Greetings from Oregon from a second-time-around "newbie"

[DobieLover]

Dear DobieLover, that was my thought as well, but I am attempting to please my better half! I am working on a backup plan, as well. Thanks for the greeting.
DG

Your better half won't be pleased at all when you have a miserable flock of chickens that are desperate for a larger home and are making a mess of everything including each other.

 

[janiedoe]

Dear DobieLover, that was my thought as well, but I am attempting to please my better half! I am working on a backup plan, as well. Thanks for the greeting.
DG

Lock your better half in a small bathroom for 3 days. Feed & water only, no flushing. Then, after the 3rd day, say "I told you so."

 

[triciayoung]

Lock your better half in a small bathroom for 3 days. Feed & water only, no flushing. Then, after the 3rd day, say "I told you so."

Love it. Can I do that too? Just for the fun of it.

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

Hi and welcome, Gibsonfarmer! Where are you in Oregon? We're in far northern California on the coast near Trinidad, one county south of Oregon. As you've already seen from the responses, there are so many kind and helpful experienced people who respond to members' questions; BYC is such a great resource and community!

 

[GibsonFarmer]

Hi and welcome, Gibsonfarmer! Where are you in Oregon? We're in far northern California on the coast near Trinidad, one county south of Oregon. As you've already seen from the responses, there are so many kind and helpful experienced people who respond to members' questions; BYC is such a great resource and community!

Hello RedwoodCoastChick,
We are in the Willamette Valley, but used to live in Medford, where our first experiences with chickens, ducks, etc happened: good ones, mostly! We would go the the redwoods fairly often, so love that part of the country! Thanks for the welcome. Anyway, back to the shop to work on the chicken tractor. I am going to expand it a bit. Our 4-5 week old chicks want to get out to play SOOO badly!! Now that spring has sprung, and warming up here, I need to get this thing built. Bye for now.

 

[Mr Spot]

Greetings everyone. We are starting a flock of chickens for the first time in over 30 years, so in one way, it's like starting all over. We are in a different town in Oregon than when we first raised chicken, ducks, rabbits, a Dexter cow, a pony, etc. (That was back when our kids were young). We have 14 chicks that are 3 to 4 weeks old now at the beginning of May of 2023. I am in the process of building a chicken tractor that is 12x5 feet, including the run which will extend under the coop, which will be 5 feet by 6 feet. I hope that it will be large enough, but am questioning whether to build an add-on run!!?? We have several breeds; 2 Australorps, 2 Barred rock, 2 Copper Morans, 2 "Color Pack" (Americauna), 2 Novagens and 4 Sapphire Gems.
They are currently taking up residence in our upstairs bonus room, housed in two watermelon crates mashed together. (it sure has gotten quite dusty up there!!! :-0
I hope to have the Coop/Tractor finished next week!
We are feeding them the Purina medicated starter for now, and adding chick grit, plus the electrolyte added to their water. I started giving them the mash right away (chick starter with added water [fermented], which they absolutely go nuts for, btw) to get them used to my hand. I also try to pick a few up per day to get them used to me. Some freak out, some not as much.
Anyway, that is my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

DG

Hello from Texas and welcome to BYC : )

 

[GibsonFarmer]

Winter update. Well, here we are, several months later, and all 14 girls( yep, no roosters) are doing splendidly. I am averaging 12 eggs a day, even now in December! I ended up with a 4x8 foot coop, with 5 laying boxes that a friend gave us, and the girls seem to be happy. Their run is made with 150 foot electrified netting, which I can move around to give them fresh grass and bugs on which to forage. I didn't actually finish my tractor, but may in the spring. Posting a couple of pics. Enjoying the chickens, and I think they don't mind me, either!

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

Well, here we are, several months later, and all 14 girls( yep, no roosters) are doing splendidly. I am averaging 12 eggs a day, even now in December!

Yay, thanks for the update! Glad things are going so well. What a lovely life you're giving your girls, and congrats on so many eggs well into December! It looks like quite a varied flock; what breeds do you have?

Have you been getting rain-drenched lately, too, or is that more along the coast? We're enjoying a rainless week between the string of atmospheric river rains here in coastal Humboldt, CA. My 8 girls are relieved to venture out of their covered run to play without getting wet, though the wood chip mulch in their yard is still very damp.

[They'd be deeply envious of all the green grass yours have to explore! Too many serious land & sky predators to let them wander outside their secure yard, alas.] Still getting 5 eggs a day, to my surprise!

Anyway, good to hear how everything's coming along up there!

 

[Debbie292d]

Gorgeous! Thanks for the update and sharing the awesome pictures!

 

[Som100]

Hello Gibsonfarmer, welcome to the forum, I'm new too.