Kentucky people

[The cheek coop]

We’re in London. the tornado was about 2 miles south of us. There is so much damage in the area. Many without homes and many lost their lives. More storms tonight y’all be safe.

 

[KyCoop]

Very happy to hear your safe. Prayers for the folks who lost their homes.

 

[Reddentes]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/17-hens-9-roosters-ross-ohio.1665884/#post-28629330
Hi everyone!!! I raise chickens in Ohio, more specifically in the farmlands of Ross, very close to the Kentucky-Ohio border. I hope nobody minds, I'm posting a link to my thread here. BYC seems to have been the nicest and most welcoming place for me to talk about my chickens.
I'm moving out into the city and have to re-home my chickens within the next month. If you're interested, please shoot me a message here or see where to contact me in the link above.
Thank you all, help is very much appreciated <3

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

Hello Kentucky BYC,

In ~1 year, my husband and I are moving back east, likely to Powell Co, KY. We’ve spent 25 years in Rocky Mountain West, most of that at 7,600’. Thus, all of our chicken tending experience has been in the high and dry, with cool summer nights and long, brutal winter. I know we’re in for a steep learning curve when it comes to raising chickens in a hot, humid environment with plenty of critters.

I’m here humbly for advice. What do I need to know / learn about chicken tending in KY? Some of my concerns include:

1. Parasites: at my current elevation, we don’t deal with ticks, mites, worms, etc. Methinks I’m in for a shock in Kentucky. How do you keep your birds safe from hitchhikers (inside and outside)?
2. Wet weather: currently, we can go weeks without seeing a raindrop, and three days in a row of precipitation will be the talk of “downtown” Black Forest for a week or two. Do you have covered run space so your birds can exercise during prolonged rainy periods?
3. Predators: my current enemies are coyotes, foxes, hawks and domestic dogs plus black bears emerging from hibernation. Basically, as long as my run and coop keep bigger things out, my birds are fine. Our garter snakes struggle enough with grasshoppers and baby mice. I hear talk of raccoons, skunks, mink type critters and realize I’ll need to up my game. And snakes?!?! The thought of snakes in my coop is like something out of a SciFi horror movie. Go ahead and ruin my day and tell me all the new enemies I’ll face in Kentucky!
4. Heat: at 7,600, we complain when the temperature goes above 85° and fuss about humidity at 45%. Simply providing shade is fine my hens. How do you keep your birds safely cool in high heat and humidity conditions?

Enough questions for now. I’m open to hearing any and all advice you have to help us make a safe and comfortable transition to chicken keeping in your region. Many thanks in advance.

PS: Both of my grandfathers (RIP) were Kentuckians (Yatesville / Louisa and Cold Spring), and I’m quite familiar with Powell Co and vicinity, so this is quite a welcome “coming home” for me.

 

[horror_trashcan]

Hello Kentucky BYC,

In ~1 year, my husband and I are moving back east, likely to Powell Co, KY. We’ve spent 25 years in Rocky Mountain West, most of that at 7,600’. Thus, all of our chicken tending experience has been in the high and dry, with cool summer nights and long, brutal winter. I know we’re in for a steep learning curve when it comes to raising chickens in a hot, humid environment with plenty of critters.

I’m here humbly for advice. What do I need to know / learn about chicken tending in KY? Some of my concerns include:

1. Parasites: at my current elevation, we don’t deal with ticks, mites, worms, etc. Methinks I’m in for a shock in Kentucky. How do you keep your birds safe from hitchhikers (inside and outside)?
2. Wet weather: currently, we can go weeks without seeing a raindrop, and three days in a row of precipitation will be the talk of “downtown” Black Forest for a week or two. Do you have covered run space so your birds can exercise during prolonged rainy periods?
3. Predators: my current enemies are coyotes, foxes, hawks and domestic dogs plus black bears emerging from hibernation. Basically, as long as my run and coop keep bigger things out, my birds are fine. Our garter snakes struggle enough with grasshoppers and baby mice. I hear talk of raccoons, skunks, mink type critters and realize I’ll need to up my game. And snakes?!?! The thought of snakes in my coop is like something out of a SciFi horror movie. Go ahead and ruin my day and tell me all the new enemies I’ll face in Kentucky!
4. Heat: at 7,600, we complain when the temperature goes above 85° and fuss about humidity at 45%. Simply providing shade is fine my hens. How do you keep your birds safely cool in high heat and humidity conditions?

Enough questions for now. I’m open to hearing any and all advice you have to help us make a safe and comfortable transition to chicken keeping in your region. Many thanks in advance.

PS: Both of my grandfathers (RIP) were Kentuckians (Yatesville / Louisa and Cold Spring), and I’m quite familiar with Powell Co and vicinity, so this is quite a welcome “coming home” for me.

Wowza thats going to be one heck of a transition. It will be hot and sticky for sure.
I just pulled a drowned mouse out of my water container and had to toss a snake into the woods away from the coop if that gives a tiny idea of the morning activities. The front of my coop is mucky from 2 weeks of rain most days so I've had to put a board to step on in front of the coop or I'd sink about two inches.
The chickens don't mind just give them shade, lots of airflow in the coop and access to cool water. In the summer make sure you're letting them out of the coop before the heat starts.
I let them outside even if its raining they either run around the foliage where its not so wet or they run from each building picking up snacks on the way.
We have tons of predators my first flock got taken out by a single weasel that made its way through an inch gap in my floor. I think that will be your main concern is making your coop predator proof for all the small things that will eventually wedge themselves into your coop.
I don't have a run so I can't speak on that, I haven't had any chicken taken/attacked mid day although one did wander off into the tall bushes (I presume) and has not been seen since. There is lots of foliage on my property, if I hear a bird predator I can peak out my window to see my chickens already hiding in the bushes.
My 2 cents- Its going to smell extra bad, there will be lots of bugs everywhere, small and medium predators will be your main issue I think.

I lived in Montana when I was a teen and my family has always had chickens everywhere and I can't say its too different here truly. If you're not moving birds they'll be fine and acclimated to the weather already. Unfortunately by the time you move here I will be moved to Missouri but I wish you the best of luck and I hope you enjoy it!

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

I really appreciate the tips you’ve shared and your perspective having lived in MT and KY. (Enjoy Missouri, by the way. I spent four years there and think Souther Missouri and Northern Arkansas are amazing! Oh, the camping, kayaking and hiking!)

Quick download of my key takeaways:

1. Gonna be wet - birds will be / get used to it. Use sand and “decking” / planks to keep human and bird feet happy.
2. Gonna be stinky - super clean / dry-as-possible coop a must.
3. Sarah & Mike need to learn small predator prevention / invest in hardware cloth like crazy.
4. Gonna be hot - air circulation is critical, consider installing an exhaust fan, have tons of ventilation.
5. Snakes = deep seated “hind-brain” fear of mine. I’m going to have to … get over this somehow.

Yes, on the hot and sticky note - soon will be gone the days of hanging up smart bath towel and finding it bone-dry in 3-4 hours. But, our skin and hair should look lovely.

Wowza thats going to be one heck of a transition. It will be hot and sticky for sure.
I just pulled a drowned mouse out of my water container and had to toss a snake into the woods away from the coop if that gives a tiny idea of the morning activities. The front of my coop is mucky from 2 weeks of rain most days so I've had to put a board to step on in front of the coop or I'd sink about two inches.
The chickens don't mind just give them shade, lots of airflow in the coop and access to cool water. In the summer make sure you're letting them out of the coop before the heat starts.
I let them outside even if its raining they either run around the foliage where its not so wet or they run from each building picking up snacks on the way.
We have tons of predators my first flock got taken out by a single weasel that made its way through an inch gap in my floor. I think that will be your main concern is making your coop predator proof for all the small things that will eventually wedge themselves into your coop.
I don't have a run so I can't speak on that, I haven't had any chicken taken/attacked mid day although one did wander off into the tall bushes (I presume) and has not been seen since. There is lots of foliage on my property, if I hear a bird predator I can peak out my window to see my chickens already hiding in the bushes.
My 2 cents- Its going to smell extra bad, there will be lots of bugs everywhere, small and medium predators will be your main issue I think.

I lived in Montana when I was a teen and my family has always had chickens everywhere and I can't say its too different here truly. If you're not moving birds they'll be fine and acclimated to the weather already. Unfortunately by the time you move here I will be moved to Missouri but I wish you the best of luck and I hope you enjoy it!

 

[KyCoop]

We , Frankfort here, get all four seasons. Sometimes in the same day. You will have to prepare for brutal 98 - 101 Temps and brutal -35 wind chills. Torrential rains from tropical depressions and drought for weeks. Welcome home!
I have a large covered coop and run. My girls also have a big chicken yard to forage in. We don't have bears but everything else.
You will have the same critters racoon, opossum, and bears.

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

Oooh, Frankfort. I’ve paddled Elkhorn Creek in a canoe and found some of the rapids pretty exciting! Gorgeous area.

We will not miss having to snowplow a path through 3-ft snowdrifts to care for our birds (Springtime in the Rockies!). Nor cold and wind so savage that your nose and eyelids freeze on the way to the mailbox. But, wow, dealing with heavy rain, days of rain and humid heat are going to be a challenge for me, with or without chickens! Im extremely spoiled right now with our mythical “300 days of sun”. sigh…

I’m liking the idea of a large covered run for ongoing wet weather.

We , Frankfort here, get all four seasons. Sometimes in the same day. You will have to prepare for brutal 98 - 101 Temps and brutal -35 wind chills. Torrential rains from tropical depressions and drought for weeks. Welcome home!
I have a large covered coop and run. My girls also have a big chicken yard to forage in. We don't have bears but everything else.
You will have the same critters racoon, opossum, and bears.

 

[horror_trashcan]

I really appreciate the tips you’ve shared and your perspective having lived in MT and KY. (Enjoy Missouri, by the way. I spent four years there and think Souther Missouri and Northern Arkansas are amazing! Oh, the camping, kayaking and hiking!)

Quick download of my key takeaways:

1. Gonna be wet - birds will be / get used to it. Use sand and “decking” / planks to keep human and bird feet happy.
2. Gonna be stinky - super clean / dry-as-possible coop a must.
3. Sarah & Mike need to learn small predator prevention / invest in hardware cloth like crazy.
4. Gonna be hot - air circulation is critical, consider installing an exhaust fan, have tons of ventilation.
5. Snakes = deep seated “hind-brain” fear of mine. I’m going to have to … get over this somehow.

Yes, on the hot and sticky note - soon will be gone the days of hanging up smart bath towel and finding it bone-dry in 3-4 hours. But, our skin and hair should look lovely.

Sounds like you got it down to me, especially with the hardware cloth you can never have too much of it.
I believe having a lifted coop is a must as well. This will help with the small/med predator problem, although make sure your floor is secure and far off the ground as it is now another entrance point.
Tall enough so things won't live under and rats/snakes can't reach up.
I will also mention we have a barn cat that hangs around the flock a lot and I imagine she wards off some of the predators.
The amount of bugs genuinely helps with feed costs, I went from two gallons of food a day to one/half a gallon just because all these nasty little bugs. The cicadas came out this year too and they love those (although I imagine they buzz in their crops and that makes me ick)

I actually moved here from Missouri about year ago and things just didn't work out but I'm glad to be going back.
I'm excited for yall and I hope to see more posts in the future!

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

So, thanks, now I’ll have nightmares about cicadas buzzing in my hens’ crops. Wait, plus rats and snakes? Hmmm, freezing half to death in our endless Rockies winters doesn’t sound so bad by comparison. Yeesh.

Neither Mike nor I are cat people and our dogs are, unfortunately, not “chicken people”. However, with more acreage this time around I finally get my pair of donkeys. No livestock guardian is foolproof, but two ornery things with hooves may provide some deterrence during daytime ranging within the fence line.

Safe moving back to Missouri. Speaking of heat and humidity…

Sounds like you got it down to me, especially with the hardware cloth you can never have too much of it.
I believe having a lifted coop is a must as well. This will help with the small/med predator problem, although make sure your floor is secure and far off the ground as it is now another entrance point.
Tall enough so things won't live under and rats/snakes can't reach up.
I will also mention we have a barn cat that hangs around the flock a lot and I imagine she wards off some of the predators.
The amount of bugs genuinely helps with feed costs, I went from two gallons of food a day to one/half a gallon just because all these nasty little bugs. The cicadas came out this year too and they love those (although I imagine they buzz in their crops and that makes me ick)

I actually moved here from Missouri about year ago and things just didn't work out but I'm glad to be going back.
I'm excited for yall and I hope to see more posts in the future!