Illinois...

[Molpet]

Is anyone else flooded?

We often have standing water in areas of the grass. The 2 connected chicken runs are higher ground and both sand. Although it can occasionally get very wet during spring rains, it usually drains within a couple hours after a heavy rain. The last week has been an exception. There were 3 large puddles that never drained inside the run. (This has never happened in my 6 years with chickens. Like I said, the water usually drains then dries out quickly. The ground below the sand must still be frozen.) After the flooding, the temp went down to 5'F (but felt like -14'F) before the water could drain. The flock woke up to some ice rinks. ICK! Sadly, we won't be back above freezing anytime soon, so the normally soft, fluffy, sift-able, dry sand is like concrete. The poop is freezing to the hard ground & too solid to chip away. What a mess! I'm tempted to let the flock free range just to get them off of the icky sand. If I hadn't seen 2-3 hawks daily, I would have.

poultry yard is in a flat spot on a hill.. sheet of ice and snow pikes, then mud in spots, now sheets, still snow piles and frozen foot prints

 

[Slaphappy]

hey all, new here. Out in western suburbs of chicago. I will be getting my first chicks this spring. I have been researching about medicated and non medicated starter feed. Some seemed to say it matters on your location. So i'm here in the Illinois thread asking, does it matter here in upper Illinois?

im leaning towards non-medicated. thoughts?

 

[Faraday40]

hey all, new here. Out in western suburbs of chicago. I will be getting my first chicks this spring. I have been researching about medicated and non medicated starter feed. Some seemed to say it matters on your location. So i'm here in the Illinois thread asking, does it matter here in upper Illinois?

im leaning towards non-medicated. thoughts?

It's easier to find the non medicated, so that's what I go with. Because I hatch a lot of chicks via the school programs as well as our own, I keep some "Corid" on hand to treat chicks if I feel it's needed. (I'm also sort of the town's chicken lady. People often call me for assistance when in crisis, so I have a well stocked chicken emergency kit.)

Medicated feed is used to prevent cocci. However, why treat something if you don't need to? Cocci can be deadly and passes quickly through the brooder. I've heard horrible stories about it, and that's why I'm prepared. Yet, chicks are very hardy if kept warm, clean, watered, & fed. If you're just caring for your own small number of chicks, then the chance your chicks will get cocci is pretty small. Simply watch out for symptoms & know where to buy some Corid (like a feed store) should you need to. If you're growing out dozens of baby chicks, then you may not have the opportunity to observe them as closely. In that case, medicated feed may help.

BTW- The symptoms of cocci are bloody, runny poop, lethargy, & puffed feathers - like they're cold. It's treatable.

 

[Faraday40]

@Slaphappy
I forgot to ask.... What kinds of chickens are you going to get?

 

[Slaphappy]

@Slaphappy
I forgot to ask.... What kinds of chickens are you going to get?

I ordered one of each
Orpington
Wyandotte
Australorp
Brahma
Welsummer
Amerecuana
Thank you for your reply

 

[Molpet]

hey all, new here. Out in western suburbs of chicago. I will be getting my first chicks this spring. I have been researching about medicated and non medicated starter feed. Some seemed to say it matters on your location. So i'm here in the Illinois thread asking, does it matter here in upper Illinois?

im leaning towards non-medicated. thoughts?

Welcome to the Illinois thread and
I try to feed all my poultry organic feed...as far as I know all the organic is non medicated... I have not had any chicks get sick..... I have had poults get sick with what I suspect was coccidia, they are more fragile thsn chicks the first couple of months.

 

[Faraday40]

I ordered one of each
Orpington
Wyandotte
Australorp
Brahma
Welsummer
Amerecuana
Thank you for your reply

Sounds like a good starter flock to try out different breeds. I think you'll enjoy the rainbow egg basket.

 

[Faraday40]

@Molpet Are your turkeys laying yet. Both of mine are going strong. Because of this, I'm really dragging my feet on processing them.

 

[Molpet]

@Molpet Are your turkeys laying yet. Both of mine are going strong. Because of this, I'm really dragging my feet on processing them.

I had 3 eggs that looked more like turkey than chicken, but not quite... I forgot to take a pic before I cracked them... they did not have hard shells or membranes and tasted like chicken eggs... 7 hens/jennies and no turkey eggs.... hawk attacks have the chickens slowed down.. was getting 12 eggs until a week ago... some day none, 9 yesterday... out of 50+ hens/pullets The real cold days I left the birds locked in and no turkey eggs, but that was the days I didn't get any chicken eggs and no egg song.


I wish there was a season on hawks, I usually have one attempt a year.
starting last sunday there have been 3 attempts. Last sunday and today no one got hurt. Todays attempt the dog was on the outside of the north side of the poultry yard... the hawk was on the south, out of the old dog's sight. I had been taking turns with the dog standing guard for a week now.
The tuesday attempt she looked dead but recovered overnight.

 

[Faraday40]

We get several hawk attacks every year. Thankfully most attacks are not successful, yet we seem lose 1-2 birds almost every year. In 2018 we actually had 3 terrible attacks resulting in record losses. One in March was responsible for injuring Princess. (It was gruesome, she got away, but the damage was severe. I had to put her down out of mercy.) About 2 weeks later, I think the same brazen hawk also took out several quail (while INSIDE the garage). Just walked right up to their cage & started pulling them through the wire bars! Then in the fall we were getting multiple daily attacks. Eventually, the hawk killed my only CCL. She was a smart, fast bird, but the hawk was too determined. The flock has been locked up since Nov. Richter loved to be outside with the chickens, but both dogs passed away this fall. I'm hoping our new boy will become a good deterrent.

Here he is with his new battle cone.

As far as my turkeys, they must think they're chickens. That could explain why they're laying so early. I wouldn't be surprised if the roosters were mating them. They bow for me as soon as I open the door. Such silly creatures.