Colorado

[wsmith]

Tonight I went down to put the girls into the coop about 10 minutes ago (so around 5:25pm) it had already gotten dark fast, and I found all 7 of them pressed up against the sliding glass doors. I picked up one of the little girls and she started swakking like I have never heard before. I walked the 15 feet to the coop, and right as I put her in a HUGE owl swooped down right near me. It was probably 2 feet from my head. Then I had to hand carry each of the other girls to the coop while the owl watched from a tree limb. Tomorrow night I definitely need to get the girls in earlier.

WOW! Close call!

 

[dennarahl]

Butterscotch is on the right, trying to figure out why I am taking her picture

aww, how cute1

 

[wsmith]

BTW, we have a pullet that looks like your Butterscotch's twin. She isn't laying yet.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Wendy, the owl could be an issue for your chickens. You seem to have a very big area between the coop and your house. Why don't you put up a temporary fence and make their run just a little bit bigger, maybe twice the size of their coop, until they learn to put themselves in.

 

[kmatt87]

Tonight I went down to put the girls into the coop about 10 minutes ago (so around 5:25pm) it had already gotten dark fast, and I found all 7 of them pressed up against the sliding glass doors. I picked up one of the little girls and she started swakking like I have never heard before. I walked the 15 feet to the coop, and right as I put her in a HUGE owl swooped down right near me. It was probably 2 feet from my head. Then I had to hand carry each of the other girls to the coop while the owl watched from a tree limb. Tomorrow night I definitely need to get the girls in earlier.

sometimes crows will keep owls away. maybe get some fake ones to place around the property?

 

[WendyGeisler]

that is the project that we will tackle this weekend! Between the owl and the bobcat we need to do something fast!

 

[adtco]

Hello
My son and I are about to get a few chickens for our back yard in Co Springs. We are in the process of framing our mobile chicken coop and are looking to buy a couple of Rhode Island Reds. I live up on the North end of the Springs (Union/Dublin area) and would love to talk with someone locally that could give me a few tips, especially with winter approaching. I am conducting a lot of on-line research, but I still have tons of questions ranging from heating the coop to placement of food and water. If anyone has any successes they would like to share, I would love to hear them. Looking forward to fresh eggs soon.

Aaron

 

[wsmith]

Hello
My son and I are about to get a few chickens for our back yard in Co Springs. We are in the process of framing our mobile chicken coop and are looking to buy a couple of Rhode Island Reds. I live up on the North end of the Springs (Union/Dublin area) and would love to talk with someone locally that could give me a few tips, especially with winter approaching. I am conducting a lot of on-line research, but I still have tons of questions ranging from heating the coop to placement of food and water. If anyone has any successes they would like to share, I would love to hear them. Looking forward to fresh eggs soon.

Aaron

Hey Aaron, Welcome to BYC and the Colorado thread.

RR hens should give you lots of large eggs to eat, at least 1 every day or so per hen. Are you getting already laying hens, or younger pullets just starting or at point of lay (POL)?

RRs are chickens that do well in colder climates, and do not need a heated coop. Food and water placement are up to you, depending alot on your situation. I keep mine in the hen house, but I am rural and have the room in the coop to do that. City backyard coops are usually much smaller than what I have.

Ask away. There are lots of great folks here on the Colorado thread who will be happy to answer you.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Here's a little visitor that we had earlier this year...a small falcon was grabbing doves and sparrows off the bird feeder....drove my girls nuts.

Everytime this little guy showed up I'd have chickens running everywhere. It was pandemonium.

 

[WendyGeisler]

Hi Aaron,
There is a wonderful thing for first timers. It's called the Take A Peek Chicken Coop Tour in Colorado Springs. It happens in the spring time, I think it was April. We were able to tour 11 of the 19 chicken coops on the tour and ask questions to each owner and see how they worked their set up. I learned quickly that there are lots of "right" ways to do things. Hope that helps! Wendy