Dixie Chicks

[tntchix]

chickens have been enjoying their sprouts

giving them sprouted boss once or twice a week..want to get some different seed and sprout it for them also might do flax...

yum!

I dumped the moldy sprouts today, and decided to try again with peas this time. Karin should be picking up some more grains at some point, but until then I'll do the peas. All I've got in grains is a mix of wheat and oats, and the oat just isn't cooperating. I hope the peas do better. The wheat was growing quite nicely in there though, I snapped a few pics before I dumped the contents in the compost.











It seems to be growing crazy fast.

I can't wait to see how the peas do.

Good Morning Everyone! Temp is -10F here this morning.......I haven't been out to the barn/coop yet....trying to delay it for as long as I can..........

vehve, I haven't tried oats but others have had trouble with them. Your system is very cool.

I have a broody and am thinking of giving her eggs. She is an almost 7 month old Icelandic......

-20F right now.

Morning everyone! -18 and 14" of snow. Bleh. Going to be almost 40 on Saturday so I'm sure it'll flood next! Had to chase the ducks in the barn last night. They were all piled up in the snow in front of the barn. Silly ducks. Makes me wonder how they ever survive. All but one stayed in overnight. Went out to check on everyone and there was 1 laying in the snow. It was my oldest hen I got. Oh well, guess I get an A for effort. The mandarins were piled in behind a piece of 2 ft tall plywood I had leaned up against the wall inside the barn to provide some more shelter for the ducks. Figured if they got up under it the body heat would help hold there. They were the only ones who used it.

Surprisingly got 12 eggs from the hens and none were frozen! The duck eggs on the other hand could of knocked somebody out! I'll be happy when winters over...

woo hoo about to go check for the 2nd time first two weren't frozen though. LOL

 

[hennible]

I like that sprout set up Felix, I think I'll get some clear stackable totes for my greenhouse starts.... I'll just use the peat pots in side them... Yup think it will work.... A few holes drilled high for ventilation.... If it doesn't go well I can use them for sprouting

 

[bamachicks8]

Today's entertainment: chickTV
Step 1 put some bread crust in brooder
Step 2 watch the chaos that soon follows

 

[perchie.girl]

Hi guys been having computer problems... missed a bizillian posts. I tried skimming but dont have the patience.

The water tub of choice that I use are those black ones made of recycled materials. I LOVE them... So versitile... strong enough to use as a feed tub for a Percheron who has no issues over putting a size five Foot in it when shes done eating. So I had several when I first got chickens.

I tried those white and red waterers....

after two days in 100 degree heat.... I tried the all metal founts you turn and pull the galvanized lid off and fill. Problem with those is back wash... again 100 degree heat and what ever back wash is in the drinking rim migrates into the inside of the fount.....

When I switched out to the black tubs I was filling them every day with the hose. They hold at least two days worth of water if i forgot. Just dump sprits out the sand and refill. I dont even take em out of my dirt floored coop. Here the perk rate is seconds, and a bit of a muddy floor is a plus when its hot.

From there I evolved it to an automatic waterer by installing a Stock tank float. Same deal for cleaning dump sprits or swish with a toilet scubber and set upright to refill. I also learned to keep the waterer out of the direct sun.... one time I splashed some water on my foot and OW.... not horribly hot but hot enough. So out of the sun it went. I had a resin plastic table to set over the top... The bonus there was NO MORE chickens roosting on the rim of the tub.

Here in the winter if it were to freeze solid I would remove the automatic float and just dump the block out and refill. those tubs have very angled sides so nothing would stick.

deb

 

[Mahen100]

Guineas are awesome! I love all the noise they make.

Great watch dogs, just wish I could have a trio here, but I am pushing local ordinances with the one roo and dozen hens. I am so glad I stumbled into this thread! Awsome, awesome, awesome. (Bows low to Ambergem, thread starter, who lives on one of the MOST beautiful places on earth!)

A bit about myself in TN, currently 10 F degrees, and sometimes 105 F in the summer. We invented humid here, I think.

I currently have ONE viable egg on day 19 in a Brinsea Mini Advance which I am locking tight after this post. I don't know if it will make it through hatch, and am sad the little guy will have no sibs. It is exciting for me cause should it make, it will be the very first chick from my only roo (technically he'll turn roo in May, as I hatched the BBS Black English Orp last spring.)

Mahen100
Betty

 

[hennible]

Hi Betty!
A stuffed animal is great for lone chicks by the way.

 

[Mahen100]

Hi Betty!
A stuffed animal is great for lone chicks by the way.

Is this one big enough?

Hi back, Hennible, and thanks for the reminder.

 

[bamachicks8]

Hi Betty
Wow that has got to be the creepiest chicken head I've ever seen.
on your egg hatching

 

[Ravynscroft]

@Mahen100

Hey, neighbor!!!

 

[Mahen100]

A neighbor in TN. How's the weather?