Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[trsturself]

If you have been taking care of this ladies chickens for almost six months I am not sure I would use the term friend in refering to her. Also, possession is 9/10 of the law they say. I would give her notice and then after 30 days take possession. I don't know how many birds your are talking about but the feed and care alone...

She has ~25 chickens. She pays for the food I just do the care. I don't want her birds. She said she is working on a new place for them and hopes to have it when we return from vacation. I highly doubt it since it's not that easy to find someone that will keep someone else's birds for them.
She used to keep them at her 4H leader's house but I think she is moving or has moved. I think she should just sell them. She should've sold them as soon as she knew she couldn't find a house for rent and moved into an apartment!

 

[ShrekDawg]

She has ~25 chickens. She pays for the food I just do the care. I don't want her birds. She said she is working on a new place for them and hopes to have it when we return from vacation. I highly doubt it since it's not that easy to find someone that will keep someone else's birds for them.
She used to keep them at her 4H leader's house but I think she is moving or has moved. I think she should just sell them. She should've sold them as soon as she knew she couldn't find a house for rent and moved into an apartment!

She should absolutely sell them, that's crazy.

I mean, I could understand wanting to house them for a little while or only a couple but not 25 of them for 4+ months, especially when they're causing YOUR birds to fight and to not lay - that's not fair. and it makes a lot of extra work for you.

Is there any way that you could maybe set up a separate coop or pen for her birds?

She should really find a new home or sell them though.

Or at least sell a couple.

I mean, I understand if she doesn't want to give them up or is attached or whatever, I would be too, but at some point you have to stop and think about what's best for you and the animals (and whoever's taking care of your animals). I mean, it doesn't sound like she's going to be getting out of the apartment anytime soon, right? So that's a lot of money when she doesn't even really see or benefit from the birds. (I assume she lives further and you don't give her the eggs?). It'd be one thing if she lived close and could help or benefit but why pay to care for that many when you don't even get anything or much from it? And the birds are fighting, which isn't fair. And it's A LOT harder to find homes for 25 birds that it is for 8, or even 10-15. 25 is a lot and certainly sounds like way more to someone who would potentially take your birds for you. So she should consider either selling the whole flock or at least separating them and trying to maybe get down to 15 or less. Even 20 would be an improvement for now. You should tell her. I know you have but maybe try seeing if she's willing to rehome some of them or at least the problem roos and you'll keep the rest or help her find another home for the others.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[NanaLynn]

Nice setup. You are very handy! I like that bucket waterer. I don't need one now, but it is always good to have ideas for the future. The regular chicken fountain nipple system is working for us, but we do not get that cold here usually and the bird bath heater does help when it does get below freezing.

I like how you quickly put a system in place so you'll have less worries when you have your surgery. Best luck with the surgery too!

Dodged a bullet.... we were supposed to get 6-12" of snow and got 2!! Perfect. Looks pretty but not so much as to be a huge hassle!! But the cold is moving in for the next week or so. Temps around 10-20 degrees max. After last winter's harsh temps I don't worry about them at all. I just go out a few more times a day to collect eggs so they don't freeze.

That's good news! I was wondering if you received any of that bad weather.

AND 3x the poop!!! I didn't think about it either. I had 13 chickens for a year but going up to 20 is a lot more food/poo. I'm thinking 16-17 is more my speed. Maybe because the puppy has added more work for me and I'm watching a neighbor's house while they are gone for a month I have lots to do. Im over there 2-3X a day changing bird bath water, watering plants, getting mail/newspapers and just making it look like someone is there.

So true. When we went from 16 to 6 and now to 21, we really noticed a difference in poop production.
She has live feed cameras all over the place so she's watching me too

Getting paid well so I don't mind. Thinking I should make a business out of it or possibly dog walking. People pay $15-20 to take their dogs for a 30 min walk while they are at work. I have a posh retirement home close by with a lot of dogs there. I could hang a sign and maybe get a few customers. I wouldn't need many to make a little more chicken spending money!!
Kinda creepy that she can watch you. If the pay is good though, guess it's okay. Just don't scratch or adjust clothes in front of the cameras.

Love the pics of the girls/boy!! Working on my 'want list' for next year. It's modest.... Welsummer for the speckled eggs and Splash Ameraucana for the pretty factor and of course blue eggs (May have to get a few LOL) Yours are so pretty and I always

the Buff Brahma. Apricot is so pretty!!

I still want a Welsummer too and all the rest you listed. I need to get rid of some first. Why can't I just stay happy with what I have?

My vet said no bully bones, ham bones, pigs ears, antlers or rawhide. Funny how all vets are different. My friend gives her dog a rawhide bone every day per her vet's advice! I will be getting a few of the toys and sweet potato treats. I'm sure I'll find more too

Wow, over seas? Where is she going to go? Thankfully my coop/run is full with 20 chickens so that is my max an my DH is finished adding on to it. If I want more I will have to get rid of old ones. That won't be until next year. I'm trying to hold out on any changes for a while. We'll see how loud it is this spring, I may have to sell off a few.
I have noticed that all vets are different. We only give stuff to our dog that is approved by our son. He encourages raw eggs and raw meat for her and brings her a treat now and then from the store when he visits. Our chow is very picky and only likes meat products and eggs of course. She just eats a small cup of food in the morning and at night and sometimes just one small cup during the day. She looks so big with all her fur but still does not weigh 50 lbs.

She may teach in France, if it works out, but it is just a job she applied for, so strong chance that there is too much competition for the same job, but she is hopeful. I kind of worry about her traveling over there and being gone for a year too.

GREAT set up!! We have that bucket heater too. It's in the big trash can that collects rain water off the coop/run roof. Works perfectly!!

Well I just sent my friend an email asking her to find a new home for her chickens. I think I've been more than generous to house them since Sept. The thing that really tipped me over the edge is our roosters have been fighting and one had blood all over his comb and head today. I need to get them separated. I hope that helps calm things down and get the girls back to laying. I get a sporadic egg here and there but really only about 2-3 a week!

Good luck! It'll be nice, I bet to have all that space back and all the conflicts eliminated.

 

[COChix]

Nice setup. You are very handy! I like that bucket waterer. I don't need one now, but it is always good to have ideas for the future. The regular chicken fountain nipple system is working for us, but we do not get that cold here usually and the bird bath heater does help when it does get below freezing.

I like how you quickly put a system in place so you'll have less worries when you have your surgery. Best luck with the surgery too!

Thanks, not super handy, anyone that can work a drill can do what I did. Just make sure you have 11/32 drill bit size. I measured my one inch up the bucket and made five marks with a sharpie, then drill each hole. The nipples threaded right on, tightened down with plyers and actually built one with three nipples first filled it part way with water and let it sit, no leaks so it went out to the run. Then made the second one the same way, but with 5 nipples. Each nipple will water 6-8 birds, so I wanted to have plenty. I ordered 15, will eventually make one for their free range area and one for the baby chicks. It was a super easy project.

 

[trsturself]

She should absolutely sell them, that's crazy.

I mean, I could understand wanting to house them for a little while or only a couple but not 25 of them for 4+ months, especially when they're causing YOUR birds to fight and to not lay - that's not fair. and it makes a lot of extra work for you.

Is there any way that you could maybe set up a separate coop or pen for her birds?

She should really find a new home or sell them though.

Or at least sell a couple.

I mean, I understand if she doesn't want to give them up or is attached or whatever, I would be too, but at some point you have to stop and think about what's best for you and the animals (and whoever's taking care of your animals). I mean, it doesn't sound like she's going to be getting out of the apartment anytime soon, right? So that's a lot of money when she doesn't even really see or benefit from the birds. (I assume she lives further and you don't give her the eggs?). It'd be one thing if she lived close and could help or benefit but why pay to care for that many when you don't even get anything or much from it? And the birds are fighting, which isn't fair. And it's A LOT harder to find homes for 25 birds that it is for 8, or even 10-15. 25 is a lot and certainly sounds like way more to someone who would potentially take your birds for you. So she should consider either selling the whole flock or at least separating them and trying to maybe get down to 15 or less. Even 20 would be an improvement for now. You should tell her. I know you have but maybe try seeing if she's willing to rehome some of them or at least the problem roos and you'll keep the rest or help her find another home for the others.

But that's just my opinion.

Her birds are separated from mine but I would like to use that extra coop to split my flock into 2 smaller flocks so the roosters won't fight. Plus I need to use it as a breeding pen area this spring so I can sell some hatching eggs/chicks. She found a home for her 2 silkie roosters today. She's trying to get rid of all the roosters so it will be easier to find a home. Hard to find a place that wants the noise of roosters. She has one left.
I give her most of the eggs since she is paying for the food, but I feel free to use them if I need them.

 

[christine9]

Her birds are separated from mine but I would like to use that extra coop to split my flock into 2 smaller flocks so the roosters won't fight. Plus I need to use it as a breeding pen area this spring so I can sell some hatching eggs/chicks. She found a home for her 2 silkie roosters today. She's trying to get rid of all the roosters so it will be easier to find a home. Hard to find a place that wants the noise of roosters. She has one left.
I give her most of the eggs since she is paying for the food, but I feel free to use them if I need them. 

You are an amazing friend! I can't believe you've had them that long. And with everything you're already dealing with. It is definitely time for her to move on and give the chickens up. I mean, seriously, signing a lease to an apartment...she has to know this is inevitable. I hope this all works out quickly for you.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Her birds are separated from mine but I would like to use that extra coop to split my flock into 2 smaller flocks so the roosters won't fight. Plus I need to use it as a breeding pen area this spring so I can sell some hatching eggs/chicks. She found a home for her 2 silkie roosters today. She's trying to get rid of all the roosters so it will be easier to find a home. Hard to find a place that wants the noise of roosters. She has one left.
I give her most of the eggs since she is paying for the food, but I feel free to use them if I need them.

Oh that makes sense. I hope she finds a home for the other one and hopefully a few more of the birds!

That's good you give her the eggs though but yeah, sounds like she definitely needs to do something about this!

 

[COChix]

You are an amazing friend! I can't believe you've had them that long. And with everything you're already dealing with. It is definitely time for her to move on and give the chickens up. I mean, seriously, signing a lease to an apartment...she has to know this is inevitable. I hope this all works out quickly for you.

X2

 

[konachicks]

So EGGCITED! We got our first egg! Not from our Meyers girls but I had to share! Aurora (tufted auracana dad barred rock mom) was in and out of nest all day so I had a feeling! It's a gorgeous green egg (although pic doesn't show color well)

 

[COChix]

Got my feeders done today, the 15 gallon should hold about 75# of feed and the 5 gallon should hold about 25#. Finishing out some pellets and then will fill these with crumble and put in the run. Should be good for hoping 3-4 weeks, we will see. I have covers for the pvc pipes that I'll go over to eliminate any rodents feeding for free. I will get crumble tomorrow and put these out In the run tomorrow. Surgery is Tuesday, today was the first day it has been cold, woke up to about 6-7 inches and didn't get above 20 or so suppose to be cold tonight it is 15 now. So far no issues with horizontal nipples freezing and I have the heaters in them now. Mine our all out in enclosed and covered run but open to the elements. We will see how things hold overnight. Hope everyone back east is holding on alright.