Colorado

[Pozees]

Okay thanks to work and sick I am 97 post behind. Sadly I still have a few more hours of work left... However I came across this grate article that might improve things... This is awesome!


http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/adrian-cheok-making-a-huggable-internet

That *IS* awesome, thank you for sharing! The whole concept is fascinating, but to me what was most surprising was that 70% of chickens opted for this form of touch when given the choice.

 

[wsmith]

Well, I know my waterrer heater works at least down into the upper teens! Water not frozen in the coop. The rooster pen water however, was frozen this morning.

Very foggy at my place this morning.

 

[TracieJS]

Thanks all for the advice. I think we will forgo the light and see how they do.

Two of the black ostralorps have gotten redder as has Panda (the Ancona). One Bo is still pink. Panda goes in and out of the coop but she is just nosy/ inquisitive about everything.

Had to break ice from my outside waterers so I guess I need to plug in my heaters.

I think I am going to pick up a couple months of pellets (just in case). I let them out each afternoon into the yard but they don't seem to eat much. I had a couple of frozen tomatoes left on the vine that they pecked at but that's it for the garden. I give them a little cracked corn and oats. What else should I give them to keep them healthy all winter? They are on layer pellets.

Thanks for all the info!!!
Tracie

 

[wsmith]

Thanks all for the advice. I think we will forgo the light and see how they do.
Two of the black ostralorps have gotten redder as has Panda (the Ancona). One Bo is still pink. Panda goes in and out of the coop but she is just nosy/ inquisitive about everything.

Had to break ice from my outside waterers so I guess I need to plug in my heaters.
I think I am going to pick up a couple months of pellets (just in case). I let them out each afternoon into the yard but they don't seem to eat much. I had a couple of frozen tomatoes left on the vine that they pecked at but that's it for the garden. I give them a little cracked corn and oats. What else should I give them to keep them healthy all winter? They are on layer pellets.
Thanks for all the info!!!
Tracie

Sounds like the BAs will be laying soon, and probably the Ancona.

Technically the pellets are a complete balanced diet, but supplements are always good. Scratch grains like you have already given them are good and keep them busy, When they are busy they aren't bored, when they aren't bored, there is less picking and pecking at each other. I add whole wheat to my scratch, and the pullets usually pick it out first. Nearly all our table scraps and old leftovers go the the chickens too. Extra protein during the winter is a good idea. This can come from worms, bugs, meat scraps (including chicken), eggs, fish, and more. Helps with winter egg production and warmth.

 

[ONSTAD1]

This year for Halloween I'm going as an Egg Eater!

 

[coloradogal]

I forgot when I opened up the run to the garden that I didn't have a wire underlayment on the ground to keep digging pests from digging into the garden. They had dug into my garden from the county property which adjoins my outside fence. To make a long story short, I'm down a Barred Rock who was one of my best layers, and my favorite EE, the dark brown one that looks like an eagle. Sorry Wendell that I failed to take better care of your birds. It could have been worse, if I hadn't heard them, they had free access from the garden to the run/coop. It could have been all my birds.

So sorry for your loss.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/adrian-cheok-making-a-huggable-internet

Very interesting. I tell myself my chickens love being hugged.

This year for Halloween I'm going as an Egg Eater!

 

[gardendufus]

Two of the black ostralorps have gotten redder as has Panda (the Ancona). One Bo is still pink. Panda goes in and out of the coop but she is just nosy/ inquisitive about everything.

While all birds are different, I will pass along my experience with my Black Astralorp. She was the FIRST to start turning red, getting wattles. Everyone that saw her immediately said she would be my first layer. She was actually the last of her litter mates to lay. My BR's started at about 18 weeks, but she was at least 22 weeks before she laid her first. It is my understanding that BA's are notorious for being late starters. But......they lay excellent size and are very consistent layers. She's also not a glutton. So, be happy if she lays early, but don't give up on her. In the end you will be glad of the wait.

 

[gardendufus]

This year for Halloween I'm going as an Egg Eater!

Have you figured out how to make the egg yolk/white drip off your beak?

 

[gardendufus]

By the time I got out of my house after hollering out the window, the dogs were long gone. I tracked one of them down in the neighborhood. Followed him for awhile hoping he'd take me to his home (if he had one). I finally saw him literally hop over a fence into a yard, but when I called out to the owner, he hopped right back out and ran off down the street. Never found him again. Guy I talked to, and his neighbor, had no idea who he belonged to.

I'm not sure about shooting off a gun, for several reasons. While I technically live in El Paso County, I know that my area is governed by lots of city laws. I know I have to have a city dog license for one. It seems the only advantage I have is that of no city taxes. Also, the property they came from is that strip that runs along Fountain Creek, with a public hiking trail, there may be some rules about shooting into that area. I know when my neighbor shot his shotgun from his yard to that area, the sheriff's were here in like 10 minutes, had him down and handcuffed, confiscated his weapon. Did not arrest him, but had some kind of charges he was going to have to answer to. Later they dropped the charges and gave him back his shotgun, but it took about 3-4 months.

 

[Pozees]

Have you figured out how to make the egg yolk/white drip off your beak?