Colorado

[Minchi]

IMHO, her instability and inability to come to grips with the new additions must be creating a very unbalanced situation for the whole crew. It's not just about her and the chicks anymore. I have to agree with Ashdoes: cull her. That's what I would personally do. As the commercial used to say... "Is it soup yet?"

I see what you are saying but I don't think I can kill her... I will try a few other options but I may have to re-home her.

 

[COChix]

Just some chick and hen porn.....hopefully I haven't posted these before!

 

[maggiemo]

Here are some photos of the trio of Delaware's Joe is getting from me. I thought I would post them for everyone to see. The roosters name is Russell (Crowe). They were hatched on April 1st.
The pictures aren't great, sorry.

 

[maggiemo]

Three more photos

 

[Debbie82]

Hello Hello All! I'm revamping the coop thanks to a influx of fertilized eggs I'm getting and would love some advice on things to change up (since I'm going from 2 hens to anywhere up to 10 depending on of course what sex I get when the eggs hatch.) The coop is currently a 4' x 8' shed that we retrofitted.

Here is their run and free range garden and yard (yes… there's no chicken wire on the run yet nor is there a roof, but those are in the process of being added once I finish painting the backside of the coop and add in rocks in between the coop and fence.) The fence at the back of this keeps the chickens separate from my dogs who would not hesitate to eat them.




The left side of the coop where the nesting boxes will be at. There will be a total of 6. I need my truck to go get lumber from Lowes and then the bins will be flipped back over to make 4 current ones on that wall. The wall in the middle you see with the chicken wire will come down. That was up since I only had 2 chickens to separate them from the 'storage side' of the coop. There you see Chubs in front too… she's my Ameraucana.

The right side of the coop with the perches. The doors to the shed stay open all day long, which is why there's not a door yet to the run, but that's also on the list of things to add in before the babies hatch.





The shed in it's entirety. The box sticking out is the current nesting box where Small Fry is (my black copper maran). I added in grass this spring for them to forage in…. it's the only live grass I have on my entire lot. Everything else is artificial. Chickens living the good life.



And here's my proud mama Small Fry who likes to squawk at me every time I peek in on her to see how she's doing.






So things I *know* I need in the next 3 weeks….. A wall of hardware wire and door for human access at the front of the coop for when you open the double doors that keeps the babies and chickens in and predators out, vents for air flow in the winter, roof on the run and hardware wire, and a door from inside to the run. Would you insulate the coop with foam and more plywood or would the chickens keep pretty warm inside it without the insulation (I live in Colorado Springs).

 

[samsr]

If you are thinking about insulating the coop. I would go ahead and doi it if you can. The most important area is the roof, believe it or not.

 

[Percheron chick]

and don't waste your building skills putting in 6 nesting boxes. 2 are about all they will use so 3 are plenty. Agree with insulating the roof. I'm more worried about a too hot coop and not a too cold one. My chickens are not digging this 95* weather.

 

[trsturself]

Agree with the hot weather being hard on them than the cold. It had to get below 0 before my chickens slowed down but in this heat they are inactive at 85 and seeking shade.
Also agree with the nest boxes, we had 7 laying an they used 2 out of 4 boxes at the most. We have 2 boxes now and they only use both if 2 want to lay at the same time. I usually have 1 maybe 2 eggs in one box and the rest in the other.
Ventilation is important in both hot and cold weather. Big windows to capture air flow in hot weather and smaller ones not in line with the roosts to prevent moisture build up in cold weather but not put them in a draft. My coop now needs fixing in this area. Also, I can't see how you have your roosts but I like them wide side up so the girls can sit on their toes in the winter.

 

[Chick N Mama]

Hi! I am in Loveland and due to chicken math, just doubled my flock this spring. However, one of my sweet little chicks is now, all at once showing HIS true self at five months! I turned around to find this big flowing Buff ROOSTER strutting around the yard. wth? Surprise! He doesn't crow yet and just hitting puberty. I hand raised them from day 1 so he isn't aggressive to humans, just a bit stand offish. They all come a runnin to " chick chick" for the treats. We are a Girls Only Club and so he needs to find another yard. His name was Chick

of course. Now Chuck? Chuck Norris? His legs are like tree trunks and he is Tall! Fed only Ranchway Organic, there has never been sickness in my flock. Am asking $10 but will take less as I don't want him to end up in a soup pot. Someone please take him! For a rooster, he is still pretty sweet. A tall, blonde, buff roo... the ladies will go crazy for him!

Private message me here if you are interested or know someone who might be. He is handsome and would be a great protector. His size alone is intimidating. Thank you thank you thank you!

 

[maggiemo]

I have 8 nesting boxes and about 20 or so laying hens and they use all of them. I think I could put in more and they would use those too. I put in some tiny ones that only the bantams fit in about a year ago when the bantams started laying and they love them. The polish use them too.
I agree about the cold being not as bad as the heat. I have an un-insulated coop and I have had a little frostbite on some of the bigger combed girls, they do heal pretty quickly. I will just stay away from larger combed birds from now on.

Good luck chick n mama with rehoming. I have had good luck on craigslist and here rehoming all my roosters-3. I don't ask what people do with them. I have to say, all the the people who have come to get the birds have been really nice and if they did eat them I am sure it was humane. I might be kidding myself though.

Good luck again.
mo