Falling Down Heights, my daily life

[Ponypoor]

Here is a great show to watch from Nature of Things:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCijHYPehuIaORg11v4-awvg

It's good to know people are working with chickens.

 

[Ponypoor]

They are a wonderful dual-purpose breed.

I would love some brahma still, but with the selection I have coming in April I am waaaaay over my limit here. Of course much of my flock is now 5 yrs old and not laying much so I really shouldn't count them at all. That way I can easily get 10 more... right? hahahahaha

Nope though, I have my Egyptian Fayoumi and the Silver Spangled and Gold Penciled Hamburgs and likely a couple Austrolorp and Wyandotte (I got a couple extra each of them in case any died for Bert's Hooman).

There is always next year!

 

[fluffycrow]

Here is a great show to watch from Nature of Things:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCijHYPehuIaORg11v4-awvg

It's good to know people are working with chickens.

Indeed! So much is still unknown about them, that would certainly help us better their care.

It also goes to show how interesting chickens are. Most chicken tenders already know this, but talk to someone outside the ‘know’, and they all look at you funny

 

[fluffycrow]

I would love some brahma still, but with the selection I have coming in April I am waaaaay over my limit here. Of course much of my flock is now 5 yrs old and not laying much so I really shouldn't count them at all. That way I can easily get 10 more... right? hahahahaha

That’s what chicken math says!

The Brahmas should work better for you than they did for me. They were too fat, too feathery, and too pea-combed to enjoy half the year, let alone lay. All those should be upsides for you!

Nope though, I have my Egyptian Fayoumi and the Silver Spangled and Gold Penciled Hamburgs and likely a couple Austrolorp and Wyandotte (I got a couple extra each of them in case any died for Bert's Hooman).

Ohhhh Fayoumis. As you might remember (I don’t even remember if I mentioned it) I wanted to get some Fayoumi eggs along with the others I ordered during the summer. Hopefully following last year’s epic failure, I’ll manage to bring in some new breeds. Fayoumis are still at the top of my list. I’m willing to bet that you’ll be more successful in getting them, so please do share experiences as they grow up! I’ve heard so much conflicting info about them

 

[Ponypoor]

Indeed! So much is still unknown about them, that would certainly help us better their care.

It also goes to show how interesting chickens are. Most chicken tenders already know this, but talk to someone outside the ‘know’, and they all look at you funny

I know right? Mine have a good vocabulary and let it be known to all when they are unhappy.

Did you have any issues accessing the video? I know some on FBA were not able to access one of the links I posted.

I posted this link so hoping they could see it.

 

[Ponypoor]

That’s what chicken math says!

The Brahmas should work better for you than they did for me. They were too fat, too feathery, and too pea-combed to enjoy half the year, let alone lay. All those should be upsides for you!


Ohhhh Fayoumis. As you might remember (I don’t even remember if I mentioned it) I wanted to get some Fayoumi eggs along with the others I ordered during the summer. Hopefully following last year’s epic failure, I’ll manage to bring in some new breeds. Fayoumis are still at the top of my list. I’m willing to bet that you’ll be more successful in getting them, so please do share experiences as they grow up! I’ve heard so much conflicting info about them

Yes I bet the Brahma would be very unhappy with the heat - they are not bred for the hot climates. My Henny Penny is very unhappy with the heat, and seems to be one of the hens here doing not too badly with this cold snap - she's like a little Ptarmigan hahaha (extreme northern type of grouse).

Yes I remember the problems you had with the Fayoumi eggs, I am getting day olds, just 3, going to try them out and see how they do. Wish I could ship some day olds to you
I'll have to come and visit and bring a bunch to you hahahaha.

As for the cold, it doesn't matter how 'winter hardy' they are when we get to the temps I have here it's hard on all of them. There have been many studies done with optimal temps for poultry; the good temp range seems to be 15C - 24C (60F - 75F) which jives with my observations. Though I find mine are 'ok' down to 40F (6C) though they do better around 50F (10C).

In the Summer they definitely do not like the humidity, so 24C and high humidity is warm for them. I think the Fayoumi will do better in those hot temps but I know I will have some issues with the extreme cold here, I also have 6 Hamburg coming (3 silver spangled, and 3 gold penciled), I am not sure how they will handle the extremes.

Today's task for me is to get up some 6mil poly to 'wall off' one end of the barn so that I can put a heater there and warm things up. If I can get it to 40F I will be happy - so will the chooks. I'll put up one of those plastic curtains they use in cold storage places (with the strips so you can walk through), this way the chooks can go into the other part of the barn and dig all they want in horse poop in the stalls, then come back to the warmth, eat and drink - lay eggs...

Well better get cracking and get to the barn - have a wonderful day/evening everyone!

 

[fluffycrow]

I know right? Mine have a good vocabulary and let it be known to all when they are unhappy.

Did you have any issues accessing the video? I know some on FBA were not able to access one of the links I posted.

I posted this link so hoping they could see it.

Same here. Though I’ve got to admit it’s mostly two that make all the fuss. The others voice their displeasure, but quietly and respectfully. Those two have a concert ALL DAY LONG.

No problem with the link here. I don’t usually have problems with YT links. I think some things can be restricted, but I see that mainly happening for the US peeps

 

[Ponypoor]

Same here. Though I’ve got to admit it’s mostly two that make all the fuss. The others voice their displeasure, but quietly and respectfully. Those two have a concert ALL DAY LONG.

No problem with the link here. I don’t usually have problems with YT links. I think some things can be restricted, but I see that mainly happening for the US peeps

I have a couple of whiny ladies - they go on and on and on.... sheesh!

They are just bored and tired of the snow and cold. I can't even let them out on Mount Poopmore (my manure pile) it's too cold and it's all covered in snow too! Which is unusual, normally the heat it generates keeps it snow free, but the extreme cold has it covered in snow.

Another month and hopefully will see some milder weather. Though I have seen extremely cold and snowy weather end of March and well into April many times.

 

[fluffycrow]

Yes I bet the Brahma would be very unhappy with the heat - they are not bred for the hot climates. My Henny Penny is very unhappy with the heat, and seems to be one of the hens here doing not too badly with this cold snap - she's like a little Ptarmigan hahaha (extreme northern type of grouse).

Yes I remember the problems you had with the Fayoumi eggs, I am getting day olds, just 3, going to try them out and see how they do. Wish I could ship some day olds to you
I'll have to come and visit and bring a bunch to you hahahaha.

As for the cold, it doesn't matter how 'winter hardy' they are when we get to the temps I have here it's hard on all of them. There have been many studies done with optimal temps for poultry; the good temp range seems to be 15C - 24C (60F - 75F) which jives with my observations. Though I find mine are 'ok' down to 40F (6C) though they do better around 50F (10C).

In the Summer they definitely do not like the humidity, so 24C and high humidity is warm for them. I think the Fayoumi will do better in those hot temps but I know I will have some issues with the extreme cold here, I also have 6 Hamburg coming (3 silver spangled, and 3 gold penciled), I am not sure how they will handle the extremes.

Today's task for me is to get up some 6mil poly to 'wall off' one end of the barn so that I can put a heater there and warm things up. If I can get it to 40F I will be happy - so will the chooks. I'll put up one of those plastic curtains they use in cold storage places (with the strips so you can walk through), this way the chooks can go into the other part of the barn and dig all they want in horse poop in the stalls, then come back to the warmth, eat and drink - lay eggs...

Well better get cracking and get to the barn - have a wonderful day/evening everyone!

Yup. You’re right though, with those kinds of temps even the most cold tolerant of birds might struggle.
I wonder if the Russian Orloff would be a good fit as well? As I understand it, they evolved in a similar climate (sort of).

I love ptarmigans! There would be absolutely no use for this here, but it would be very cool if chickens molten from a winter look to a spring/summer one.

Hope those three Fayoumis prove to be fun birds!
Yeah, the failure of that project is probably on me. I knew better than to ship eggs during our summers; that, along with how long they took to get here (which was the only thing out of my control) is probably why that ended so horribly. Onwards and upwards!

Interesting. I would love a link to one such study. That’s the cool thing about talking to people who keep chickens from all across the planet, the experiences differ greatly, while other things are exactly the same! In this case, my experiences have been different. Anything below 20C and they become moody. 25C is probably where they’re the most comfortable, or even 27.
It’s possible that the Fayoumi and Hamburgs might struggle a bit; I doubt they’ll show much the first year (maybe a few frostbitten combs). I’d imagine the Hamburgs are more cold tolerant, simply because of their country of origin, rather than any actual research on my part.

Hope you can manage insulating the chicken quarters enough…40F should be much better than whatever is going on outside