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

[Beekissed]

That is excellent repurposing! I love it!

Someone else had mentioned using old pup tents for hawk hides and shade also and I thought that was great too....would make the neighbors think you have transients living in your yard all the time.

 

[caj1985]

Off topic, but I thought I'd share my ghetto fabulous portable outdoor cover...Thinking outside the box. Round bale feeder + old trampoline cloth = perfect shelter from aerial predation.

I use my old trampoline cover for a shade cloth over one of my runs. It works great because it lets the rain through instead of pooling on top like a tarp.

 

[smyers32]

Oh yeah! little tents IS a good idea! Might make the neighbors wonder! lol. Luckily my closest neighbors are legit rednecks and have way more junk in their yards than we do. Country folk don't care much for pretty yards.

 

[delisha]

I love proposing. All my chicken coops are all old houses that were moved onto the property. I love finding different uses for odd items, like old bent up gutters tack on the side of a building is great for growing greens for the chicks. Just fill with winter coop shavings and sprinkle in seeds. They are to little at first to get to them but they know they are there, and soon mom shows them how to get up and discover the riches. Its fun to sprinkle in worms and let them populate while the seeds grow. Its a bit messy as they grow, but the enjoyment of the entertainment is worth every mess.

 

[delisha]

re-purposing, sheesh..I honestly can spell.

 

[Gargoyle]

I've mentioned my splay-leg hen before- we made the coop and run "handicap accessible" for her, and the past month we've wrapped her upper thigh with vet wrap for a couple days each week. That has made a big difference, she moves better, doesn't trip and fall as much, and has an easier time jumping up on the perch. She's about 1-1/2 years old.

In a larger flock she would have been culled, but we are able to justify taking care of her. All spring and summer she gave us a steady 18 eggs a month. Since October she has been happier and more confident, the leg wrap really seems to help. In November we've gotten 22 eggs from her. (note that I'm not doing any supplemental light, so they're only getting about 11 hours of daylight a day).

Now for the one thing I'm curious about. She has her preferred nesting box, and 18 of the eggs this month were in that box. Two were in other boxes, one was left on the ground in the background in this picture, and one... about three days ago I was in the run, I'd brought them some food, and everyone went to eat. Then she stepped back by the ramp up to the coop, and I went about some cleaning duties. Two minutes later I looked down where she had been standing, she was back at the food and there was a warm, wet egg with a big bit of poop stuck to it sitting on the concrete floor. So, happy go lucky girl that she is, she stepped back from the food, dropped an egg silently as casual as if she was pooping (and pooped at the same time), and went back to the food. I didn't even notice her sit down, but I had looked away for those two minutes. Does that seem at all strange, like she doesn't really know she was laying an egg, or is it just an amusing oddity?

 

[Beekissed]

I'd say amusing oddity...and she just might not have wanted to struggle to the nest boxes while there was competition going on for food. Takes too much time to climb up there and lay an egg when you can just back up and do it on the ground and get back to chowing down.

 

[Gargoyle]

I'd say amusing oddity...and she just might not have wanted to struggle to the nest boxes while there was competition going on for food. Takes too much time to climb up there and lay an egg when you can just back up and do it on the ground and get back to chowing down.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Our other layer (two pullets haven't started yet, and we have one roo) will sit in the nest until she lays, and nothing bothers her. This one, if she's on the nest and hears commotion she'll come running out to see what is going on.

 

[Mountain Momma]

So, how about all you fine folks living in cold climates post some good pics of your chickens having fun out in the snow on this thread. I think all the newbies just may need to see that around about this time of year. I've already posted mine of the Gnarly Bunch...now it's your turn, people!

Good idea, however my chickens wouldnt touch the stuff the other day and in Colorado the snow only lasts about 10 hours. Will try after this heat wave is over. Might swish them onto it and maybe even get a sled and take them sledding!

 

[Pullet Surprise]

I use my old trampoline cover for a shade cloth over one of my runs. It works great because it lets the rain through instead of pooling on top like a tarp.

We have used $5. 'frost blankets' worked very well, lets rain through as well and enough light to keep your plants and chickens going. I might have to go next door and ' barrow' their trampoline cover ! great idea.