Colorado

[wsmith]

I find it amusing that people here come on the Old Timers thread, apparently spend no time reading ANY of the early part of the thread, and then proceed to tell the Old Timers that they don't have much experience, only a few months, but they have found that the methods promoted there won't work for THEIR birds. LMAO

And there you go. I actually have subscribed not only to the old timer's thread, but also to Walt, Al, NYREDS, Fred's hens, and a couple of others. They almostalways have fantastic info, but many times what they post is direct, something that many apparently have a hard time with.

 

[ONSTAD1]

Last minute question I probably should have thought of beore my chicks arrive tommorow. What should i use for their bedding? I have wood pellets. Those ok or should I get some wood shavings?

Mo

 

[wsmith]

for babies, I like shavings or straw. Just my preferences.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

So today was productive. I took the week off, as i will be doing the revolutionary War encampment at Rock Ledge Ranch over the 4th, so today was a "free" day. Tomorrow is the get ready and set up day at rock Ledge. So i got up early (5:00AM) to see which cockerels were crowing. All of the show Dominique cockerels were crowing, though their attempts were pretty lame, two of the EE cockerels, and two of the hatchery Doms were crowing., or at least attempting to. Very entertaining.
I turned the compost, added dirt to the barrel potatoes, Cleaned the waterers, added feed and toped of the water for both pens; and then started working on the hen house. Here is how it looks now:



Here are a couple of Narragansett turkey shots as well. Everybody is growing and doing great.

That is looking so good.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

After dinner tonight we went on the deck and enjoyed the evening. My daughter wanted to go spend time with the pullets...I saw that as a photo oportunity; so I grabbed the camera. It was a nice evening.

 

[Minchi]

Quote:
Not talking about me are you... Just giving you a little grief. There is a lot of great advice on the OT thread. I am glad it was suggested.

 

[Minchi]

Quote:
I used small pine shavings.

 

[Minchi]

wsmith - wow great coop! I thought mine was going to be big (4 x 4 x 6) but if mine is a house yours is a palace. Can't wait to see it develop.

 

[Mommato5]

Last minute question I probably should have thought of beore my chicks arrive tommorow. What should i use for their bedding? I have wood pellets. Those ok or should I get some wood shavings?
Mo

I use all purpose sand and LOVE it! It's cheap ($4 for a 50lb bag!) and easy to clean (filter like a litter box!). I really don't ever notice it smelling, or if I do it's because I waited too long to clean it. LOL Also it provides grit for the chickens. I started out with pine shaving but they got nasty quick and I was changing them often (every week!) which is expensive and time consuming. The sand you can filter each morning in like 5 minutes or let it build up for a month or two and spend 30-45 minutes cleaning it out. When my red star was laying her eggs in the sand I filtered every day because she laid under the roost and I didn't want her sitting in poop. Once she started laying in the nest box I went longer periods of time.

The chicks are in sand right now and they seem quite happy with it.

 

[ONSTAD1]

Ok. This is embarrasing...

Chicken math before I even get chickens.

Here's my thought. Ive been wavering between 4 or 5 chickens. Been leaning toward 4...until tonight. Haveing second thoughts now... I hate to get 4 tomorrow and then in 6 months decide I want a fifth and have to integrate a chick into an established flock (not to mention I don't have the space to raise hens AND achick).

So I guess it boils down to space. I'm just on the cusp of ha ing room for five. I have 16 ftsq of coop space and 48ftsq of run. I plan to "free range" them in the yard for a few hours each evening. If they would be happy in this enviorment I'd prefer to go with 5.

I invite all to chime in as I figure the more opinions the better.

And oh yeah...I have till 2:00 pm tomorrow to decide : )

and no, I haven't been drinking!


Mo