Colorado

[wsmith]

One thing I noticed yeterday. I was changing the water and feed locations inside the hen house, and to do that I had to move the deep litter and get to the dirt level. As I did so, I found that in several places, the lowest layers of the litter had started to break down like it is supposed to! Very happy about this.
The other day i blocked off about 75% of the eaves opening into the hen house, in order to preserve the warmth now that we are moving into cooler weather. We still have good air flow and ventilation, but the coop was still warmer inside than outside this morning at 5:15AM. we still have some pullets who would rather roost up in the rafters as well.

Got 9 Dominique eggs yesterday, along with another EE egg. This EE egg was a little on the green side, so I think another EE pullet has started laying! Not sure which one though. Beth spent some time out with them yesterday afternoon.

We are trying a different Rooster management method...... Any and all treats or hand fed scratch grains are fed to Abraham first, then we allow the pullets to eat. That way he know that he is in charge of the flock, and we are in charge of him. Anyway, that is the thought behind it. From advice given by a VERY old timer to me the other day. So yesterday was the first time Abraham took scratch grains out of my hand. Before he had always stood back and didn't approach. Progress! Got to keep this boy mellow and mild!

We had to segregate one of the other roosters from the rest the other day. He was being...picked on....yah, thats it......... I can't wait to process this batch of culled roosters. They would have been butchered over a month ago if other events hadn't gone the way they did.

 

[dennarahl]

One thing I noticed yeterday. I was changing the water and feed locations inside the hen house, and to do that I had to move the deep litter and get to the dirt level. As I did so, I found that in several places, the lowest layers of the litter had started to break down like it is supposed to! Very happy about this.
The other day i blocked off about 75% of the eaves opening into the hen house, in order to preserve the warmth now that we are moving into cooler weather. We still have good air flow and ventilation, but the coop was still warmer inside than outside this morning at 5:15AM. we still have some pullets who would rather roost up in the rafters as well.

Got 9 Dominique eggs yesterday, along with another EE egg. This EE egg was a little on the green side, so I think another EE pullet has started laying! Not sure which one though. Beth spent some time out with them yesterday afternoon.

We are trying a different Rooster management method...... Any and all treats or hand fed scratch grains are fed to Abraham first, then we allow the pullets to eat. That way he know that he is in charge of the flock, and we are in charge of him. Anyway, that is the thought behind it. From advice given by a VERY old timer to me the other day. So yesterday was the first time Abraham took scratch grains out of my hand. Before he had always stood back and didn't approach. Progress! Got to keep this boy mellow and mild!

We had to segregate one of the other roosters from the rest the other day. He was being...picked on....yah, thats it......... I can't wait to process this batch of culled roosters. They would have been butchered over a month ago if other events hadn't gone the way they did.

i'll have to try that with my roosters. silver is a big softy with me and the hubby because i spent so much time holding him as he grew up, now if only that would transfer to the children too. fluffybutt protects me from littleman and ignores other people. littleman is a butthead. he attacks me about once a week. he's a little silkie so its not bad, but id like to break him off it. whenever he does attack i pick him up and carry him while i do chores and it buys me a week or so of not being attacked. i've been wondering if its my skirts that cause it but i dont know how i'd prove that.

 

[nigelthefish]

Hello all, new around here. I'm inheriting a pair of chickens on Saturday along with a coop and some basic things like feed. I had been planning on starting my own flock in the spring but a friend who can't keep their offered to give them to me so who am I to pass that offer up? They are laying hens, one is a Plymouth Rock and the other is and I'm not sure.

I live in northeast Denver (think near the zoo, go a bit north) and am looking for suggestions on where to get feed and supplies nearby. Looking on line I see a couple of feed stores near Brighton and one in the Golden Triangle area but would really prefer a good suggestion from someone who has been doing this awhile.

 

[wsmith]

Hello all, new around here. I'm inheriting a pair of chickens on Saturday along with a coop and some basic things like feed. I had been planning on starting my own flock in the spring but a friend who can't keep their offered to give them to me so who am I to pass that offer up? They are laying hens, one is a Plymouth Rock and the other is and I'm not sure. I live in northeast Denver (think near the zoo, go a bit north) and am looking for suggestions on where to get feed and supplies nearby. Looking on line I see a couple of feed stores near Brighton and one in the Golden Triangle area but would really prefer a good suggestion from someone who has been doing this awhile.

Welcome nigelthefish! oth to BYC and the Colorado thread.

Congrats on the new birds. Will you be getting feed along with them? For now, you may want to go with whichever feed store is closest, then take some time to check them all out in your area, and choose which one best suits your own needs.

 

[WendyGeisler]

my girls just cried in alarm at the snowflakes falling. I rushed outside to see what the matter was, and they were honking at the snowflakes. They are normally soo quiet. Do other chickens do this?

 

[kmatt87]

my girls just cried in alarm at the snowflakes falling. I rushed outside to see what the matter was, and they were honking at the snowflakes. They are normally soo quiet. Do other chickens do this?

mine hide under our covered patio and cower. lol

 

[Pozees]

They were with their broody.

She's still mothering the little fuzzies too. They are 11 weeks now.

Wow - good to know, and wonderful to hear she is still caring for them!

 

[Pozees]

Hello all, new around here. I'm inheriting a pair of chickens on Saturday along with a coop and some basic things like feed. I had been planning on starting my own flock in the spring but a friend who can't keep their offered to give them to me so who am I to pass that offer up? They are laying hens, one is a Plymouth Rock and the other is and I'm not sure. I live in northeast Denver (think near the zoo, go a bit north) and am looking for suggestions on where to get feed and supplies nearby. Looking on line I see a couple of feed stores near Brighton and one in the Golden Triangle area but would really prefer a good suggestion from someone who has been doing this awhile.

Welcome! I am woefully unfamiliar with your area but suspect others who are nearby will soon chime in with recommendations Wendell always gives good advice - practically speaking, whatever is nearest for now should suit their needs as well as yours while you browse the site and develop some opinions about what to feed them. In addition to the bagged feed, most enjoy produce scraps (except avocado and onion and probably the skins from potatoes) - leafy greens, corn, tomatoes, apples, all are welcomed by my girls. Have fun! There are few things as addictive as having chickens

 

[mickey328]

Welcome, Nigel! Most any feed store will carry chicken supplies...it's a matter of stopping in and talking with them to see who you like. I would recommend starting them with the same feed they've been used to at their previous home. If you decide you want to go a different way, you can start mixing the new feed in with the old as a way to get them used to the change. We did this with our girls who'd been fed a mash type feed. We wanted to go with pellets so we got the new feed and when the old feed was about 2/3 gone, we started mixing the pellets with the mash in increasing amounts till the mash was gone and they were totally on pellets. Sometimes a change can be a bit stressful, and the move can definitely be a stress for them, so minimizing it as much as possible is a good idea. Do be aware that with the shorter days and cooler weather and the move, chances are you won't get a lot of eggs to start with, but they'll come back to it well come spring.

 

[wsmith]

Got 2 EE eggs today! AND 8 Dom eggs!