart. I don’t know what to do to help him.
We have given him comfrey, DE, natural antibiotics, electrolytes, vitamins, yeast flakes, romaine lettuce with sweet potatoes, self heal, white snow (a yummy ground cover high in Vit C), swimming therapy to try to get him to use his legs (seems to help.) He is not whining and complaining. He just lays quietly wherever I put him. That’s not normal for Murray. So I think he has a neurological issue or he had a heat stroke. I hope not but it seems that way. No bumble foot, no bites, no injury. He went in the coop fine and could not walk out with his coop mates (Jules and Dakota.) It doesn’t make sense.
So that’s the latest.
Other then that we have lots of wonderful eggs, a lot of happy chickens and happy friends and acquaintances who buy our eggs.
Pics:
Sampson, Buffy and Amica 5 weeks, Amica within 24 hours of hatching, Murray and Jules and Murray closeup (Winnie (Roo) with Penny and Pippin (Barred Rocks) in the background.

 

[Sophia V]

We have such a vibrant community here at BYC... tons of active friendly members. Of course, life gets busy, so I was thinking it would be fun to start a thread welcoming some of our peeps we haven't heard from in a while.

If that's you, come say hello and let us know what you've been up to.

(if that's not you, feel free to invite peeps you haven't seen in a while and say hi to those that post here)

I'm here. Just busy with. Life.

 

[Tsheaby]

Hi! I finally built my new coop! This seems to be the only one I can find at the moment, when it was 85%ish finished. I had gotten my ladies in a week before this snow storm.

I LOVE the height. I made it tall enough to slip a trash bin underneath, when cleaning/sweeping out the bedding through a large access door on the end opposite of the nesting box. I also love that they have a spot to stay dry when it snows, rains, or when it’s sunny in this spot fall-spring. The coop is lit inside with the windows and it absolutely stays warmer during cold days. Other than the posts, roofing, and misc building material, everything was up cycled or free. I built it primarily using creativity and common sense and feeling it out as I went. Still using my DIY Automatic Door setup too!

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

I was thinking it would be fun to start a thread welcoming some of our peeps we haven't heard from in a while.

If that's you, come say hello and let us know what you've been up to.

 

[ronott1]

Sorry I haven't been around. I went through a nightmare divorce and sold my house and chickens. The bright side is I came out smelling like a rose and have saved a ton of money. I'm building a home on 6 1/2 acres in East Texas and I'm paying cash for it. 2br/2ba with a 1000 sf workshop and 1100 sf of porches. The metal shell is built and I hope to finish enough to move in by the end of the year.

View attachment 3882900

I've salvaged left over sheet metal and will build a coop to match the house. I plan to hang the coop from the trees with my tractor and have a trap door/ramp for chicken access. Animals won't be able to get into the suspended coop at night and it will be watched with night vision cameras. I'm still deciding on daytime security plans. I'm shooting for February 2026 to open the coop.

The new place looks amazing!