Michigan

[bethanyrae]

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Hi,
You might want to put some golf balls in the nesting boxes to help them get the idea of where to lay. Once they have it all figured out, you can take them back out. And mine usually do all their laying early in the day. Some might go in the afternoon.
If their run is secure for the night, I wouldn't worry about them going back into the coop. It's gets so hot right now that I'm giving them the option of where they want to roost at night. That heat can make them not too happy, and happy hens lay more eggs!

 

[bethanyrae]

So sad. The hawks finally found us. I knew they were nesting about a half mile away beyond the woods.

My little black banty roo left us four tail feathers in the middle of the yard. I've also lost a lavender bantam 'cana and one of my two Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock baby pullets. All this week.

I don't know what to do. I'm trying to keep them contained into their smaller yard, blocking off access to the larger areas. And I've strung up some reflective ribbons near the henhouse where they hang out most of the time.

Any suggestions? Will a hawk take out a full grown large fowl?
bethanyrae

 

[A2SciTeach]

re stinky runs, I've been putting pine shavings down in the mud pits, maybe dump sand in there? It's pretty bad in the low areas, our coop is on a hill, but the yard slopes down and the lower part of the yard is a mess. The chickens don't seem to mind, but I'm not liking it and am worried about flies and mosquitoes. Anybody have any other ideas?

Bethanyrae, so sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[cwclub]

Bethanyrae I am sorry to hear about you chickens. Our big predators by me are feral cats. There is an abandon house about a block away and the cats will stalk my birds. I am lucky in that my dogs keep them away for the most part and we lock up the Hens at night in the coop.

 

[Opa]

The best thing that you can use for runs is coarse sand. It drains well and dries quickly and you can rake it occasionally to level the areas that the chickens have excavated. You will wind up with only a small pile of shed feathers and possibly a small amount of the fecal matter. It would be prudent to top dress with diatomaceous earth and rake in slightly and with will eliminate the odor and reduce flies. After a few days the chickens will have excavated a preferred dusting area. I add a cup of DE to that area and stir it in slightly. As the chickens dust and clean themselves the DE will work through their feathers to the skin. This will help prevent problems with mites or fleas.

Nancy, I also had a shell less egg and one blue egg whose size would suggest a pullet just starting to lay. This is much earlier age than I have ever had birds lay before. The Welsummers are in a separate coop and run and to date the only eggs I'm getting are from the mature birds. The combined flocks of rainbow, welsummer, and bantam have given me 2208 eggs so far this year.

 

[YakLady]

Hey, everyone!

Just wanted to drop in to say hello. I've been so crazy busy since Chicken Stock that I haven't had time to get on here much at all. We had another yak calf born last week-a little gray-nosed bull. There's a yak that looks like she's about to drop any day now...at least she hopes she does. Poor thing is in that 'miserable pregnant' stage. The little pup that we bought at Chicken Stock is keeping me busy, busy! She's like having a toddler around here. Turn my head and something gets torn up. Then she looks at me with that adorable little face, like she's so proud of herself. She wears me out, but she's worth it. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the Summer!

-Cayce

 

[theflynns]

Hey Everyone,

I am proud to say that my coop is coming along great. I almost have the 4th wall done, Then I gotta make the roof, stand everything up and put in windows and doors, and the chicken run. In the meantime the chickens are living 5 miles away and are doing just fine. I cannot wait to bring them home. I am hoping by the end of the week we will be close to done. I have been working on the coop every chance I get.

 

[gallinamama]

I am having a heck of a time trying to down load some pictures... I just can't figure it out... do you have some idea how to do this.???? I just took some pictures on my camera and down loaded them on my computer but now I want to share them... I shared them on facebook just fine.. but don't know how to do it on this site.

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[iluvcks]

Just wanted to let everyone know...so far two of Capri's 6 adopted eggs have hatched. One last night and one a couple hours ago.
We are thrilled
This is Capri and baby DeeAnn this morning

This is DeeAnn and Barbara Ann

 

[SillyChicken]

Quote:

Try opening an account on here

http://photobucket.com/

you can upload to any site

Thanks for the info OPA....