Michigan

[justcelia]

I looked up Bramhas! Beautiful! Could you sell me 2 of the pullets? I would be so happy!
I have a temp pen for the EE. he should be going to his new home on saturday. The girls can have the long coop.
It wont take me long to "update" the long pen. (really got to add wheels. My back told me so!)
My BF works 7-10am and 4-6pm. I would like for him to come but it is not absolutely nessecary.
When would be best for you? I am VERY flexable.
Thank you thak you thank you!
Celia
(Soon to have CHICKENS! YAY!)

PS I tried to do my page, but the pic dont come up. Grr.
I will message you my number.

 

[chickflick]

Wow! It's after 8 and no one has been on? Sam, where are you with the coffee? Sure is windy out there, but the temps aren't bad. My chickens are still in lockdown. Still see hawks hanging around. Dang, can't they find enough wild things to eat? Feel bad for my girls, they're use to free ranging. Have a good day, all.

 

[wyliefarms]

Good Morning Everyone!!!


The storm wasn't much of a storm! The poor kids in school had to sit in the hallways for over an hour while the tornando warning was going on!

We were rebels and stayed upstairs. Even had people call me to let me know about the warning!

Got to go and call the doctors....Rachel is sick again, going on day 3. Being 14 they think they know everything and going to the doctors is not in the vocabulary!

Have a great day everyone! Oh and Nathan turned 4 yesterday

Sarah

 

[justcelia]

I am building an "upgraded" chicken tractor. My BF plowes "race tracks" for our Yorkie mix (otherwise she "bottoms out!).
Could we do the same for our hens? (will have only 2-3). Could we plow and area, let the sun melt it then move the tractor?
I worry that the 4X6X3' high area will be to small for them to be cooped up all winter.

Do you let your chickens out in the day all winter?
Thanks for your help!!!
Troy, SE Michigan.

Celia

 

[RIRJen]

Hello All!

My chickens have access to the outdoors all winter. I have a two-part chicken coop door (like a horse stall door) and I shut the bottom half in the winter so that the snow won't blow in but they can still get out by jumping through the top part. I usually keep a shovel handy to scoop out a path for them so they don't get burried in the snow.

Still no eggs....

 

[RIRJen]

Quote:
They should be fine! Just make sure they have water that's not frozen and that they have a warm place to get into where the snow/wind can't hit them!

 

[Olive Hill]

What a day. It's been long, but productive thus far. Hope everyone is doing well.

This is unrelated to poultry but, I was trying to find halloween themed cookie cutters today to use for making shaped rice krispie treats for the oldest's class party and would you know I couldn't find them anywhere. It wasn't even like the stores were out of them, they just plain weren't carrying them at all. I ended up buying some themed treat bags and stuff to make both regular and chocolate rice krispies to put in them instead. Looks like I need to find a good set of holiday themed cookie cutters though, I don't want to repeat this hunt next year. Anybody seen a full set out there? I think I've seen them from Williams Sonoma...

Celia -- your pullets are hardy ladies. They stay out through everything, even the severe storms we had yesterday with the cold rain and wind. As long as they have a little protection from the worst of the elements, food and water available, they'll be just fine. Ours free range dawn to dusk 365 days a year. They go out in the wind, in the rain, in the snow, in the sleet, in the hail.... well, you get the idea.

I don't move snow for the chickens. They walk right on top of it. One nice thing with the Brahmas is their pea comb, while I've never had a problem with frostbite even on the large single combs, the Brahma's tight, small comb is even less likely to cause winter problems. And their rather heavily feather feet make for extra warmth as well. With your yard being small-medium sized and privacy fenced there is really nothing to worry about, the fence alone will provide a lot protection from them. There is simply no way you can get whipping winds and the wind is one of the biggest factors in their warmth.

As an aside as I sit here typing this the power keeps flickering. Has gone off and come back on three times now. I will be an unhappy camper if it goes off for good. I've got a full 'bator and a small batch in the brooder.

 

[bethanyrae]

Quote:
Have you figured out the culprit yet? I can always tell my roos when I let them out in the morning.....it's a scramble after the hens!!

No, and I am pretty positive my girls are girls. Only have three of them. One- really all of them, are definitely girls. Girls but they are not laying eggs. Everything I own is a freeloader- so perhaps someone decided to learn how to crow? Would be my luck.

That is just too weird. Do you have zoning against roosters? I guess you could prove you don't actually have one, even though that's not the intent of the ordinance. ha. Are you still hearing it?

 

[Mish]

Quote:
Celia, how did you find a home? I'm trying to find a good home for the 22-week-old EE roo we bought from TSC as a Ameraucana pullet. I'm even offering hatching eggs or chicks/ ducklings in the spring and no one is interested. Anyone have any advice finding a place besides in the stew pot? This roo isn't aggressive to people or hens, just to the little Silkie Roo I have which was probably mutual.

I have too much chicken drama going on! A broody hen, a slightly injured Silkie roo and three 3-week-old chicks in a watermelon box are in the back room of my house. Th other roo is in a rabbit hutch because the bantam cochin and polish hen were upset their Silkie guy wasn't around and because the younger hens decided they moved up in pecking order with the ducks and uppity roo No freeranging because of a hawk... the hawk also is the reason for the chicks and hen in the house. I don't even have that many birds.

 

[Olive Hill]

M2 -- Do you have pictures of your hens?

Celia -- You don't cook?

I always joke that when people tell me they don't cook they may as well tell me they were born on Mars, it basically means the same to me. LOL!

"What do you mean you don't COOK?"

"What do you mean you were born on MARS?"

See? Same exact thing.