Colorado

[Pozees]

Food and water in the coop - the only time I put either in the coop is when it is too cold/stormy for the chickens to come out into the run, or if a broody is sitting on eggs or raising chicks with the flock I will put a small waterer and dish of starter crumble in there nearby. I know others keep it inside all the time, I just prefer to keep them out in the run. Pros and cons to both.

 

[Pozees]

Good luck finding a Big R employee that has ANY idea what breed their chicks are!!!

So true! If you are wanting specific breeds it helps to look up pictures of chicks of the breeds you want. Some look so similar you won't be able to tell until they mature some, but others you can tell pretty well - obvious characteristics like feathered legs, five toes, and comb can help if they pertain to what you want.

 

[skippyscage]

Had a raptor attack yesterday. My girls free range and have plenty of cover, but the largest one was squawking - went out to see what the noise was about and found a 2 foot high red-tailed hawk standing on the smallest chicken (5 months old).

Shot it with a BB gun to scare it away and it just retreated to the fence. Popped it again and it flew away.

Had to dispatch the chicken as it wasn't fully dead - neck almost broken and eyes pecked out.

Anyway, this is what we live with and you can't stop nature, we can only try to prevent it.

So my question is, do hawks return to a kill site looking for more prey or the prey they already killed?

Currently I've kept them in the small run under the tractor for now, hoping that if the hawk comes back it'll realise that it doesn't have easy pickings. Will keeping them inside for a couple of days do any good, or am I overthinking the brain of the hawk?

I don't know the habits of hawks.

I'm in HR.

 

[samsr]

Predator wise at my house in two mornings. 3 skunks and one rather large a angry racoon. All were taken care of humanely. The skunks are a bit tricky to take care of without being sprayed. One dispatched they release their stench. Luckily in one spot though. Simply dig up the ground they were dispatched on and dispose of. It does take a couple of days before the smell dicipates but its not to bad.
Now to find another aracauna to replace the one taken and set the traps again.

 

[Hexe]

When I was a kid, I used to love gooseberry cobbler, which is the only thing we did with them other than jam, which was also good if you like tart fruit and I do.

Think I'm gonna have to add gooseberries to my garden next year. Hexe, do you think they would grow in an acidic soil, like under/around a pine tree?

They like some shade and like a 6-7.0 pH. I don't think they would do too good under a pine tree, but I bet blueberries probably would. The reason blueberries don't grow well here is they need acidic soil, much like what is found under well established pine trees here in CO. Sorry for the tangent.

Anyway, I learned early on when you spray goose berries with a hose, they tend to get some powdery mildew so I stopped that quickly and rarely ever watered them. Maybe once a year if I remembered to. I think they would grow well on the north side of a building or on the east side. You are going to want to plant in the spring or fall.

 

[Denverchickee]

I've used sand in the run for my girls from the beginning and love how easy it is to clean up. I've never had much mess/mud in there since I've got 4-6in of sand throughout and so no water sticks around long. I did have some pea gravel mixed in when I built the new coop and would not recommend it. The sand keeps everything dry and clumped up - the pea gravel not so much. I've had more flies this summer than I thought possible and I figure that the time with pea gravel is at least partly to blame as the chicken poo during the day didn't dry up and clump but stayed where it was on top of the pea gravel. So my 2cents would be for deeper sand, not mixing it with Pea Gravel. You can also make sure you have drainage by installing some simple 4in perforated drain pipe under the coop/run - works like a charm to get liquid out of the area and down to where I would rather it go (in my case to the street!). Everyone has an opinion especially when it comes to your coop/run - just figured I"d pitch in mine.

Cheers,

Josh

Thanks Josh. I appreciate the input. My chickens always move it all around and I end up dusting holes in one area and mountains in another. They like to get the sand wet and scratch around and peck at it too. I wish I had space to put some sand to have on hand as needed instead of going to Home Depot every time I need more. The smallest load I can purchase is a1/2 yard which is just too much for what we have. Guess I will be doing some leveling and a trip to home depot for more sand.
Thanks again! Enjoy your Sunday

 

[mketchum826]

So I introduced a new hen to my flock. My birds are 16 weeks the new one is a year old. My other birds are so mean to her that she walks around scared or sits inside the coop alone without food and water. I have to get her out and separate them for her to eat. I'm just not sure the best way to make sure they are nice and accept her...any ideas? Thanks!! As of right now the new one sits on the perch sleeping and the others huddle in the corner away from her...

 

[Minchi]

So I introduced a new hen to my flock. My birds are 16 weeks the new one is a year old. My other birds are so mean to her that she walks around scared or sits inside the coop alone without food and water. I have to get her out and separate them for her to eat. I'm just not sure the best way to make sure they are nice and accept her...any ideas? Thanks!! As of right now the new one sits on the perch sleeping and the others huddle in the corner away from her...

Usually you want to try to introduce them without putting them in the same pen. A lot of people make a smaller run (large enough so that they can get away from the other girls and can't be picked at through the fence) next to the main run with food and water so that the others can't hurt the new one. They do this for at least a few days if not over a week, so that they become accustom to the new hen, they will kill a new hen sometimes so watch out. You may want to take her inside and quarantine her for a few days then try again with her in her own area. It will help her relax and the others forget. I would suggest to do this until the others are calm around her, maybe take her in at night so she has some coverage.

If anyone has any advice I welcome it, this is all I remember.

 

[Denverchickee]

So I introduced a new hen to my flock. My birds are 16 weeks the new one is a year old. My other birds are so mean to her that she walks around scared or sits inside the coop alone without food and water. I have to get her out and separate them for her to eat. I'm just not sure the best way to make sure they are nice and accept her...any ideas? Thanks!! As of right now the new one sits on the perch sleeping and the others huddle in the corner away from her...

Usually you want to try to introduce them without putting them in the same pen. A lot of people make a smaller run (large enough so that they can get away from the other girls and can't be picked at through the fence) next to the main run with food and water so that the others can't hurt the new one. They do this for at least a few days if not over a week, so that they become accustom to the new hen, they will kill a new hen sometimes so watch out. You may want to take her inside and quarantine her for a few days then try again with her in her own area. It will help her relax and the others forget. I would suggest to do this until the others are calm around her, maybe take her in at night so she has some coverage.

If anyone has any advice I welcome it, this is all I remember.

My advice is def slow on the introduction. With my place I will often put the new chickens in a dog kennel and face the opening where they see each. Then when I let I them free range I let them all out together. That way they have room to roam and test boundaries. I usually try this for 3-4 days. Expect some conflict but should be okay. Good luck
I read this advice somewhere on the internet with in the last 1.5 years and it worked for me personally.

 

[Denverchickee]

So I thought I wanted to see about trying a "booster" treat a couple times a week. this is what I put together today. I couldn't find all the ingredients that I wanted but here is what I did:
1 cup of each of the following:
wheat germ
flax seed
peas
oats
whole & hulled sunflower seeds
dehydrated apples
pumpkin seeds
raisins
chia seeds
quiona
mealworms
a couple of tablespoons of Spirulina and probotic

Ingredients I couldn't find Kelp, cultured yeast, wheat berries, Aragonite.

ran thru food processor.

My thoughts were to add this a few times a week, as a treat. About 1/2 cup serving.

I am feeding this mix from Joyful Noise Farm


This is a 16% protein ration that has NO CORN, SOY or GMOs.
The ingredients vary based on the season but here are the primary grains used: Organic lentils, organic wheat, organic millet, organic field peas, organic barley, organic yellow flax, organic buckwheat, organic black turtle beans
Our feed also has added nutrients and herbs to improve the health of your flock. They include: calcium carbonate, organic amaranth, naturally preserved medhaden fish meal, Helfter organic poultry premix
I also add a 1/2 cup a day of Omega Fields Omega 3 source.
Plus other treats as they free range for 4 hours a day. Always tearing up my veggies eating plenty of greens and bugs I hope. I also spoil them with frozen grapes, watermelon or other snacks, often raw meats from leftover hunting, or left over dinners.
and Organic Apple cider vinegar in water every few days.

Does anyone have any input? I am just "winging" it so anything is appreciated !! Have a great week.