Hello from Tallahassee, Fl

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You are very blessed to be able to provide some of the food your family consumes and not have to rely so much on the grocery stores. I keep a small garden going throughout the year. Right now I'm growing tomatoes, bell peppers, red potatoes, onions, garlic, and blackberries. My three blueberry bushes are struggling. I’m hoping that the compost from the chickens will help. I also have two small Loquat trees and two Fig trees, but neither is bearing yet. Oh, and I have one Crabapple tree. I guess you can tell I dabble with my garden!

Well, I didn’t get my coop painted. I helped with some community service on Saturday, and Sunday afternoon I went geocaching with some friends to a small town about 60 miles from Tally. I played instead of worked. But I do have all the painting supplies sitting by the coop and ready to go!

I bought some of the Wazine. I did notice a little watery stool, but nothing major. I’ll try the yogurt too. I’ve been adding apple cider vinegar to their water also, but not with the Wazine.

I feed the chicks mealy worms from my hands as a treat. It’s the one thing they will come and grab from me. They ran from the bread and old veggies. Not sure what their problem is.

I’m going to a “swap” at a feed store in Cairo, GA, this upcoming Saturday. I might take 3 or 4 of my White Leghorns to trade. I have six and would like a little more variety. Not sure if anyone will want my “plain vanilla” Leghorns.

TTFN, got to get back to work.
 
KallippidesKoop said:
You are very blessed to be able to provide some of the food your family consumes and not have to rely so much on the grocery stores. I keep a small garden going throughout the year. Right now I'm growing tomatoes, bell peppers, red potatoes, onions, garlic, and blackberries. My three blueberry bushes are struggling. I’m hoping that the compost from the chickens will help. I also have two small Loquat trees and two Fig trees, but neither is bearing yet. Oh, and I have one Crabapple tree. I guess you can tell I dabble with my garden!



My apologies for such a delayed response. I was in a car wreck last week and wound up being admitted to the neuro ICU with a concussion and small hemorrhage in my brain. This past week has been a struggle, but I'm finally on the mend! (More about that later)

Yes, we are blessed to raise some of our own food, but so are you AND I am SO jealous you can do it year round!

We have a fairly long spring/summer/fall and can grow quite a bit, but I have to rely on what we canned/store bought through the winter. Would love to have a greenhouse, but they are SO expensive to buy and/or build.

What is a Loquat tree?? We want to plant some fruit trees, but waited too late this year and we are in a pretty deep drought year (AGAIN) so conserving water is imperative. We did plant two Raspberry bushes and two Blueberry ones, but I'm not sure how long before they'll produce and hubby made a strawberry bed, but again we waited too late. At the moment it has welded wire over it with some of my potted herb planters to keep the cats from making a litter box out of it LOL Yes, I can tell you dabble, but just think when the fruit trees and bushes produce! It will be SO worth it :)


Well, I didn’t get my coop painted. I helped with some community service on Saturday, and Sunday afternoon I went geocaching with some friends to a small town about 60 miles from Tally. I played instead of worked. But I do have all the painting supplies sitting by the coop and ready to go!

I could look it up online, but what is geocaching? Sometimes playing is exactly what we need and am a firm believer that all work and no play makes for a really sad life! Have you gotten your coop painted yet??

I bought some of the Wazine. I did notice a little watery stool, but nothing major. I’ll try the yogurt too. I’ve been adding apple cider vinegar to their water also, but not with the Wazine.

How did they like the yogurt, if you've tried it? Could you tell a difference in their appearance after the worming?

I feed the chicks mealy worms from my hands as a treat. It’s the one thing they will come and grab from me. They ran from the bread and old veggies. Not sure what their problem is.

My older hens will not take food from my hand, never would, but they are SO excited when I come to the coop now. They know I'm usually carrying a big ole platter of veggies for them. I try to give them salad stuff each day, but if I don't have any I toss them some mealy worms. How old are your babies now?
My young ones go NUTS over the mealy worms too - and today I attempted to hand feed them some smushed blueberries. They kind of responded, but were looking for their worms. They are loving their new brooder space.


I’m going to a “swap” at a feed store in Cairo, GA, this upcoming Saturday. I might take 3 or 4 of my White Leghorns to trade. I have six and would like a little more variety. Not sure if anyone will want my “plain vanilla” Leghorns.

TTFN, got to get back to work.

How was your trip? Did you sell your Leghorns? I would love to go to a 'swap', but need to talk to the OKC folks and find one!
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I'll send you a PM about my wreck.
 
Just checking in!

We had a storm come through Sunday with much needed rain, but it fried my satellite! I'm on my phone, which is not user friendly for sites of this nature! lol

Hope you finished painting and your chicks are good. I hope to post updated photos when I'm back online!
 
I meant to reply sooner, but my daughter came to visit for several days, and I did not turn on my computer at all!

I think your chickens are about the same size as mine. I got them the last week of March and they are going on 11 weeks old. I'm probably the last person to ask about Nip Nip being a roo, since I can't figure out my roos either!

Here are some current pics. Click on the pics and they will enlarge.

This is 9 of my 10 chickens. One of the White Leghorns must be camera shy and ran inside the coop! There are three RIRs, three Barred Plymouth Rocks (black/white) and two Easter Eggers. I believe the light white and black one in the far left corner is a rooster that I call "Roux." Its got more red comb and waddle than the rest, and last night I heard a very STRANGE sound come out of its beak. The rest of the chickens peep peep and trill all the time, so maybe they are all hens.

I

Here is a pic of my coop and run. I bought the coop on the left and the low run on the right off Craig's List. Big mistake, but I've learned my lesson. The low run has leaves and hay on the ground and two roosting posts, one in each section. .



Here is a closer shot where you can see inside the taller run. I put a ladder in there for the chickens to roost on during the day, and they seem to enjoy it. The waterer is in there also. The ground is just my sandy soil, and I add a little more sand to it because they love taking sand baths. In the low run on the right and under the red metal is a hanging feeder. I can reach it from inside the taller run. I can't grow grass in this area of my yard, so it was a good spot to put the chicken pen.




Here is the back of my small coop.




Here is a link to show what the coop looked like when it was new. I believe the owner had it for more than the year he claimed. I didn't realize until I got it home that the roof and tops of the nesting boxes leaked and the wood was falling apart. I took the A frame roof off, increased the height of the coop, and added a metal slanting roof. The back door was too small, so I added another back door. Most of the wood I used for the height increase, the door, and the tops of the nesting boxes was left over siding from my house. My yard man helped me work on it every two weeks when he came to mow.

http://chickensaloon.com/the-rambler-backyard-chicken-coop/

I know my coop is too small for my 10 chickens. I have a concrete slab 14 ft. X 16 ft. in my back yard that the previous owner used with portable kennels for his hunting dogs. I need an new shed since my old metal one is falling apart. I'm thinking about making half the slab (8 X 14) into a chicken coop and the other half into a shed. I would get rid of the small coop and attach the tall/short run to the newer coop. However, before I do this, I really need to make sure that this hobby isn't just a passing fancy of mine. I hope it's not like my beading hobby but more like my knitting/crochet hobby! (Believe me, I have a lot of money invested in beads that I will probably never use. Maybe I can make necklaces and bracelets for my chickens!)

Well, I hope you enjoy my pics!
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Your babies are looking happy and healthy!

I think your coop and run are very functional and if the birds seem to be getting on well, then I wouldn't over-worry about space.
You said you know your coop/run is small for 10 chickens, but I'm wondering if they are picking on each other, or are they getting on well together? My second hatch of 26 have been more aggressive to overcrowding, while the first 16 were more tolerant. For the first time I've purchased some 'feather fixer' feed that I've added to the young ones medicated feed. There are several with hardly any back feathers. Yours look like they're fully feathered and happy so I wouldn't over-worry about your space being limited for the time being.

I think the concrete pad is a great idea for another coop and would make cleaning the floor very easy! Do you have a favorite coop plan you are thinking about?

I see you have a couple of speckled, white skinned chickens. Are they your Easter Eggers? I had one black chick with a cream colored dot on top of it's head and I thought it was a Marans, but was told Barred Rock because it had yellow skin.
Well, that SAME chick now has a speckled body, yellowish beak, WHITE legs and I'm wondering if it isn't indeed a Cuckoo Marans. It's driving me crazy not knowing what she is.
Whatever she is I really want to find out because out of ALL the chicks she is by far the one that is less likely to run, settles down quickly once you have hands on her, and is overall very friendly. I think I would like more of her kind.


https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=72F261699A05A210!1423&authkey=!ABfPUK7X3jtdLww&ithint=folder, ~ The first pic is of the older girls enjoying their outing. The other two are of the Mystery Chick :)

Glad your daughter was able to come visit. It must be very hard not having her close. I know it would be for me and know one day I will be in that very situation. My youngest (he's 16) has always wanted to travel and live in various parts of the country (maybe even the world), so I'm preparing myself now for his departure!


Well, I guess that's all for now!
 
The only time my chickens pick on one another is when I first bring a new one home. I usually leave the newbie in a dog kennel in the middle of the chicken run and let everyone stare at each other for a few days. Then, I let the newbie out, they are mostly acclimated but there is still a little “pecking” going on as they establish their pecking order.

The chickens are fully feathered, and the only loose feathers I see are the white ones that are falling out of the RIR’s tails. They are almost completely red now.

My white chicken is not my Easter Egger but a White Leghorn. I have one pure EE and another one that is part Cochin. It has feathers on its legs, and I believe it might be a rooster! I can’t tell, but I’m sure I will find out soon enough.

I will tell you that my Barred Rock and EE/Cochin Cross roosters are MEAN, MEAN, MEAN! They try to peck me all the time. I think they are trying to crow too. Recently, I’ve heard some strange sounds coming from the run that sounds like honking. Not sure if that is a “crowing” or not. I have to get rid of them this upcoming weekend. My next-door-neighbor is the county inspector!

I’m not sure what your “mystery” chick is. It looks similar to my barred rock, but the bars are not as straight as mine.

I went to a local swap in Tally this past Saturday and came home with a Blue Maran. She is very pretty. She is about a month older than my oldest chickens, so they range in age from 3 to 4 months now. The lady who sold her to me said the hen should start laying in the next month or so. I’m excited about that. However, I do need to figure out how I can keep the rest of the chickens from sleeping in the nesting boxes. I have them blocked off for now but will have to open them back up when I see the first egg!

I’ve gone back and forth between using the concrete pad and just adding a new coop to the taller run. It would be a lot cheaper and quicker to go that route. Plus, if I sell this place a few years down the line and move to TN, I could dismantle the new coop and take it with me. If I sell this place, I’m not sure the new owners would want a chicken coop attached to a storage shed! Something to think about.

Yes, it was wonderful spending time with my DD. I hope we can spend another week or so together before the end of her summer break. I am constantly reminded of the saying I heard years ago: God only loans us our children. How true that is.

Well, I guess I’ve run out of updates.
 
KallippidesKoop said:
The only time my chickens pick on one another is when I first bring a new one home. I usually leave the newbie in a dog kennel in the middle of the chicken run and let everyone stare at each other for a few days. Then, I let the newbie out, they are mostly acclimated but there is still a little “pecking” going on as they establish their pecking order.

I've been worrying how I am going to introduce the second flock with the first. I have too many to use a dog kennel, unless I do it a few at a time, but lord I don't know lol
Figure one night hubby and I will go out after dark and nestle flock 1 inside the coop and I'll be out there at daylight to monitor the situation *crosses fingers* They are almost big enough - maybe another two weeks! :)

The chickens are fully feathered, and the only loose feathers I see are the white ones that are falling out of the RIR’s tails. They are almost completely red now.

My 1st flock is as well and they look so 'adultish' now and soooo pretty! Bet your reds are gorgeous!! I think it's one of my favorite colors so far.

My white chicken is not my Easter Egger but a White Leghorn. I have one pure EE and another one that is part Cochin. It has feathers on its legs, and I believe it might be a rooster! I can’t tell, but I’m sure I will find out soon enough.

Oh that is disappointing! Oh I hope it isn't a roo because you'll have to get rid of it. Too bad we are so far apart :)

I will tell you that my Barred Rock and EE/Cochin Cross roosters are MEAN, MEAN, MEAN! They try to peck me all the time. I think they are trying to crow too. Recently, I’ve heard some strange sounds coming from the run that sounds like honking. Not sure if that is a “crowing” or not. I have to get rid of them this upcoming weekend. My next-door-neighbor is the county inspector!

Like they truly come at you and peck or are pecking at your toes??? I made the mistake of wearing glitter polish on my toenails and HOLY COW I couldn't keep them off my feet LOL Had to carry my rake with me and shoo them away until they lost interest! My 2nd flocks still too young to make roo sounds, so not sure what it sounds like, but I'll be on the alert for 'honking' coming from the coop :D Just tell your neighbor you had your television up very loud and was watching a farm show LOLOL

I’m not sure what your “mystery” chick is. It looks similar to my barred rock, but the bars are not as straight as mine.

I cannot be sure what she is either, yet, but I do know she is quite the aggressor to the other birds and she's as big, if not bigger, than the largest Brahma!! I'll have to do some research on the Barred Rocks and see if she traits like them.

I went to a local swap in Tally this past Saturday and came home with a Blue Maran. She is very pretty. She is about a month older than my oldest chickens, so they range in age from 3 to 4 months now. The lady who sold her to me said the hen should start laying in the next month or so. I’m excited about that. However, I do need to figure out how I can keep the rest of the chickens from sleeping in the nesting boxes. I have them blocked off for now but will have to open them back up when I see the first egg!

Oh I want pictures! Does she really look blue? Oh fresh eggs, my mouth is watering, and I am jealous. NOT envious, flat out green with jealousy at the prospect! :D Mine won't do me the honors til at least September. Were your chicks roosting in the nests? I had 3 of the black sex-links doing that and pooping all over the place. I had to block their favorite one off, they went next door, so I blocked that one. We did this for several nights straight until I finally just blocked them all!! Persistent cusses they are!

I’ve gone back and forth between using the concrete pad and just adding a new coop to the taller run. It would be a lot cheaper and quicker to go that route. Plus, if I sell this place a few years down the line and move to TN, I could dismantle the new coop and take it with me. If I sell this place, I’m not sure the new owners would want a chicken coop attached to a storage shed! Something to think about.

Mmmm, that is a good question to ask and answer. Now that you've brought it up it might be best to add on to the existing one.
Food for thought; if you built on the concrete could you design it where the nests could easily be removed and the space used for storage or converted for another use? I'm sure you will figure out what is the best option.

Yes, it was wonderful spending time with my DD. I hope we can spend another week or so together before the end of her summer break. I am constantly reminded of the saying I heard years ago: God only loans us our children. How true that is.

This is soooo true! Sometimes it makes me very sad when I think about how quickly the time went by and how I miss my babies being babies! Then I have a family dinner and we're all together and look at how our family has increased in size (two girlfriends and a granddaughter) and I feel very blessed! I do hope you both get another week before the summer ends.

Well, I guess I’ve run out of updates.

The only real happenings around here are I'm having guttering put on the east and west sides of the coop. When it rains the water is pooling just north of the run and it is making the soil right inside the run moist. Moist soil + chickens = deep holes! I never knew chickens could dig to China, but they can if the soil is damp! LOL

I've been letting Flock 1 out around 2-3pm and leaving them out until around 8.... So far they go into my barn area and hang out with my heifer calf (she's being weaned) and dig under my large storage shed. I've been really surprised that they are not more adventurous. They are beginning to come running when I call out, "chick, chick, chick" and even follow me a bit out of their comfort zone, but they don't stay there long and they all take off running back toward the barn LOL It's so fun to watch! I wanted them for tick/spider control around the house too, but at the rate they're going it'll never happen!!

I'll close with my latest pictures.. The first two are of Flock 1 -- and the second of Flock 2. I love the little Partridge roo sitting up there with the Brahma :)




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Congratulations on your new flock! Glad to hear you are using hardware cloth instead of chicken wire. It will keep the raccoons and other predators out of the coop. Did the clerk tell you what breed the chicks were?
 
Michael OShay said:
Congratulations on your new flock! Glad to hear you are using hardware cloth instead of chicken wire. It will keep the raccoons and other predators out of the coop. Did the clerk tell you what breed the chicks were?
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You can disregard my question about the clerk. I missed seeing the answer in post 11. I am surprised he didn't tell you what breeds you were getting when you purchased the chicks. He probably didn't know himself. Good luck with your flock.
 

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