Hudson Valley NY *chat thread*

[carress]

Hi all,
I'm in the Hudson Valley- T O Newburgh.
I may know a couple folks on this thread as I do the tailgates and will strike up a conversation with anyone who looks like she likes chickens. I've even been known to knock on a strangers door b/c I saw chickens in the yard.
I have tons of birds - mostly mixed breed chickens. But I also have a few ducks - who are wearing out their welcome.

Christine

 

[LSzajko]

Hi all,
I'm in the Hudson Valley- T O Newburgh.
I may know a couple folks on this thread as I do the tailgates and will strike up a conversation with anyone who looks like she likes chickens. I've even been known to knock on a strangers door b/c I saw chickens in the yard.
I have tons of birds - mostly mixed breed chickens. But I also have a few ducks - who are wearing out their welcome.

Christine

Hi Christine
New Windsor here....which tailgate do you go to? TSC? How many chickens do you have? I have 16 hens/mixed...1 very busy and loud rooster. Nice to see you here!

 

[LSzajko]

UUUugggghhhhht. Why do they defy like that? Sounds to me like Zach might be in store for a laptop's worth of chores. My 7 year old DD was really being defiant over the past few months as well, we had long chats about how we have rules so that people and things don't get hurt. Despite our chats, she decided she would not mind and regardless of several warnings on the day in question about how she was playing, she ended up hurting herself (not bad, just scratches and a bit of a bruise). It was one of those parenting moments when you can see the potential for an accident happening, but not a dangerous activity and so only a warning, not stopping them, is indicated (she was chasing the puppy around on her hands and feet and her hand went out from under her and she gave herself a bit of rug burn on her nose). We had the chat again. Things are a bit better now. She is one of those kids who has to test the boundries to see if they are really there or not and don't necessarily understand that we really do have their best interests in mind. I feel your parenting frustration. New puppy and young children, a mixed blessing at times. 

Ouch! Glad shes ok
I suspended all xbox activities until I get a new laptop. I'm off for the MLK holiday tomorrow....I'm thinking a good sweep of the basement is in order. Zach will be less than thrilled!

 

[JerseyHen]

Thank you : ) I was hoping I could just give them food, water, and shelter and they would hang out in the orchard.

You can give it a try, you never know. My neighbor said they stayed in her yard for a few weeks after they got out. She had a woodland garden used and a lot of bird feeders. We are waiting to see if they come back in spring.

 

[carress]

Lszajko,
I have about 80 now. Most of them are new. I upped the size of my flock-mostly with eggs I hatched withmy students at work. Some were may birds that"weren't". I go to the tsc ones...I've been to the one upstate at Berkshire farms. The man who runs the horticulture program is awesome. One day I'll go to the one at the fairgrounds near Albany-can't recall the name.
Jersey hen, I sent you a message about the pigs you mentioned.

 

[LSzajko]

Quote:
I love the TSC parking lot meets. I hope we can meet up there sometime. I would like to pick up a few pullets this Spring when the meets start up again even though I'm a little leary since my rooster seems to be forming opinions on who he likes and dislikes these days. He chases my son but he's 8 and can be a little rambunctuous and then there's Murphy the puppy who just freaks the chickens out as soon as they see him. But yesterday, I asked my DD (she's 24) to bring up some treats. I thought I heard her screaming (she's a drama queen so it didn't really surprise me she was screaming) but when I looked out the window she was running and Mr. Blue the Roo was in hot pursuit. She said he attacked her. After I stopped laughing I realized he's turning into a beast. Not good! Anyway...80 chickens! Wow! You must get a ton of eggs! Do you have any other livestock?

 

[Coupe]

Lszajko, Mr.Blue is your Orpinton right? Thats very odd, because they are normaly very sweet natured chickens! You better put him in his place befors he hurts your 8 year old! Rooster can do some damage! I have a scar on the back of my leg from a leg horn Roo I use to have...he would sneak up behind me and attack! He was sent to freezer camp. You dont really want to breed aggressive birds!

 

[LSzajko]

Quote:
Yep..he's the Blue Orp. He doesn't attack me or my husband...just Zach and now Samantha. She said he pecked at the back of her leg. So far he has only chased Zachary. I'm definitely going to keep a closer eye on him. Why does he pick and choose who he doesn't like? Is it because he's used to us and not the kids...? This is not good. Another issue:: Why are some of the chickens roosting outside of the coop (in the run) at night? DH went out there the other night when he took Murphy out and a few were on top of the feed bin. The rest of the girls were in the coop. Why are they all gettin' weird?! There's no more room for CraZiness in my homestead!!! How are your ducks and chickens holding up lately? Good, I hope~ Another deep freeze and now it's snowing. Ew!

 

[Coupe]

Quote:
Yep..he's the Blue Orp. He doesn't attack me or my husband...just Zach and now Samantha. She said he pecked at the back of her leg. So far he has only chased Zachary. I'm definitely going to keep a closer eye on him. Why does he pick and choose who he doesn't like? Is it because he's used to us and not the kids...? This is not good. Another issue:: Why are some of the chickens roosting outside of the coop (in the run) at night? DH went out there the other night when he took Murphy out and a few were on top of the feed bin. The rest of the girls were in the coop. Why are they all gettin' weird?! There's no more room for CraZiness in my homestead!!! How are your ducks and chickens holding up lately? Good, I hope~ Another deep freeze and now it's snowing. Ew!

He see's the kids as a threat! Might be because he dosnt know them or could be somthing they are wearing..idk really. As for the hens sleeping outside, have you noticed any hens being bullied at all? Most of the time they have been "kicked out" of the coop by a more dominate hen , or they are being picked on while roosting.. Everyone here is doing alright..the young ducks lost some toes and I just put them outside again acouple days ago...figures it would freeze again right as the little guys are getting better!

 

[LSzajko]

Quote:
So sorry about the young ducks' toes. This winter has been really tough...the worst I can recall in a long time. Then again, in the past, I've never had to worry about keeping chickens from getting frostbite and defrosting waterers! I read the NY Chicken Lover thread sometimes and I saw that a few people hang empty feed sacks along the sides of the run to block the wind. I never thought of that...I would have started saving the sacks :-( Besides the deep litter method, what else is there? No wonder Mr. Blue is attacking everybody. He probably really wants me but I'm the nice lady with the treats (with the exception of Samantha delivering them yesterday) and he's smart enough to not attack the hand that feeds him!!