Maine

[yankeehill]

I freerange our chickens - our hens, and just today we let the Freedom Rangers out. Not sure on feed for the FR yet, but I think they ate less today. We usually feed them four scoops of feed, with none left, but today we only fed three scoops, and there was some left.

As far as the hens, I think they MAY have eaten one full bag of grain in the last month and a half. Seriously. They free range all the time, and between my strawberries, the bugs, grass, and whatever else they find (they LOVE the rabbit manure!), they eat very little.

Probiotics...I don't feel they are as important for anyone (animal or human) who eats a varied and healthy diet. If my chickens were locked up with no access to bugs, grass, and such, I'd be more willing to feed them probiotics. Same as for my family.

 

[CoopChick719]

treat that cat tree for fleas before you bring it inside you may be treating everyone for fleas.

Thank you hoppy! I certainly did. Covered it in DE, smooshed it into the carpet on it, left it in the garage for 2 weeks then vacuumed it with the shop vac.

Are you sure that little kitten had an innocent expression? I read that more as a, "freeze, we might be caught," expression. Now you have a car and a cat that purr lol

You are right ash! She's a devil! She was actually following the mouse on my laptop--that's how I got her attention for the picture.

 

[quailtrail]

Thanks for all the responses! !!!! You guys rock!!!

 

[buckabucka]

I haven't been on here much as I have company visiting. Today we left all the flocks out in their large fenced in areas while we were gone, because it seemed too hot to lock them up. When we returned it was getting dark.

It looked as though all the chickens had made their way to roost except for the bachelor pen. Their pen door had blown shut. Two roosters were locked in the pen, one was just outside the door, and three were on the wrong side of their fenced in area, but huddled in a group not too far from the pen. One is missing. I caught all the loose guys and put them back in the pen for the night.

I walked all over the place with a bright flashlight and never found the missing rooster. Maybe he will show up tomorrow, but I can't imagine where he would be hiding. I'm really hoping he doesn't get eaten. Not because he is a prized rooster or anything, he is freezer-bound, but if something gets him they will certainly be back for more.

I always cram a brick in the hinge of the door when they are out, but DH released them this morning, and he just leans a brick against the door, - easy to knock over. Who knows how long they were locked out (and without water in this heat!). It will be interesting to see if the lost rooster makes a reappearance.

 

[buckabucka]

Rooster is back! He is crazed and the others are trying to kill him. So for the next two weeks (until freezer camp date) he'll be living in a cage. I'm looking forward to an empty bachelor pen!

 

[MEMama3]

I posted this in the egg laying/behavior forum, but maybe you all can chime in too.

I know supplemental lighting should be added in the morning so no one is caught off the roost, but is it really that bad to add it in the evening? I don't leave food in the coop and the birds never hang out in there. If I add the light in the morning, they'd be stuck in there for an hour or two until we get up (more of an issue in late winter when it would be going on at 4:15). In the evening would allow them to be in or out. It also may bear mentioning that I have solar lights in the run and a porch light nearby, so they wouldn't be plunged into total darkness.

 

[ashandvine]

I have a few Ash. I was planning on bringing them to a swap this weekend or next. if he wants to show, then they don't want pet quality. they will be sorely disappointed trying to show and win.

Her son is only 6. He just loves these ducks though. He got four eggs to hatch and ALL FOUR ARE DRAKES! Poor little guy lol She is hoping for something other than white since most of them hatched out snowy or white, too. IDK which swap you are going to be at so would you pm me the details? Thanks.

Union is a really nice little Fair. Wow. I picked up a few 'guilty conscience' birds to have as 'pets' for the kids and for Sebastian to try to show. He wants to try showing a cochin bantam and one or two of the Anconas. He was hanging out with the single Royal Palm turkey that was there but there is no way! Done with turkeys for a long while. It was amazing how much smaller the NH Reds were there than my neighbors. Hint hint. Someone wants this boy, I can feel it. He is heritage and big and friendly. Any takers??? [pleeeeeez] For that matter I have a OE cockerel that needs a home.

 

[MEMama3]

I decided to go ahead and add light for an hour in the evening. It is so cute looking out the kitchen window because you can see little chicken heads popping up from the roost to look out the side vent. They hopefully will enjoy the little extra daylight. Hopefully I can enjoy as many eggs as I was getting before we went under 14 hours of daylight.

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[hoppy]

if you add the light in the morning, they will get busy earlier. I did used to have light at night but then they laid later and I ended up with frozen/broken eggs, useless. so now it's just in the morning. i still get the occasional frozen/broken but not like before.

I posted this in the egg laying/behavior forum, but maybe you all can chime in too.

I know supplemental lighting should be added in the morning so no one is caught off the roost, but is it really that bad to add it in the evening? I don't leave food in the coop and the birds never hang out in there. If I add the light in the morning, they'd be stuck in there for an hour or two until we get up (more of an issue in late winter when it would be going on at 4:15). In the evening would allow them to be in or out. It also may bear mentioning that I have solar lights in the run and a porch light nearby, so they wouldn't be plunged into total darkness.

 

[hoppy]

sending a pm ash

Her son is only 6. He just loves these ducks though. He got four eggs to hatch and ALL FOUR ARE DRAKES! Poor little guy lol She is hoping for something other than white since most of them hatched out snowy or white, too. IDK which swap you are going to be at so would you pm me the details? Thanks.