Colorado

Finally the day I arrived........I GOT CHICKS. My first 4 from Elizabeth Country Store. Was supposed to get only 2 Barred Rocks, but they ended up with some unclaimed Black Australorps, a breed I wanted, but was told were all reserved. So I got those 2 also. Three more weeks and my Welsummers will come in. Then I get to see what else is unclaimed that might fit in with my flock. I'm soooooo excited. Pics as soon as I find my card reader and figure out how to upload them.

I didn't want to battle my 2 incredibly curious dogs over the chicks so they went right out into my brand new (personally constructed pretty much by myself) coop yesterday. Pretty funny an 8 X 10 coop with a 3 X 3 brooder sitting in the middle of it. And, OF COURSE, it had to be a cold day/night. Couldn't get the temp up to 95, but it stayed at 88 all night (I know cuz I was out there every hour until 3 am, and then again at 6). Maybe I can sleep tonight, LOL. I figure 88 is close enuf, and the chicks didn't seem to suffer from it. Chicks seem to be doing well, staying mainly close to the heat lamp, but I expected that as cold as it was. They aren't huddling together and are moving around to get back and forth to the feed and water. The south side of my coop is hardware cloth on the entire upper 3 feet so not a lot of warming going on in the coop itself, just the small brooder area.

Well out to take another look, and see if it's warm enuf to take the 'cover' I put over the brooder to help retain some heat off. Bet I don't get much done today other that watching chicks. My dogs are already jealous of the time I spend in the coop, and VERY vocal about it.
 
I give up. Out of the 12 girls that should be here right now 5 are left. Five. First I had animal control remove the neighbor dog who murdered my first girl. Then the foxes showed up and took 3 more before I finished fencing in their 'pasture' and got a guard dog.
He just sat and watched as a hawk took # 5. He'd never seen a hawk before and didn't know what to do. # 6 just decided to jump the fence right before that huge storm we had last month. 7, well, I can't explain what happened to her. She was found shredded to bits as the rest of the ladies went their merry way digging around their fenced pasture. I think said 'guard' dog did it, but can't prove it.
Oh well, I gave it a run. The remaining 5 are in perfect health. They just can't go 'outside' anymore. It's too bad there are so many predators around here. They will remain in their stall and run in the barn. I hate to see them cooped up, but would rather not bury any more. I had plans to get 2 more EE's and 2 Leghorns this spring, but the brooder is again a large heated water bucket for the horses. The separate 'coop in a coop' will be torn down soon so the big girls can have the whole thing.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't call them by numbers, as they were as much of this family as any other member. I just can't stand to lose any more. P
Edit - It's 3am and I keep running out to the barn to make sure everyone is warm. What's the matter with me? Granted it's 10 degrees here but I'm a grown man. The stallion was coaxed in with an apple so I could lock the last door. Not even the 'guard puppy' will go out in this....

I'm so sorry.
 
Thanks, all
hugs.gif
 
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Hi Everyone,

It feels like summer. The temperature here, just north of Fort Collins, got up to 61° in my backyard. It's so nice especially with no wind. I know this won't last, but it is lovely. The two older hens came out of the run with me. The two younger ones need to have their wings clipped before I let them out. It was nice to get some outside tasks done with the "help" of the two hens.

I hope everyone else is enjoying this great weather.

-nancy
 
Where do you get the plastic drums from?

I have made some good contacts since I moved here....I save and recycle about everything and One of the companies I get pallets from also generates non-toxic chemical drums. It is a pain for them to save up and store enough, for the recycle company to come and get them, so the company owner gives them to me!!
 
Does anyone know where one can have a chick sexed in the Longmont area? My EE is about 3x the size of my other chicks, and way more... feisty. I'm a tad worried she may be going roo on me.
 
Does anyone know where one can have a chick sexed in the Longmont area? My EE is about 3x the size of my other chicks, and way more... feisty. I'm a tad worried she may be going roo on me.

I wish I could help, I'm not too far and down in Longmont a lot...I've a got a few too many little ones who are starting to worry me...that maybe I ended up with WAY more than a possible 10% of roos...I had hope for a couple...thinking a few more of these might be roos - like 9-10! Although I suppose that means I can get more pure breed options later..

Hope you find someone who can help you.
 

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