Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[siroiszoo]

A chicken shrink isn't that expensive.

ROFL!!!!

 

[Mountain Momma]

I hope folks in the eye of this storm have good setups for winter watering and feeding in place that will be efficient when the power is out and deep snows prevail. These are the times when it comes in handy to have the black rubber pans for watering and plenty of feed stored so that you don't have to worry about running out.

Arranging places outside the coop where your chickens can still get out and be sheltered are key to a good wintertime experience for your flocks. In the event of really deep snows or heavy ice, can you get your coop doors/pop door cleared and open? Do you have something in the coop to occupy the flock such as deep litter, different levels of roosting/being off the floor, plenty of natural light, possible dusting opportunities? On that last one, I've seen my winter flocks "dusting" in deep litter, so it is definitely something they need or want even in the winter months.

At this time of year we always see posts where people are going to just let their flocks "eat snow" for a watering option....let me say it now, not a good idea. Please provide water each day...it helps them digest their foods, keeps their immune system functioning and their circulatory system working well enough to keep them warm.

Those feeding the FF for the first time this winter, let us know how it goes and how the flock does with it....I will be doing the same and don't intend to heat it if I can get by with it. I'll make adjustments as I go along to find the best way to keep doing this and feeding this in the winter months without too much difficulty. I don't like difficult, so I'll be finding the easiest but still efficient way to get this problem figured out. I hope others post their best solutions as well....particularly those that work when the power goes out.

Great post. This is the second full week of ff feed and I'm tooling right along with it. I have noticed that the majority of the flock fattened right up again. They must be satiated because they didnt take the pumpkins down to a micro shell yet. I cleaned out some cupboards this morning and threw them some old almonds and shelled sunflower seeds and they got a big bag of spaghetti and hot dogs left over from the eyeball hunt yesterday. They tore through the hot dogs, Ate all the spaghetti and ignored the sunflower seeds and have been slowly eating the almonds. One of my Americaunas has been doing her moves on the top of the fence so I clipped her wings this morning. The old chicken with the pale comb really likes the almonds, I thought that was interesting. Now that the others are fattened up she looks even smaller compared to them. Overall I noticed that the roosters colors are much brighter and already they are shinier than they used to be. They are very handsome. They went after me last week when I picked up an empty food dish. I smacked the more serious one on the side of the head with the rubber bowl. I felt kinda harsh but I'm not going to be intimidated by a bird. Today I was out there a lot and they both stayed their distance. They have always had black spots on their combs since they were teenagers I just thought it was natural. My eggs look great and have deeper richer colors. I've been using a spatula with holes to scoop out the ff and that is working better for me than constructing a pully system to lift the bucket. I looked hard at my flock this morning. Most of them look great. No mites. They were dust bathing since its 40 degrees and the snow melted they took advantageof it. A few chickens have messy saddle areas from the rooster attention but it doesnt look real bad. So at the moment I have one Australop with a pec on her head, but its not getting worse. One old biddy that looks skinny one Plymouth Rock that is 30% smaller than the others and the white leghorn that hasnt laid an egg in weeks. She will probably be my first cull. If she does not start laying by Thanksgiving she will be processed with the turkey. One big mess instead of two. I pitch forked the coop this morning as well and noticed that the back part under the roost needs to be circulated a little more often. They are sometimes roosting in the nesters so I have this old antique narrow hooked fork garden tool that works great for pulling out the nest bedding and then I replaced it. Dont know how to get them to stop that. I have 24 feet of high roosts and 12 feet of low roosts and a ladder. They still cram into the nesters at night. Sometimes 3 chickens! Stay warm and dry and safe everyone! Just for the record, I love the banter. Even if the topics stray for a bit. Especially the funnies.

 

[bruceh]

just catching up. good to see you nyreds. a black skin chicken must be a silkie. i have heard they taste great. the silkie is noted to be the preference in the asian markets and commands a premium.

now for sad news. i was just contacted by another friend who lost his chickens by a dog. he is close by me so i am going to help him with some birds. the dog is no longer an issue , rest in peace predator.

he had to kill the dog. he gave it a chance but the dog attacked his rooster then lunged at him 2x. sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

so much for those who think that dogs, cats, and animals are not wild animals., they are very much wild animals it is mans vision of domestication .all and all these animals are wired by nature. survival instincts you can never change.

look i love dogs and cats and i am owned by 2 of each. however i understand they are animals and at any given moment my dogs or cats could act on instinct.

 

[Celie]

Meyers is still having their surplus broiler special going, but because of having to get rid of them, with Sandy coming, the shipping is FREE, also, if anyone is interested.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You have to weigh the general merits of adding this bird to your flock....quarantine problems, roosting problems, leg feathering problems, poor laying, possible disease and parasite vector...all things that are in the negative. What are the positives of accepting this silkie? Extra TP for your gals, hawk decoy, a rug for in front of the nest boxes, a dusting wand to keep the coop tidy of all cobwebs and dust, a place to put any money/feed that you have left over out of your generous paychecks.

It's an easy decision when you break it all down....what will you do?

That is hilarious.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great post. This is the second full week of ff feed and I'm tooling right along with it. I have noticed that the majority of the flock fattened right up again. They must be satiated because they didnt take the pumpkins down to a micro shell yet. I cleaned out some cupboards this morning and threw them some old almonds and shelled sunflower seeds and they got a big bag of spaghetti and hot dogs left over from the eyeball hunt yesterday. They tore through the hot dogs, Ate all the spaghetti and ignored the sunflower seeds and have been slowly eating the almonds. One of my Americaunas has been doing her moves on the top of the fence so I clipped her wings this morning. The old chicken with the pale comb really likes the almonds, I thought that was interesting. Now that the others are fattened up she looks even smaller compared to them. Overall I noticed that the roosters colors are much brighter and already they are shinier than they used to be. They are very handsome. They went after me last week when I picked up an empty food dish. I smacked the more serious one on the side of the head with the rubber bowl. I felt kinda harsh but I'm not going to be intimidated by a bird. Today I was out there a lot and they both stayed their distance. They have always had black spots on their combs since they were teenagers I just thought it was natural. My eggs look great and have deeper richer colors. I've been using a spatula with holes to scoop out the ff and that is working better for me than constructing a pully system to lift the bucket. I looked hard at my flock this morning. Most of them look great. No mites. They were dust bathing since its 40 degrees and the snow melted they took advantageof it. A few chickens have messy saddle areas from the rooster attention but it doesnt look real bad. So at the moment I have one Australop with a pec on her head, but its not getting worse. One old biddy that looks skinny one Plymouth Rock that is 30% smaller than the others and the white leghorn that hasnt laid an egg in weeks. She will probably be my first cull. If she does not start laying by Thanksgiving she will be processed with the turkey. One big mess instead of two. I pitch forked the coop this morning as well and noticed that the back part under the roost needs to be circulated a little more often. They are sometimes roosting in the nesters so I have this old antique narrow hooked fork garden tool that works great for pulling out the nest bedding and then I replaced it. Dont know how to get them to stop that. I have 24 feet of high roosts and 12 feet of low roosts and a ladder. They still cram into the nesters at night. Sometimes 3 chickens! Stay warm and dry and safe everyone! Just for the record, I love the banter. Even if the topics stray for a bit. Especially the funnies.

Wow i hope she has a good anchor.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Meyers is still having their surplus broiler special going, but because of having to get rid of them, with Sandy coming, the shipping is FREE, also, if anyone is interested.

Are they sending them air mail?

 

[caj1985]

Can't be air mail. All the airports are closed and planes grounded.

 

[Mountain Momma]

just catching up. good to see you nyreds. a black skin chicken must be a silkie. i have heard they taste great. the silkie is noted to be the preference in the asian markets and commands a premium.

now for sad news. i was just contacted by another friend who lost his chickens by a dog. he is close by me so i am going to help him with some birds. the dog is no longer an issue , rest in peace predator.

he had to kill the dog. he gave it a chance but the dog attacked his rooster then lunged at him 2x. sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

so much for those who think that dogs, cats, and animals are not wild animals., they are very much wild animals it is mans vision of domestication .all and all these animals are wired by nature. survival instincts you can never change.

look i love dogs and cats and i am owned by 2 of each. however i understand they are animals and at any given moment my dogs or cats could act on instinct.

Was it a feral dog? Did it kill all of them? I had a strange dog sniffing the fence this morning. He ran off when I stepped out of the coop area. Emma whined at the top of the stairs when I went down to mess in the chicken coop. Nina is home today with a low grade fever so she brought her (the puppy) down and Emma insisted on joining me in the maint area. I already think this dog is worth 10 of my other two. She is already top dogging them. She growled them both away from a soup bone this morning. lol. Darcy is all tore up over it. Maybe because I didn't ever replace those Christmas ornaments after he was nuetered. I'm thinking about pouring ammonia around the perimeter. My neighbor was out and about this morning a week after back surgery. He said he thinks the deer was hit by a truck on our street and made it into the yard to die. He might be right, we never found any claw marks on the carcass and thats his reason. Still it was a big wakeup call. As soon as everything dries out I'm going to try to teach the chickens to use the dog door. We'll see who is smart in this flock. All this talk about blue blood chickens versus hatchery mutts and I know I have no real idea about it but I think my chickens are great. They are good looking functional and healthy for the most part. I cannot imagine what a better breeded chicken would do better than these guys? Maybe the three places I got them from are using better than average sources for the $1.82 chicks? Dont get me wrong some of the blue bloods are gorgeous and I always like form and function to meld together but what are the extreme benefits? I get taking ab ackyard flock and breeding for common sense and survival skills or even egg production and meatier body weights but the blue bloods or the mutts can both accomplish that. I also get the historic breeds. I like the idea of old breeds.....But after that what is abreeder going for?

 

[Kansas Prairie]

A picture reminding people of the service of the elite soldiers who guard Arlington Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknowns in any kind of weather, even during Hurricane Sandy.
Soldiers are there, guarding the tomb in the fierce wind and rain.
Tomb Sentinels from the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment’s “The Old Guard” have guarded the Tomb for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since 1948.