Colorado

[maggiemo]

Really windy here this morning. We winterized the coop and run yesterday. I cleaned out all the nests and bedding and replaced it with lots of clean hay and wood chips. My birds have a huge area to roam but in bad weather they have a 10 X 12 run and a 10 X 12 coop. I enclosed the run with clear corrugated plastic on three sides so it is like a greenhouse with an opening to the east where the door is so they will be out of the wind and the elements.
I'll find out how it works soon enough.
Hold on to your hats!! Here it comes!

 

[corancher]

Can someone help me find a local breeder? I am in the Colorado Springs area and can go as far as Denver/Boulder. I am hoping to get some chicks (pullets) in the next few weeks. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Welcome to BYC. I am in Calhan and have some Rhode Island Reds and Dominique pullets that are almost 5 months old. Send me a PM if interested.

 

[Percheron chick]

I am dreading the weather this week. I made a long list of things that I have to do before tonight. Don't know why I'm sitting at the computer instead of outside... I hate the wind even more than the cold.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Well, on top of everything, we now have something killing chickens in the barn. Geez! It's either a cat, or a raccoon. As much research as I'm doing, I can't find the regulations on trapping and killing raccoons. What are the rules in El Paso county?
So far it hasn't done too much damage, but sooner or later it'll decide killing everything in there is a good idea. We want to set the traps tonight, if possible.

Have you checked in with the Department of Agriculture yet? I don't know if they still have someone who can come out and set traps for whatever is killing/endangering your livestock since my dad retired, but it might be worth it to check with them since I know this isn't something Parks and Wildlife will help you with (I work for them here in Denver). At the very least, Ag should be able to tell you what the appropriate trapping laws are in your area so you can do it yourself.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Double Kindness - that coop is awesome!

 

[uzisuzuki]

I think he is a lucky find! What a nice looking boy he is.

He definitely found me, so I hope he's lucky and not wishing he had stopped at a different house. He seems to be getting more comfortable with being around me (not so much my dogs, but that's probably a good thing).


I guess this week's weather will be my test on tending chickens. I hope I don't fail!

 

[Double Kindness]

I'm hurrying trying to get everything done for this cold weather moving in. Agh! It took us most of all day yesterday to process 1 rooster and 1 duck.

Our nzw x sf bunny is pregnant, won't eat her pellets, just hay and calf manna pellets. Ugh.

Everyone in the barn is getting crowded in their brooder boxes. We still have 13 roos to process and 3-4 more ducks. Agh!

 

[uzisuzuki]

Oh my gosh, y'all are super busy this week! I haven't had to take care of more than dogs for so long, I forgot how much work barnyard work really is!

 

[COChix]

I am dreading the weather this week. I made a long list of things that I have to do before tonight. Don't know why I'm sitting at the computer instead of outside... I hate the wind even more than the cold.

I have so not missed the winds this summe in North Boulder, snow is flying as I type. I am not ready, their are still a few things to do with run for winter, but they can handle the next couple of days. Going t shed to dig out heated water bowls...

He definitely found me, so I hope he's lucky and not wishing he had stopped at a different house. He seems to be getting more comfortable with being around me (not so much my dogs, but that's probably a good thing). I guess this week's weather will be my test on tending chickens. I hope I don't fail!

what a cutie!

I'm hurrying trying to get everything done for this cold weather moving in. Agh! It took us most of all day yesterday to process 1 rooster and 1 duck. Our nzw x sf bunny is pregnant, won't eat her pellets, just hay and calf manna pellets. Ugh. Everyone in the barn is getting crowded in their brooder boxes. We still have 13 roos to process and 3-4 more ducks. Agh!

I hear ha, we just finished taking down the rest of gardens yesterday. I also pulled four boxes of tomatoes that were still green on the vine. Will let them ripen in cold storage.

 

[Ashdoes]

I am so glad we winterized the barn last month. After the sub-zero temps last year, we made a removable wall for the roosting stall...which guarentees everyone stays cozy, even in the large space. I do need to get out the heated water buckets though, prob need to buy another one, and one of those nifty temp activated outlet plugs.
Everyone is finally eating the feather fixer pellets. We made hardware cloth covers for the feed troughs, so the little brats stop shoveling all the food on the ground. I swear they were tripling our feed bill.
We herd everyone into the stall, about 45 minutes before dark, then set the trap every night. We haven't had any movement out there, at all. The dogs aren't even hearing things out there lately. My husband swears someone must have killed whatever it was. We'll keep putting everyone away though, especially since the Cochins refuse to go roost on there own.