Consolidated Kansas

[mommahen10]

Hey, my dh keeps tempting me with these lavender orps, any input???
http://seks.craigslist.org/grd/3381623933.html

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Maidenwolf, your eggs are beautiful. I can't wait until my EEs start laying.

My dh did cover the area up high in the new coop with a board, another 2X4 fit perectly. Toby is in there now, I think I'll move the girls tomorrow so I can keep an eye on them all day. I can see this coop out my bedroom window so that's nice too.

Josie, that's a great idea to cook an extra bird, especially considering that I have such a big family. That's so sweet that she packed so much for you. I love to share what we have, it makes me happy. I was handing out togo boxes not even thinking about not having so much left over. We made 11 or 12 pies, they're all gone. The turkey is all gone, I still have a couple of pieces of ham left I'll put in the eggs tomorrow morning. I'm back to cooking again for sure. Toby is in his new coop tonight. He loves the roost, he's so cute. We went out to check on him and there was really no reason to because he had it all under control.

HEChicken, our opening is probably lower to the ground, the sides are quite low and it's not very tall. Also, it's old wood and it's rough so I think something with claws could climb up it. There is also a big tree in there, I think that it would be possible for something to fly into the tree and then onto the roof and into the coop, but not now because it's all covered up, yay!

I have no idea mikeksfarmer, that is very interesting.

Oh No Tweety! I'm so sorry to hear that you are hurting again. I'm so sorry. I hope those chicks keep you a bit distracted from the not fun stuff. Please keep updating.

Josie, that's terrible. I'm sorry you aren't feeling well and then the dog getting hurt and the goose too. Do you think you'll be able to figure out what happened?

Well, I turned my lights off on my 6ish and 8ish weekers, I'm losing track of how old everyone is. I need to start writing this stuff down, I say that every time I lose track. The 8 weeker just don't look like they need it and they have been hanging out by the doorway of their house so I think they were trying to get a distance from the light. The 6 weekers are getting crowded in their house and I heard a hurt cry and I thought maybe they were getting burned on the bulb when they were moving around and over each other. They quieted right down when I turned it off. The look fully feathered so I think they'll be okay. I lost my tiny white chick that I was adoring so much, boo. It was fine this moring and gone this afternoon. Just that quick, which I suppose is best that it happened fast, it really wasn't growing at all. It had no new feathers in just over a week, the others are getting nice wing feathers. I'm not sure what to do to rearrange. The buff orps are going to go with Toby, not sure what I'm going to do with the rest of that group. I have a roo that is jumping his fence to the baby pen, I know what we're going to do with him. Every morning, the turkeys come down from the barn roof and Casper jumps into the baby pen but is easily moved over to the rooster pen, Colt goes right into the rooster pen. I don't see the turkeys doing anything to the roosters, although they seem to understand that they are bigger and sort of stay a bit of a distance. But I can't have the roosters being mean to the babies when they get over there. We are going to clean up 4 of them tomorrow I hope, and then we will see how it changes things. I don't want to move the turkeys, I think they're bigger and a bit harder to contain and they have a decent routine, but I have all the little chick pens there too. Maybe I should just put a top on the baby area to keep the turkey/roosters out. I feel like I need to get another more permanent spot ready for the turkeys but I'm afraid to ask right now since they just got Toby all set up. Also, the turkeys had been sleeping on the barn roof on just the lower part on the side, now they are on the tip top of the barn roof. That's way more than 2 stories high. They look magnificent way up there, I mean it's really cool. I'm just scared they'll get hurt and what about the weather? It's got to be cold and windy up there. I have been thinking about the white rock and new hamp reds and I'm thinking maybe it would be more efficient to just do the white rock. If I wanted to sell chicks from early on it would make sense to be able to sex them at hatch, but since I don't mind waiting that white feather and good layer part seems like a practical idea for eggs and butchering.

G'night ya'll.

I never had them hurt the chickens they usually stay a distance from them like you said. The turkeys love to be up high and here I still have to guide these guys to bed at night if I want them inside. I dont let them out at night for sure because not only the weather but predators It is hard to keep them in one place though unless you have a large covered area for them. I am really glad they are being good boys and mainding their manners for you.

Tweety, Sorry you aren't doing better. I hope you find the right doctor who can fix your problems. You have to be miserable right now.
I worked outside this afternoon, and rebuilt a shelter so my turkeys could use it. I was going to build them a new one but I decided to change the old one instead. It is too heavy to move and I wore out so maybe I'll get that done tomorrow.
I'm sure the chicks will be fine Maidenwolf. The weather was so great today.

Yea I am just always worried about them when I move them out. But they seem to be fine and enjoyed playing out there and went and jumped on roost under the light when it got dark.

 

[Kansas Prairie]

Howdy All!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.!

 

[Trish44]

I got a lot done today, I decided to try using dried leaves in some of my outside pens for bedding & in my coop to mix in with the shavings & cattails since I have so many of them. I picked up about 8 wheelbarrows of leaves out of the front yard today & used them in my hoop coop for the peafowl & guineas, my growout pen, the turkey pen, & then under the roosts in the main coop. I cleaned out all of the rabbit pen trays, that was a big chore. I also completely turned over the litter in the main coop so it could break down. I let the oldest guineas out today & it went all right with Jasmine. I had the shock collar on her, but didn't have to use it & she was walking around down there by where they were. Lily never pays any attention to them at all, she slept in her bed she claimed in the woods which is my pile of dried cattails. She thinks I put it there for her. I also let the turkeys out a couple times today & they really enjoyed being out & they do really well staying right around the front yard. I also got all but my main flock given wazine today. I had wormed the main flock before I left for vacation. I'm so glad to have gotten all of that done today since it was warmer than it will be for a few days. We have cooler weather coming tomorrow & then by Thurs. it's supposed to be warmer again, in the 60's. I'll take that for going into December. I'm really happy with my hens right now, they have picked up on laying really well. I have gotten 6 dozen eggs in the week I've been back from vacation, so that should make my best egg customer very happy tomorrow when she comes to pick them up. My dogs are even getting an egg for their supper too since I have extra eggs. I don't think quite all of my young pullets are laying yet, but some are & the rest should be any time now. I hated it that I lost those two young pullets while I was gone. It's the pits to have them almost get to point of lay & then lose them. The gal that fed my critters while I was gone offered to pay me for the one the dogs ate, but I know she didn't mean to let her out, so I didn't ask her to do that. She was a lot more careful after that though.

We have a guy coming tomorrow to install the hopper for Dishnetwork, it's part of our Christmas early. Actually we've gotten most of our Christmas or will have soon when the other thing gets here. We did the same thing last year, got our big gifts early & then only had small stuff by Christmas. Oh well, we would rather enjoy watching the girls open their stuff anyway.

Well you all stay warm tomorrow!

 

[HEChicken]

Danz and Trish - sorry for the confusion on breeds. I read SFH and thought Cream Legbar - or the other way around, LOL.

Tweety - so sorry you continue to have problems - I really hoped after the procedure, you'd be feeling much better, not right back where you started.

Well, I had to take care of Cyrus yesterday. I gave him every possible chance because he really was a great rooster to his flock - I felt safe with him around because he was so vigilant in looking for danger. Unfortunately, he considered me to be the most dangerous foe out there and it got to the point I couldn't go down to the coop without being attacked. He literally followed me around looking for an opportunity. The strange thing was, he never bothered anyone BUT me - DH, DD and DS could go down there and wander around all day and he didn't see them as a threat but as soon as I arrived, it was on.

Several weeks ago I booted him in the butt and then chased him around the yard and that kept him at bay for about three weeks. He not only didn't attack me but actually ran from me for awhile and kept his distance. Then a couple of weeks ago, as I was leaving the coop, he jumped me from behind and since then it has been worse than ever. Yesterday morning he attacked my arm as I was dumping feed into their bowl. So I got out a broom and every time I went down there yesterday, I carried the broom so I could keep him a broom-length distance from me. That worked fine except its really hard to do a lot of chores with a broom in one hand. Still, I put off making the fateful decision.

But last night I went to collect The Egg (laying has been so poor lately most days I only get 1-2) and he actually followed me into the coop (or at least, he went in the chicken door after observing me go in the people door) and attacked me very aggressively IN the coop. I put up my booted foot as a barrier between us and he attacked my foot so thoroughly that my ankle is quite bruised and sore. He then kind of sniffed and went to exit and I just grabbed him and thought "now is the time". I had been canning all day so my big canning pot was not only out but already had hot water in it to assist with plucking.

To be honest, I've had regrets already. Just yesterday - not an hour before this - I saw a hawk circling and didn't worry because I knew Cyrus would warn the flock to take cover. And, I don't exactly have a replacement for him yet. I have a little Welsummer cockerel who is about 5 months old but he doesn't seem ready yet to assume flock leadership. He hasn't even crowed yet - are Wellies typically slow to mature? - but perhaps Cyrus intimidated him and now that he is the biggest and oldest rooster there, he will start to crow. The funny thing is, those little 10-week-old Silchins are all crowing and have little crow-a-thons every morning in their screechy little voices that you can't hear unless you are close. But the much larger and older cockerels (Welsummer plus two 3 1/2 month old Cyrus offspring) are completely silent.

Up to the end he continued to be a good rooster - to his flock - but I reached the point I just couldn't take the constant attacks and literally looking over my shoulder every time I heard the patter of feet behind me to be sure it wasn't him launching himself at me.

Hawkeye, how are your birds doing that you did the bumblefoot surgery on earlier this year? I rechecked mine yesterday and the foot I did the surgery on is now clear but she had one in the other foot. I was able to pick the scab off without much resistance from her but couldn't push out the bumble (I didn't soak but it was rather impromptu). I filled the area with triple antibiotic and wrapped it in vet wrap. It probably won't take care of it and I'll have to do it again properly but I wasn't set up to do it yesterday so that will have to do for now. Hopefully it will at least slow down its growth. I know I have several other birds with small bumbles but they don't seem to be bothering them and they're still laying so I'm thinking maybe I won't do surgery unless they start limping.

Trish, you mentioned using Wazine. I have some of that too and have used it in the past but it really isn't the best option as a wormer. Even when it works, it ONLY works on roundworms and there are so many other types of worms they can get that you can't see in the poop without a microscope. And, when I treated some birds that I knew had roundworms a couple of months ago (they had so many they were expelling them in their poop), it didn't seem to help - the worms continued to be expelled - alive - in the about the same quantities, even days after the treatment. Since the withdrawal time is the same for Wazine as other better wormers, in the end I figured it was better to use something else and get everything at once, rather than treat with Wazine and then treat with something else and have to withdraw the eggs for even longer. Luckily you were able to collect those 6 dozen eggs prior to treating since you won't be able to sell any that are laid for the next couple of weeks.

I got busy canning the past few days. I had a couple of turkey carcasses to turn into stock and was able to put up 16 quarts of stock, which makes me very happy

 

[chicken danz]

Hey, my dh keeps tempting me with these lavender orps, any input???
http://seks.craigslist.org/grd/3381623933.html

I love my lavenders. They are beautiful birds. That add says those are spring birds so they should be near point of lay. If they are pure lavender orpingtons at 5 or so months old I think $20 each would be a reasonable price. If you want to wait I know at least Trish and myself will have babies in the spring. I don't have any laying age yet. They seem to be rather slow growing.
Trish I am so envious of you. I have nothing for Christmas yet. My middle son and wife have given me a couple of things but together they are more than I wanted to spend. I was really planning to cut back. I really wouldn't mind spending that much it's just that the other kids would need just as much.
I have some birds I need to move out of the brooder but don't have housing for them. I swear it seems like I work non-stop and never quite get to the point I need to be! I wish it was warm out again for a few more days. I just don't like the idea of working outside in this weather.
Josie I am so glad whatever got your goose didn't kill it. Do you think it was a coyote? Lucy is such a good girl. It sure would be nice if Lucy was well to help out as well. When are you getting your new pup?
I've spent another few hours on line looking at stuff. Funny I can find all kinds of things I want to buy for myself while they are on sale but nothing for other people on my list.
I'm a bit disgusted with Sears and Home Depot. They have stuff advertised but when you want to buy it, it is either out of stock or you aren't in the service area so they don't let you. That really bites. Home Depot is within range of me but because of my zip code it won't me request delivery and it is stuff that is only shipped and can't pick up at the store. Doesn't make sense to me. If it isn't coming to the store and is getting shipped why would my zip code make a difference?

 

[Hawkeye95]

well I multi'd lots of posts but it was yesterday and they went away, so I'm not surprised. I did want to say sorry about the two turkey jennys that were killed. That is sooooo sad. So sad for the kids, too.

I'm so sorry to hear this. I would have been heartbroken! Over both the loss of the birds and how your kids handled it!

I'm really sorry you are not feeling well. I sure hope the new Dr will have some better ideas for you. This is just frustrating!

Well our fabulous dog did her job well today. I was under the weather, I think from eating at a restaurant in Ottawa last night, and was dead on the sofa all day which was a total bummer because it was so nice out. DH let all the birds out into their runs for me and let the geese out to free range. I didn't realize they were out until I heard them honking up front mid afternoon and made him go out and check on them. I don't usually let them out unless I am in and out all day and checking on them.

I went out at dinner time to lock the geese up and Molly was laying down way out in the field which is weird because she is usually up by the house. She stood up and wagged her tail and started limping towards me. Thats when I knew something was wrong. I hurried to the geese and one of my new ganders had a huge bite wound on his head and blood all down his back and was acting strange. SO we hurried him in the house and doctered him up with antibiotics and pain meds and cleaned up his wounds. Molly got lots and lots of praise, some pain meds herself and a steak on top of her regular dinner. Such a good dog, don't know what I would do without her!!! She is worth her weight in gold. Love that dog.

Good job Molly!!! I hope she will be okay. She didn't break a leg or something?? Poor gander, I hope he will be okay. Definitely a GOOD dog you have there. You're really lucky you have her, since it seems like most of those LGD's don't turn out to be what people hope they are. She deserved her steak dinner! I hope you are feeling better after your bad-food day. That is miserable! I hate food poisoning!

I got a lot done today, I decided to try using dried leaves in some of my outside pens for bedding & in my coop to mix in with the shavings & cattails since I have so many of them. I picked up about 8 wheelbarrows of leaves out of the front yard today & used them in my hoop coop for the peafowl & guineas, my growout pen, the turkey pen, & then under the roosts in the main coop. I cleaned out all of the rabbit pen trays, that was a big chore. I also completely turned over the litter in the main coop so it could break down. I let the oldest guineas out today & it went all right with Jasmine. I had the shock collar on her, but didn't have to use it & she was walking around down there by where they were. Lily never pays any attention to them at all, she slept in her bed she claimed in the woods which is my pile of dried cattails. She thinks I put it there for her. I also let the turkeys out a couple times today & they really enjoyed being out & they do really well staying right around the front yard. I also got all but my main flock given wazine today. I had wormed the main flock before I left for vacation. I'm so glad to have gotten all of that done today since it was warmer than it will be for a few days. We have cooler weather coming tomorrow & then by Thurs. it's supposed to be warmer again, in the 60's. I'll take that for going into December. I'm really happy with my hens right now, they have picked up on laying really well. I have gotten 6 dozen eggs in the week I've been back from vacation, so that should make my best egg customer very happy tomorrow when she comes to pick them up. My dogs are even getting an egg for their supper too since I have extra eggs. I don't think quite all of my young pullets are laying yet, but some are & the rest should be any time now. I hated it that I lost those two young pullets while I was gone. It's the pits to have them almost get to point of lay & then lose them. The gal that fed my critters while I was gone offered to pay me for the one the dogs ate, but I know she didn't mean to let her out, so I didn't ask her to do that. She was a lot more careful after that though.
We have a guy coming tomorrow to install the hopper for Dishnetwork, it's part of our Christmas early. Actually we've gotten most of our Christmas or will have soon when the other thing gets here. We did the same thing last year, got our big gifts early & then only had small stuff by Christmas. Oh well, we would rather enjoy watching the girls open their stuff anyway.
Well you all stay warm tomorrow!

What is this "extra eggs" you are talking about???? LOL! My girls are still on strike. However I have noticed most of them do have their tails starting to come back in! Every one of them lost their tail. It's nice to see birds with tails again. Looks like they still have some growing to do, though. I'm with you on the xmas. My DH and I will do that when we save up during the year for something we've wanted. Last year we got the nice lenses for the camera we bought the year before. Since we wanted to use it for xmas, we didn't bother to wrap it. And we didn't do big gifts for each other since we both agreed to it. I'm totally okay with it. We usually come up with one big thing we want and just do it that way. I enjoy watching the kids open gits, though.


Danz... I thought I had gotten one or two of your posts. Ah well, I noticed you said you worked out in the cold and wind to work on the housing for your birds. NOT FUN. I really hate the cold. I mean HATE. I HATE winter. HATE it. I don't like being cold and it makes everything so much more difficult. UGH. I know you're a summer girl like me, so I felt really bad for you out there doing all the chores, plus the building and everything else. Maybe you need to downsize for real and make it a bit easier on you?

Today is my DH's birthday. I need to run to town in a while and I'm going to pick up stuff for dinner and since I totally spaced his birthday was on a MONDAY (I was thinking it was Wednesday--yeah, stupid!) I didn't have a cake planned. So going to pick up an ice-cream cake at Dairy Queen.

 

[chicken danz]

HeChicken, I am sorry you had to cull Cyrus. You tolerated him much much longer than I would have. I think the first time I got attacked he would have been soup.
Hawkeye I really have downsized but I also added several new breeds which means more pens and more houses. I HATE being out in the cold. Needless to say my birds aren't getting their normal care right now. I have so many young birds right now I need to place somewhere and am just not ready for them. Nothing like putting the cart before the horse!!
My new Red stars and white rock chicks should arrive this week-probably about Thursday or Friday. So that will be another 50 chicks to house. I need to find a way to move some more birds and make some room in the brooder.
I have ducks in the incubator that should start hatching today. Hopefully I can get my buyer here this weekend. That would be one less pen to worry about. If they hatch I should have around 60 baby ducks to sell. I have about 35 right now.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Well, I had to take care of Cyrus yesterday. I gave him every possible chance because he really was a great rooster to his flock - I felt safe with him around because he was so vigilant in looking for danger. Unfortunately, he considered me to be the most dangerous foe out there and it got to the point I couldn't go down to the coop without being attacked. He literally followed me around looking for an opportunity. The strange thing was, he never bothered anyone BUT me - DH, DD and DS could go down there and wander around all day and he didn't see them as a threat but as soon as I arrived, it was on.

Several weeks ago I booted him in the butt and then chased him around the yard and that kept him at bay for about three weeks. He not only didn't attack me but actually ran from me for awhile and kept his distance. Then a couple of weeks ago, as I was leaving the coop, he jumped me from behind and since then it has been worse than ever. Yesterday morning he attacked my arm as I was dumping feed into their bowl. So I got out a broom and every time I went down there yesterday, I carried the broom so I could keep him a broom-length distance from me. That worked fine except its really hard to do a lot of chores with a broom in one hand. Still, I put off making the fateful decision.

But last night I went to collect The Egg (laying has been so poor lately most days I only get 1-2) and he actually followed me into the coop (or at least, he went in the chicken door after observing me go in the people door) and attacked me very aggressively IN the coop. I put up my booted foot as a barrier between us and he attacked my foot so thoroughly that my ankle is quite bruised and sore. He then kind of sniffed and went to exit and I just grabbed him and thought "now is the time". I had been canning all day so my big canning pot was not only out but already had hot water in it to assist with plucking.

To be honest, I've had regrets already. Just yesterday - not an hour before this - I saw a hawk circling and didn't worry because I knew Cyrus would warn the flock to take cover. And, I don't exactly have a replacement for him yet. I have a little Welsummer cockerel who is about 5 months old but he doesn't seem ready yet to assume flock leadership. He hasn't even crowed yet - are Wellies typically slow to mature? - but perhaps Cyrus intimidated him and now that he is the biggest and oldest rooster there, he will start to crow. The funny thing is, those little 10-week-old Silchins are all crowing and have little crow-a-thons every morning in their screechy little voices that you can't hear unless you are close. But the much larger and older cockerels (Welsummer plus two 3 1/2 month old Cyrus offspring) are completely silent.

Up to the end he continued to be a good rooster - to his flock - but I reached the point I just couldn't take the constant attacks and literally looking over my shoulder every time I heard the patter of feet behind me to be sure it wasn't him launching himself at me.

Hawkeye, how are your birds doing that you did the bumblefoot surgery on earlier this year? I rechecked mine yesterday and the foot I did the surgery on is now clear but she had one in the other foot. I was able to pick the scab off without much resistance from her but couldn't push out the bumble (I didn't soak but it was rather impromptu). I filled the area with triple antibiotic and wrapped it in vet wrap. It probably won't take care of it and I'll have to do it again properly but I wasn't set up to do it yesterday so that will have to do for now. Hopefully it will at least slow down its growth. I know I have several other birds with small bumbles but they don't seem to be bothering them and they're still laying so I'm thinking maybe I won't do surgery unless they start limping.

Trish, you mentioned using Wazine. I have some of that too and have used it in the past but it really isn't the best option as a wormer. Even when it works, it ONLY works on roundworms and there are so many other types of worms they can get that you can't see in the poop without a microscope. And, when I treated some birds that I knew had roundworms a couple of months ago (they had so many they were expelling them in their poop), it didn't seem to help - the worms continued to be expelled - alive - in the about the same quantities, even days after the treatment. Since the withdrawal time is the same for Wazine as other better wormers, in the end I figured it was better to use something else and get everything at once, rather than treat with Wazine and then treat with something else and have to withdraw the eggs for even longer. Luckily you were able to collect those 6 dozen eggs prior to treating since you won't be able to sell any that are laid for the next couple of weeks.

I got busy canning the past few days. I had a couple of turkey carcasses to turn into stock and was able to put up 16 quarts of stock, which makes me very happy

Wow, I would have been really done with Cyrus, too. I'm sorry he put you in that position, I know you liked him as a guardian. But if you can't enjoy being out there, then it ruins the whole experience. I think you did the right thing. One of your other boys will fill in the roll well, I'm sure. All of the girls i did surgery on have completely cleared up except for that one bird. I did penicillin on her and it mostly cleared up and got really small. I just did the 5 days. Well... thinking she needed more time with the antibiotic. The plug has been growing again! Ugh. I won't mess with her right now. I noticed another couple of birds have the bumblefoot too and I figured I'll leave them alone for now. They are small spot and not swelling up the foot like the one problem "child". I need to start my problem bird on another round of penicillin again and this time... go longer. Probably 7 days???

I still haven't bought the Ivermectin, and I need to do that, too. So far, no one is sick from worms, but I do not doubt that they have them. I need to get on that, but since it's xmas, starting to feel a little strain on the wallet. I may wait another month.


Danz, yeah, when you breed true, it creates a LOT of pens since you are trying to keep like to like and also the best rooster for those best girls. For me, I am ONLY breeding Blue, Splash and Black. But... I need a pen for a Splash rooster over blue hens. Another pen for a Blue rooster over splash girls. (to keep them from diluting out in color) And of course, I'm working with my black trio, so that is yet another pen. Right there is 3 pens, but I know I need a grow-out pen, a bachelor pen when I'm not breeding and a couple more pens to separate out lines because I'd like to do the Rotational/Spiral breeding and try to keep everyone non-related so I can cross back in and leave for a few generations and then do that again. So I'm up to 6 pens just for 3 colors.

I want to create a BIG rectangle and then divide that up with lots of pens with lots of doors. Or at least maybe a few doors and lots of low dividers I can step over to get to different breeding groups. (they don't fly or jump over low barriers) Sort of like one of the pens you have already shown before! I love that set up!! I want! That is what I was hoping my DH would set the posts for before it got so cold. But then he threw some fit about having to string it all out, and yada, yada, yada.

 

[Trish44]

HEChicken, I didn't worm my laying flock, they were wormed recently, just the rest that aren't laying right now. I had the wazine here & wanted to use it up, so I just went ahead & used it. I have the ivermectin to use next, but I need to get some syringes with needles to draw it out of the bottle with. Next time I get up to Atwoods I will have to get some, i think they have them there, anybody know? I used to save all of my broth off of chicken & such & freeze it, but haven't for awhile, yay for you getting all of that saved up. That will be nice for winter for a lot of things. I used to do a lot of canning & making jams & jellies, pickles & lots of things but it's just more work than I want to do any more. I'm sorry about Cyrus, I know you tried to keep him, but some of them you just can't keep from doing that. That's the way my RIR roo was that I finally had to re-home. I hated to get rid of him for the same reason, he was a great flock protector, but awful to people. I'm having some problems with my Speckled Sussex roo, but as soon as I get my new coop done I will be moving him in with his girls, maybe that will settle him down, we'll see. He comes at me when I'm going in to give them snacks at night usually. You would think he would be nice when he's going to get food but he's not.

Danz, you're braver than I am getting chicks now. I don't like to have little chicks around in cold weather, I just prefer to hatch them or get new ones in the spring when it's going to warm up. I don't envy you trying to work out there today, it's cold out there & the wind is blowing from the north, ugh. Even my chickens are hanging around up by the front of the house or sheltered areas today, they don't like the wind either. I'm so glad I got all of that done yesterday when it was nice out. I'm with you Hawkeye, I hate cold weather too with a passion. It makes me hurt more & I don't feel as well. I am in search of another dog run for my wheaten Ameraucanas. It seems like the ones that are on CL right now are way too high priced. I'll just hold out until I see something more reasonable. I have a temporary pen I can use for a short time until I get something else. I won't be raising lavender Orps, I have no way to get pure bred ones since the roo is just in with my general laying flock & I only have one little hen too. I just thought they were pretty, I just love the lavender color, that's why I'm doing the lavender Ameraucana project.

Hawkeye, my hens went through molt earlier in the late summer, so they're finally all grown back & laying now. It was quite a long time that most of them didn't lay while they were growing feathers back. They have all grown back except for two hens, one Australorp & my only Red Star. Those two just don't seem to be growing feathers back for some reason, they still have bare backs. They will be cold this winter if they don't start getting some feathers. I also have a new set of pullets that are kicking in with the laying now, so that helps too. I think I will stagger getting chicks so that I always have some new ones coming up to fill in when the older ones molt or slow down. I think that is the key to keeping eggs coming. I'm thinking of culling out a few of my hens that really don't lay well in the spring & replacing them with some better layers. I just experimented with some different breeds, but not all of them have been great layers. For my general laying flock I need some consistent good layers, so I think I will order some new chicks in the spring when I order my meat chickens. I'm planning on going in with Sunflowerparrot on some meat chickens in the spring so we can save on shipping, so I will just add a few layer breeds in with them too.

Well you all try to stay warm today!