Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[bribre]

Love your story and great pics!!!

 

[Candyman]

ozexpat lovely pictures.... lovely place

 

[ozexpat]

Lock down today. 50 EGGS LOOK VIABLE

I cant believe I have been here 19 days already. Originally I was just coming for a week and then working two weeks before returning againfor about five days. I have an amazing boss who ok 'd me to sneak an extra two weeks here. THANK YOU DENNIS!!

 

[SilkieSensation]

OK, I admit it. I have been lurking

We had snow here for the past 2 weeks & now rain the past 2 days so I have been enjoying your tropical pix & trying to stay warm. Good luck on your hatch & with raising the new babies. The rats may present a problem for the young birds & will definitely eat eggs if given opportunity. This may be part of the reason you are losing so many of your "local" chicks before they reach maturity. A friend of mine was just complaining to me today that a rat has invaded her barn & stolen all but 1 of the eggs right out from under her Silkie hen over the past 2 days. She is on a search & destroy mission looking for said rat.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Lock down today. 50 EGGS LOOK VIABLE

I cant believe I have been here 19 days already. Originally I was just coming for a week and then working two weeks before returning againfor about five days. I have an amazing boss who ok 'd me to sneak an extra two weeks here. THANK YOU DENNIS!!

AWESOMENESS!!!!

 

[OffGridMAMA]

50!!!!! Wow!!!! Hope they all hatch without complications can't wait to see ur babies..

 

[ozexpat]

OK, I admit it. I have been lurking

We had snow here for the past 2 weeks & now rain the past 2 days so I have been enjoying your tropical pix & trying to stay warm. Good luck on your hatch & with raising the new babies. The rats may present a problem for the young birds & will definitely eat eggs if given opportunity. This may be part of the reason you are losing so many of your "local" chicks before they reach maturity. A friend of mine was just complaining to me today that a rat has invaded her barn & stolen all but 1 of the eggs right out from under her Silkie hen over the past 2 days. She is on a search & destroy mission looking for said rat.

OK, I admit it. I have been lurking

We had snow here for the past 2 weeks & now rain the past 2 days so I have been enjoying your tropical pix & trying to stay warm. Good luck on your hatch & with raising the new babies. The rats may present a problem for the young birds & will definitely eat eggs if given opportunity. This may be part of the reason you are losing so many of your "local" chicks before they reach maturity. A friend of mine was just complaining to me today that a rat has invaded her barn & stolen all but 1 of the eggs right out from under her Silkie hen over the past 2 days. She is on a search & destroy mission looking for said rat.

The local chickens must have heard that they were being invaded by foreigners. There are chicks everywhere. 4 of the mamas have 4 babies each. They are 3 to 4 weeks old. The new coop will have cinder blocks half buried around the coop and run and then 12 inches of galvanized steel sheet above the blocks all. The way around. This should keep the rats out. I am getting some plastic drums today to try the sally rat killer.

 

[ozexpat]

I am quite thoroughly enjoying your story! Thank you for posting your adventures. It helps to escape, even vicariously, when the temps are cold, and the skies are gray. I am going to be getting my first chicks sometime in March, I believe. I look forward to beginning an adventure of my own. Keep the updates coming!

I am allergic to cold weather. SoCal is cold enough for me. On Thursday I got a good dose of sunburn while building the coop. I am currently a certified red neck.

Good luck with your chicks. Keep us posted.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

The local chickens must have heard that they were being invaded by foreigners. There are chicks everywhere. 4 of the mamas have 4 babies each. They are 3 to 4 weeks old.

The new coop will have cinder blocks half buried around the coop and run and then 12 inches of galvanized steel sheet above the blocks all. The way around. This should keep the rats out. I am getting some plastic drums today to try the sally rat killer.

The cinder blocks are a foundation or simple supports, just wondering about surface underneath and critters ummm RATS!

 

[ozexpat]

The cinders are to keep dogs from digging under. On top will be a 2 x 2. The GI sheet will hang down an inch and up 11 inches. Another 2x2 will be supporting the top of the sheet. Above that will be 6 feet of plastic chicken wire.