Colorado

[marlo1968]

Originally Posted by 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.

I can only help a little. there's a place downtown-ish called earthdog denver http://www.denverurbanhomesteading.com/new_page_1.htm that does organic feed. Expensive but the closest place I know of for you. For normal big name feeds there is also wardle feed over in wheatridge. there is o'malleys in watkins (my prefered place but it's closer to me out in the country). There is also a couple of murdochs around town.

I am on the western slope, so I can't really help with what's near you. But I can tell you that when I do get to Grand Junction, I go to Murdoch's. Sometimes they have feed on sale, which is something that you don't see too often at a feed store. I've gotten my feed for as low as $10.50 for a 50lb bag. At the feed store the price is $16.00 for a 50lb. btw, welcome to BYC, you will enjoy it and learn a lot from others on here. I love it

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Yay!! Mr. Handsome is off to his new home in Pueblo West!

 

[Mtn Margie]

If you buy feed on sale, make sure it is fresh and not something they are trying to rush out the door before it gets old. Especially if you are buying for a few months. Just like in the grocery stores, sometimes a sale is not a great buy.

 

[wsmith]

LOL. I posted on our Windy Ridge facebook page that I had a dozen eggs I could bring to church tmorrow. It took 3 minutes for them to be claimed!

 

[wsmith]

If you buy feed on sale, make sure it is fresh and not something they are trying to rush out the door before it gets old. Especially if you are buying for a few months. Just like in the grocery stores, sometimes a sale is not a great buy.

X2

 

[Mommato5]

I've been MIA for like a month! Oh, so much catching up to do. LOL

Hubby built an AWESOME new coop in all of 6 days. I was amazed! It's 10x6 for just 10 chickens (we intend to add more next spring).

It has 2 walls always open at the top (with hardware cloth) a couple of inches. Those 2 sides (north and east) are up against a shed and the wood fence so any wind is well blocked. There are working windows on the west side (with hardware cloth) and fold down panels on the south (with hardware cloth). The pop door is self-locking when you close it (a piece of wood falls down to block it from opening) and pulls up again when you pull the rope to open it! It's ingenious, really. There are 4 large (16x16) nest boxes and a large gravity feeder that should hold around 100#!

We had to order non-toxic waterproofer and the roof caps online and they came a week later. We got the floor waterproofed and all the little finishing touches done (latches, ect) at that point and moved the chickens in! The very next day hubby broke his ankle at work (slipped off the trailer of his semi)! Of course, he broke his right ankle so this truck driver can't drive. It's devastating! And the first thing I think is, "thank goodness he finished the coop first!" LOL They expect him to be off his feet for at least 5 weeks and on light duty (no lifting/carrying/climbing) for 3 months! Thankfully worker's comp will be paying medical bills and helping out with lost income until he's healed up! He's such an active guy that being laid up is really hard on him!

Our chickens are about 17 weeks old now and one sex link is really growing that comb! Every day I reach for her to see if she'll squat but no luck so far. My girls don't care one bit about the rain but do NOT like the snow! Yesterday we had a good 3" and they refused to step foot outside the coop until the sun came out and melted the snow on their ramp! LOL They're going to need to get over that....They do enjoy eating the snow, though, and even fight over it and chase each other like it was a treat! LOL

I have a question about roosters. We have one rooster. He's crowed a few times but nothing loud or obnoixious. He's about 17 weeks and I was wondering when he would start really crowing and also when he would act like a rooster. He really acts like another pullet. He's not aggressive or mean and he is not the top chicken. Actually, none of them stand out as the top chicken. There appears to be no pecking order and everyone gets along nicely with no fighting/pecking. Is that weird?

 

[Ashdoes]

I've been waiting for my boys to crow, and neither of them is top chicken. Ours get a long well, but if you watch closely you can see our Barred Rock is top girl. Watch at bedtime, one should be in back moving everyone along. Our BR is always the last in, and frequently gives a peck to anyone moving too slow.
Nice big coop! Keep an eye on that chicken math

 

[Pozees]

I've been MIA for like a month! Oh, so much catching up to do. LOL
Hubby built an AWESOME new coop in all of 6 days. I was amazed! It's 10x6 for just 10 chickens (we intend to add more next spring).

It has 2 walls always open at the top (with hardware cloth) a couple of inches. Those 2 sides (north and east) are up against a shed and the wood fence so any wind is well blocked. There are working windows on the west side (with hardware cloth) and fold down panels on the south (with hardware cloth). The pop door is self-locking when you close it (a piece of wood falls down to block it from opening) and pulls up again when you pull the rope to open it! It's ingenious, really.

There are 4 large (16x16) nest boxes and a large gravity feeder that should hold around 100#!
We had to order non-toxic waterproofer and the roof caps online and they came a week later. We got the floor waterproofed and all the little finishing touches done (latches, ect) at that point and moved the chickens in! The very next day hubby broke his ankle at work (slipped off the trailer of his semi)! Of course, he broke his right ankle so this truck driver can't drive. It's devastating! And the first thing I think is, "thank goodness he finished the coop first!" LOL They expect him to be off his feet for at least 5 weeks and on light duty (no lifting/carrying/climbing) for 3 months! Thankfully worker's comp will be paying medical bills and helping out with lost income until he's healed up! He's such an active guy that being laid up is really hard on him!
Our chickens are about 17 weeks old now and one sex link is really growing that comb! Every day I reach for her to see if she'll squat but no luck so far. My girls don't care one bit about the rain but do NOT like the snow! Yesterday we had a good 3" and they refused to step foot outside the coop until the sun came out and melted the snow on their ramp! LOL They're going to need to get over that....They do enjoy eating the snow, though, and even fight over it and chase each other like it was a treat! LOL
I have a question about roosters. We have one rooster. He's crowed a few times but nothing loud or obnoixious. He's about 17 weeks and I was wondering when he would start really crowing and also when he would act like a rooster. He really acts like another pullet. He's not aggressive or mean and he is not the top chicken. Actually, none of them stand out as the top chicken. There appears to be no pecking order and everyone gets along nicely with no fighting/pecking. Is that weird?

That is an awesome coop! I am so sorry for your hubby, but at least now he has 5 weeks to stare at his masterpiece

 

[Mtn Margie]

That is an awesome coop! I am so sorry for your hubby, but at least now he has 5 weeks to stare at his masterpiece

LOL. x2 (Although I am sure HE doesn't see the humor in that! )

 

[Minchi]

Husband found this and all the girls standing around it pecking at it this morning. I was so sure they would wait till spring. He said they were really pecking at the 'offending object' and that Arry was the worst..... do you think she laid it or that I might have a problem. I am a little worried that it is so big.