Colorado

[Percheron chick]

Interesting, what are the ingredients listed in it?

Well than it wouldn't be a secret would it?

 

[Double Kindness]

@uzisuzuki yes but my current line of ayam cemani are the least desirable atm, but gff juveniles are getting close to laying too. I do have an extra roo and pullet I need to get rid of.

On my 3rd cup of coffee this morning and the bf just rolled out of bed, but wouldn't hug me b/c I'm wet and freezing cold from checking on everyone.

All the layers are still inside the coop, even though there is a tarp over part of their run. It looks like they're going to make me wait before I get any blue or green eggs to put in the bator.. b/c I'm trying to hatch out olive eggers to sell this spring as I build my breeding stock.

 

[suncatcher]

@uzisuzuki yes but my current line of ayam cemani are the least desirable atm, but gff juveniles are getting close to laying too.

I do have an extra roo and pullet I need to get rid of.

On my 3rd cup of coffee this morning and the bf just rolled out of bed, but wouldn't hug me b/c I'm wet and freezing cold from checking on everyone.

All the layers are still inside the coop, even though there is a tarp over part of their run. It looks like they're going to make me wait before I get any blue or green eggs to put in the bator.. b/c I'm trying to hatch out olive eggers to sell this spring as I build my breeding stock.

Nice you two like the same breed!!!!! A good way to diversify but not have to have two pens going at the same place!


Mine are not coming out either, just tooooooo cold today, was ten this morning, 20 inside the coop again, that seems to be a normal temp on these very cold nights.

Dbl, sounds like your homestead is off to a great start!!

 

[Double Kindness]

We're excited about improving our homestead. I went a little nuts with amazon for Christmas

And the bf is enabling me in my chicken addiction by getting me 2 incubators and the brinsea brooder heater that fits 50 chicks. Still no eggs today, but everyone is out of the coop at least.

 

[Latestarter]

Just got back in from an egg check... None this trip but did collect 8 earlier. 2nd purpose for being out there was to coat the roo's combs and wattles w/vaseline. Only one roo bit me this time and I doubt he'll do that again. None of them really liked it, but once I had them picked up and cradled in my arm, they all settled down (except the one) and let me do what needed doing. Only 11 degrees out there right now, and that's down from 14 degrees an hour ago. Forecast is 5 below tonight, high of 5 tomorrow then negative 17 tomorrow night.

I gotta say @Double Kindness ... the title of that lower right hand book in the pic is an attention getter

 

[laceykins]

Interesting, what are the ingredients listed in it?

http://musherssecret.net Checkbout the website, they have great products.

 

[laceykins]

Interesting, what are the ingredients listed in it?

Made from 100% natural waxes

Manufacturer's Statement:
We as the manufacturer of "MUSHER'S SECRET" confirm that our product
DOES NOT contain any Soy or Flax Oil.
MUSHER'S SECRET is a blend of 100% pure natural waxes (including White and
Yellow Beeswax, Carnauba, and Candelilla Wax) and White & vegetable oils with
vitamin E.

 

[trsturself]

Wow, haven't been on here in a couple days and had a lot of catching up to do. Glad I'm not dealing with the cold personally. We are visiting family while a friend stays at our place (her turn to take care of her own birds at our place!). I love having the camera in the coop though. I check on them a couple times a day, and can even see out the coop window into the run and goat area a bit. I can tell how cold it is by how many chickens are still in the coop. lol

As for zoning in Elbert county. Ag zone is a min of 35 acres. They have 6 different categories for ag. We are RA-1 on 5 acres. We can have 5 AU (animal units) which is basically 1 large animal or 5 goats. You can find out more here... http://www.elbertcounty-co.gov/elbert_county_zoning_regulations.php#.VKG4_2cGAA
It's not as easy as a lot of people think to get Ag tax status. You have to be zoned properly for it, and most places aren't anymore unless you get a lot of land. Even though our zone has Agriculture in the title, we are not zoned for commercial animals, so we can't get ag status for tax purposes. Elbert county doesn't allow commercial animals until you have 20 acres.

 

[COChix]

Well than it wouldn't be a secret would it?

Right.

Made from 100% natural waxes

Manufacturer's Statement:
We as the manufacturer of "MUSHER'S SECRET" confirm that our product
DOES NOT contain any Soy or Flax Oil.
MUSHER'S SECRET is a blend of 100% pure natural waxes (including White and
Yellow Beeswax, Carnauba, and Candelilla Wax) and White & vegetable oils with
vitamin E.

Thanks, I ask because I will try a DIY recipe...here is what I found. Now that said, not sure about Borax in the recipe. If you read the comments down the page someone suggest a substitution of Corn Starch for Borax, which sounds better to me.

http://www.tailsinc.com/2013/01/d-i-y-protective-paw-wax/


We are currently at 12 eggs for the day. I expect 2-4 more. We are down in our average # of eggs per day from 18-19 to 15. I saw a drop as soon as we ran out of the higher protein feed I was mixing with our current layer feed. I am going to start some barley fodder tonight. Our gang has been out in their run since 9 am. Might add more straw to coop before tonight. Not sure about using heat lamp, gonna go without and see how everyone does.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hey 21hens: During the November arctic blast I was using a mixture of triple antibiotic and Vaseline... By the time I applied it, the damage was already done (1st winter w/chickens, didn't know) and several of my roos no longer have points on their combs... So, yes, I applied even after the damage was done to help heal and prevent additional damage. The buff orps took the worst hit with the black australorps second. There was minor damage to the Delaware and New Hampshire roos as well. There was no further damage or increase after I started applying it. The way I figure it, it has to be a petroleum (oil/grease) based product that will repel moisture... a water based product would not work and could actually do more damage as it too would freeze.

When I shared on here what I was doing and asked for other recommendations, someone stated that bag balm works as well and is soothing to them as a side benefit.

I apply it in the late afternoon daily, before they go to roost, when the temps at night are below zero. I also apply it to their wattles (they got a bit of bite as well on the bottoms). I expect it could be applied to hens as well if they have large(r) combs and/or wattles to help keep them from freezing also.

Good to know it can be used instead of Vaseline. I have bag balm on hand and will be applying it to her comb. If I can catch her. I only have the one with damage luckily. No roos here so most of the combs are smallish. It is the leghorns I am most concerned about. For some reason everyone else will tuck their heads under their feathers but not the leghorns.
I find Vaseline rather gross to deal with but had been using it on the undamaged leghorn. I will be putting the bag balm on several hens tonight.
I am thinking I will not be on the favorite persons list for a while.

Thanks for letting me know.