Maine

[ashandvine]

New chicks today. I had a broody determined to sit a few so I let her and voila, three chicks. I don't need them at ALL but they sure do make it easier to smile in the morning, esp when they are fat and healthy.

 

[lazy gardener]

What kind of chicks? What are your accommodations for them? I hope that I get a broody next spring.

 

[Cknldy]

The Russian Orloffs have been the broody breed for me this year. I hope to have them do all of the hatching next year since 4 were trying it late summer this year. We'll see how it goes Congrats on the success!

 

[CoopChick719]

A few of mine are molting too, Izzybella.

Today I finally cleaned out the coop! I had purchased the Robbins shavings, along with one bag from Hancock lumber, just to try them out. I think I like Hancock lumber best. The shavings are dry and fluffy, like Robbins, but a slightly larger, spongy flake. I don't think they'll break down as quickly and they are .75 cheaper per bale (at least at current prices).

Either kind is much better than the quality at TSC. I've always used the TSC shavings, but it does seem like they've gone downhill in the past year or so, -big shards of wood, and quite wet!

Mine are molting too seems like just the white ones or at least that's the majority of feathers! LOVE LOVE LOVE Robbins shavings!! Will have to look for Hancock Lumber ones. Totally agree on the TSC shavings--damp with hunks of kindling in them! Was it you bucka who said you were using them in the stove last winter?

Any suppliers of Hancock shavings in the Bangor area? Or even Newport/Waterville?

Hubby and I spent all day working outside. I seeded and "hayed" more lawn, while he did the framing for the floor of the new coop. The Pneumatic framing nailer is a fantastic tool. I think I'm in love!

2 big dogs showed up this morning. One did not have a collar. They were obviously traveling together and had chicken dinner on their minds. If we hadn't been out side at the time, I'm sure they'd have jumped the fence, and done a lot of damage. The ACO was absolutely no help. I'm wondering if a gun that shoots plastic pellets would give enough of a sting to get the message across? Other option might be to buy a paint ball gun. We have more lethal ammo, but I'm hesitant to use it ... for now. Time to get the electric fence set up and going again.

We picked up a lawn sweeper for a good price so I've been "haying" the lawn too and bagging it up for bedding this winter. I threw some on the roost where my little Sizzle sleeps she loves it!

Plastic pellets or BB gun might be a good pursuader--aim for the butt! Those things sting! I speak from experience!

LG, forgot to add, - I would not recommend individual linoleum tiles in the coop. We got cheap big tiles (18" square) at Marden's, and while the material is fine, all the shoveling and scraping catches the edge and bent a few upward. I usually screw them back down, but big sheets or rolls would work better.

Thanks for the advice! We have 5 boxes of these (from Marden's) that we "thought" we were going to use in the bathroom but went with tile instead. I had been toying with putting them in the coop. Maybe I still will no sense in them going to waste.

The turn in weather has me feeling pressured by winter to get things done.... oh man.

BOY do I hear you on this, ash!! Fall is not taking her time like Spring did! We'll be dealing with this

sooner than we think!

 

[lazy gardener]

Coop chick: Re: "haying the lawn". I'm putting the hay down, not taking it up!!! So far, I've gone through 20 bales of hay in seeding the front lawn. Will go through about 15 more bales for the side and back. That's before I even set a few bales aside for the winter cold frame.

We've got a regular pellet gun. I don't know if those would penetrate the skin on a big hairy dog. My first warning will be meant to cause discomfort. My second warning will be of a more permanent nature.

 

[dowgirl71]

LG: I think you're SLW's sister laid her first egg, today. So, that's two of this spring's pullets for my crew-3 to go!

 

[lazy gardener]

That's great news. If my SLW is laying the eggs that I think are hers, they're a nice size for pullet eggs. They have little brown speckles on them.

 

[CoopChick719]

Coop chick: Re: "haying the lawn". I'm putting the hay down, not taking it up!!! So far, I've gone through 20 bales of hay in seeding the front lawn. Will go through about 15 more bales for the side and back. That's before I even set a few bales aside for the winter cold frame.

We've got a regular pellet gun. I don't know if those would penetrate the skin on a big hairy dog. My first warning will be meant to cause discomfort. My second warning will be of a more permanent nature.

Ahhhh I see said the blind man! That's A LOT of hay!!

One of my Barred Rocks squatted for me yesterday!! So that's 2 of the 8 pullets getting ready to lay!

 

[striperon]

Next project is some storage for bags of feed, shavings, treats, and cleaning tools. DW thinks a privy would make an fun project that fits with her primitive decorating style. I've been looking for plans and think I found one I like, hope she likes it too.

 

[lazy gardener]

Striperon, I love it.