Colorado

[suncatcher]

My daughter holding our buff laced & buff barred cochin bantams. by their expressions, I think they're comfortable.

So sweet. Looks like one is zonked out, they must be very content!!!

 

[suncatcher]

Hey kids

What kind of animal around the Palmer Divide could sneak into a heavily fortified coop and remove eggs

On another note, 6 of the original 7 chicks are @ 1 1/2 weeks now! Their original feed wasn't medicated (my mistake) so I went and got a huge bag of the other kind. It's supposed to be crumbles but is more of a powder. Big R has to be the largest collection of millionaires who wear muddy boots with torn up jeans, don't shave for days, and wait for 10% off day to bring their filthy pickups. That's dedication.

My first thought would be a snake. Years ago I started not having any eggs, one morning opened up the coop to let out the chickens, and no one was coming out. So went farther in the coop, and there was a bull snake around one my eight week old chicks. YIKES!

That would be my muddy truck at Big R, maybe muddy boots, I am not a millionaire!!!! Come on Lotto!

 

[Cellarrat1]

I buy at least a dozen Gala every week, I love them!  Unfortunately my crawl space is way too warm to keep them, it stays around 60.  Darn it!  Guess I'll have to dig a root cellar! 

Is your beef grassfed?  I tried a roast one time from a grass fed steer, and it was the most delicious beef I've ever had.  We only eat beef about once a month, if that, but it's nice when it's good beef

Yes, they are grass fed but we do finish them on alfalfa hay, that we grow, apples, squash & pumpkins.
We
Probably eat more beef than we should. I also process my extra Roos, can I say that here? (Ducking and running.)

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: They sound lovely! Glad your coop has it's new occupants, and they are happy!

I was thinking on the hatching dificulties we face here in Colorado, and then remembered Shy's page on how she incubates, I believe she keeps her humidity %50. Also, the Hatching 101 page here on BYC by Sally also states to use higher humidity at higher altitudes. Has anyone on here had a really good hatch rate on shipped eggs? If so, what is your method of incubating?

I really, really should use spell check!

 

[Cellarrat1]

My first thought would be a snake.  ears ago I started not having any eggs, one morning opened up the coop to let out the chickens, and no one was coming out.  So went farther in the coop, and there was a bull snake around one my eight week old chicks.  YIKES! 

That would be my muddy truck at Big R, maybe muddy boots, not am not a millionaire!!!!  Come on Lotto! 

And did you ask Bully nicely to give you your chick back?

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Bully was intent on keeping ahold of that dead chick, he had tried to swallow it, but it was too big. So I got a bucket placed over him really FAST, and slid the lid under him, and he went to live on the back forty. They hiss, and it sounds a lot like a rattle, but it isn't. They look like a Rattler too, but the color is different, more orange than tan.

 

[Dnetschke]

So sweet.  Looks like one is zonked out, they must be very content!!!

The blonde one doesn't have a care in the world. She's by far the nicest bird I have.

 

[Cellarrat1]

Bully was intent on keeping ahold of that dead chick, he had tried to swallow it, but it was too big.  So I got a bucket placed over him really FAST, and slid the lid under him, and he went to live on the back forty.   They hiss, and it sounds a lot like a rattle, but it isn't.  They look like a Rattler too, but the color is different, more orange than tan.

Oh yes, I'm familiar with them, in fact I quite like them except when they like my chicks.. I've been fortunate and I haven't lost any chickens to snakes, but I hope they're taking care of my gopher population in my hayfields. The bull snakes in Colorado are much more aggressive than the ones I've been familiar with. I learned to stay away from these puppies.

 

[P-Funk]

O.K. Thanks

A snake had never occurred to me because I've never seen one around here. Although the first time I ever saw a hawk it was chewing on my RIR. It's quite a feat to get into the barn, then into the coop when everything is locked up. Here's a blurry baby chick pic of the coop-in-a-coop-in-a-barn. The only breeds for sure are a leghorn and an EE. The rest are anyone's guess. I'll get some close-ups while the big girls are free ranging

 

[ktmikal]

I'm finally getting somewhere in my coop construction! AHHH! My poor babies are still in the garage with a little bit of time in the yard.

Question though: Will it be ok leaving the floor just as plywood and not putting anything overtop? Here's pics of the progress...and some of the girls.