Maine

[CoopChick719]

How do you keep them from getting the ash/DE in the dusting box actually *in* the dusting box, as opposed to all over the rest of the coop? (Or is keeping things neat and orderly just a fallacy in my head?)

I use Frontline, too. (Thank you, Ashandvine!) I'm not thrilled with the chemicals, but application is so easy and I'm planning to do it twice a year only... the way I see it, I probably get more chemicals from snuggling my dog.

I second this! It took me about a decade to realize it and embrace it.

Oh Izzybella...neat & orderly...you make me laugh...BAHAHA!

Just this morning, one of my girls went out to the pen, took a dirt bath then came back into the coop and shook dust everywhere.

Yes, took me a while to learn to plant the seed then sit back to watch it germinate!

 

[lazy gardener]

OMG your cold frame is WAAAY prettier than mine was! Scraps of wood, old window, random hardware.... BUT...I suppose it still worked. Maybe if I had painted mine the **** ( lots of mean words) plow man would not have wrecked it. Mine was shorter too...I just had lettuce in it.

I've decided that the items destroyed by "plow guy" are always the items of importance. I fired the last plow guy. He ran into the shop, destroyed one corner. The last straw was when he destroyed a cone we had placed over the well cap. I told him that he needed to be more careful around the well b/c he almost hit it. He had the ***** to stand there and argue with me that he hadn't been any where near the well, when I could clearly see that the cone was pulverized, as was the railroad tie directly in front of it. And why is it that they seem to get a thrill out of curling the sod up and delivering it, along with half a yard of gravel into your carefully manicured flower beds, even if you've put up markers to remind them where they can and can't plow?????????????????

Something kinda' funny about the "frozen thing." I've noticed on several mornings when I go out that at least one (sometimes both) of my BOs have some slightly frosty feathers on their backs. I figured it out the other day. It's how they sleep with their beaks tucked into those areas. So funny!

Thank you for the clear up. I've noticed the same thing with my girls, also that the feathers on their upper backs are a bit curled. I think they're bending them, then they freeze in that position!

Oh Izzybella...neat & orderly...you make me laugh...BAHAHA!

Just this morning, one of my girls went out to the pen, took a dirt bath then came back into the coop and shook dust everywhere.

The only girl I have now laying, is my most fervent dust bather. Her eggs are always "powder coated".

 

[Jazor]

It's a boy! Again!

One of my silkies decided to show off this morning when I was down in the barn giving them some veggie scraps from last night's meal. I flicked the light on and found that 17 of the buggers were already up and doing chicken things. The other few roosting got their acts together when they realized I was delivering food.

Of the three silkies I got from Widget, one is white and two are black. The smallest black one is still in the house mending an injured leg, and I'm at a loss as to what even happened to her. This morning, the bigger of the two black silkies was getting confrontational with all the other birds, even going after my large roo (who is still an undetermined breed, but we're leaning towards barred rock) and making him back down!

Pretty funny to see this little black puff chasing chickens nearly twice his size and letting out a decent sized crow for being so small. Hopefully the two roos don't become problematic with each other. We'll see.

 

[MEMama3]

I am starting to have concern for the integrity of my hoop run. I KNEW I placed it too close to the garage, but it was firmly frozen in by the time I realized it. It's done well so far, but yesterday the snow came off the roof so heavy and fast that one of the supports is curving in. No biggie except that they have to go through the hoop to free range. If I let them out the front they'd follow the plowed area down the driveway and down the road.

On a different note, I was planning to grab some eggs at the health store yesterday since the lady with the fertile flock delivers Monday mornings. I had to bring my whole clan with me since there was no school. Killing time with hot chocolates and board games, she never showed. I'm hoping she comes today so my hen can sit and hatch out soon. With this cold I don't want her staying broody longer than necessary.

I hope I spelled everything correctly. I'm typing with a wish and a prayer. My middle child dropped my kindle and shattered the screen. I can only make out bits and pieces. The kicker: warranty expired 1/01/14

 

[Widget]

It's a boy! Again!

One of my silkies decided to show off this morning when I was down in the barn giving them some veggie scraps from last night's meal. I flicked the light on and found that 17 of the buggers were already up and doing chicken things. The other few roosting got their acts together when they realized I was delivering food.

Of the three silkies I got from Widget, one is white and two are black. The smallest black one is still in the house mending an injured leg, and I'm at a loss as to what even happened to her. This morning, the bigger of the two black silkies was getting confrontational with all the other birds, even going after my large roo (who is still an undetermined breed, but we're leaning towards barred rock) and making him back down!

Pretty funny to see this little black puff chasing chickens nearly twice his size and letting out a decent sized crow for being so small. Hopefully the two roos don't become problematic with each other. We'll see.

The Silkies I kept have yet to show their true colors. Not even a hint of crowing. Even the two cochins that I am 99% positive are male have been quiet. Either I really beat the odds or the males are keeping a low profile.

 

[Widget]

Crazy turkeys. On one hand they are fairly smart in that they bed down in the bed of the truck or at least roost on the side rails. But this morning they were on the roof of the truck. No big deal. I figured they would jump off as soon as I started the truck. Nope. So I moved it a few feet. They hung on for dear life. So I had to get out, penguin walk on the skating rink that is my driveway, climb into the bed of the truck and try to shoo them off the roof. Was able to grab one and remove him. Another I did shoo. The third I had to practically climb onto the roof and grab the tail before I could convince him to vacate his perch. Then I had to slide my way back to the cab so I could be on my way. All this at 4 am.

 

[anyasmifya]

Kept mine in, today, for the same reason, but they probably wouldn't have gone out, anyway. Their outside run is now a "farm pond." Something kinda' funny about the "frozen thing." I've noticed on several mornings when I go out that at least one (sometimes both) of my BOs have some slightly frosty feathers on their backs. I figured it out the other day. It's how they sleep with their beaks tucked into those areas. So funny!

All of my chickens are fine! No frozen birds even though they were soaked yesterday! This wind is crazy! The latches on my coop door were all frozen solid! Had to defrost them with my hands and hot breath. Yes, I am full of hot air. Brought in the latches they are now defrosting on my wood stove. My driveway is now a huge skating rink. I really, really don't want to bring out the trash! I lost my ice grippers (cleats, small crampons) last year in the snow somewhere. Really wishing now I had bought another pair. Good news I am now getting about 4 eggs a day! Yay!

 

[lazy gardener]

Good for you Anya. I'm still getting one every other day from Baby. I may change her name to Faithful! My Yak-tracks have been on my boots since the ice storm. When spring is showing up, I think I'll buy a few more pair. It's easy to loose one in the snow without even knowing that you've kicked it off. I finally got a door built for the entry way to their covered run. This morning it was 35 degrees in the sun room, 15 degrees outside. The girls spied the green house while I was working on the door, and took off flying across the yard to it. Unfortunately, the door/window was frozen shut, so I couldn't let them in. Poor Baby smacked her face on the glass. This is the first time they've ventured outside onto the snow. One of the cats came into the sun room while I was working. Amusing to watch cat and birds checking each other out.

Spring is on the way. Even though it's bitter cold, and the wind is howling, there's a bit more warmth to the sun, and it's not as cold as it has been! And a lot of folks are reporting that their girls are picking up the egg pace, even without supplemental light. (wish I could say the same!)

 

[MEMama3]

My broody commandeered two eggs the day before yesterday. I rescued them from under her this morning when I slipped in the fertile eggs. Do you think the two infertile eggs are still edible?

 

[Widget]

On a whim I checked the weather forecast for Reykjavik, Iceland for the next week. Highs near 40 and lows around 30. Sounds great right now. But since regulations would prohibit my horses, who came from northern Iceland, from ever going back I guess I will have to stay here, suck it up and wait until spring.

I will say that Iceland is a very beautiful country especially if you do not want close neighbors at least outside of Reykjavik. The pictures are from a trip I took in April of 2006. The second picture was taken two day after the third. We drove from the south to the north in a raging blizzard. As the second picture shows two days after the storm much of what was covered in snow was now snow free and green.