Michigan

[A2SciTeach]

Where is everyone? I know the weather is beautiful,but really! It looks like the two month molt is behind us here and we are finally getting more eggs. I have convinced my dh that we need a new dual purpose bird so we will be expanding to include delawares in the spring. Keeping fingers crossed that we will actually be able to kill one and eat it! I just keep finding more ways to use eggs and less ways to use chicken for main dishes.

 

[Olive Hill]

Well, remember that Narragansett hen that disappeared not quite two weeks ago and then was back... and then disappeared.. and then was back ... and then disappeared... and then was back... and then disappeared...?

She's been gone a LOT lately so we finally went a'hunting. And as suspected found her on a nice, big, full nest of absolutely beautiful, huge turkey eggs. She ran off when we walked up on her, but went back within about 30 minutes, so I don't think too much damage is done. I am concerned about predation though. She picked a high traffic racoon area... of course.

I can't take the eggs from her until Thursday at the earliest though. My incubator is full already. And to be perfectly honest I have no desire to brood poults over the winter... what to do, what to do...

I'm not sure when she started sitting exactly, so don't even know when they are "due". Funny though, if she started sitting shortly after the first time she went missing (or I noticed her missing rather) the poults would be due on Thanksgiving Day. Now that's a different kind of Thanksgiving Turkey...

 

[justcelia]

I got bold enough to move the chicken tractor further from the house. They are now where I can see them out my computer room window.
We re-did their bedding in the "coop" area. Thin sprinkle of DE then pine shavings then straw. I hope the girls find it acceptable!

Missy (Yorkie mix) is having a hard time understanding that we WANT them to come out in the daytime. She keeps herding them back in!

Also, a question: The girls won't roost in the coop. They just cuddle on the floor. There is plenty of room for them to hop/flutter up to it.
Could it be too wide? (It's a 1X3) coop is 2 1/2' tall and roost is 1' up. It runs cross-wise). Floor area of coop is 4' X 2 1/2' plus a nest box (1'X2") I thought they needed a wide roost to keep their feet warm. The coop has insulated roof and 2 walls.
Sugestions? And does the coop sound/look "Chicken Happy"? (bedding, etc?) Chicken tractor is 4' X 6' and 4 1/2' high. Thanks for all your help!

Celia
New mom of 2 Brahma pullets. (and new to chickens!)

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Quote:
Celia, is that white stuff on the straw DE? If so, you should spread it out....and wear a mask when you work with it...
some of our young girls roost and some sit on the floor...I wouldn't worry about it....they'll get the hang of it sometime soon. Bedding sounds fine - Welcome to our crazyness!

 

[lilmstw72]

Mine are almost 7 months old and they still prefer to cuddle up together on the floor in a boxed in area I have. I've decided I'm not gonna worry about it. They roost during the day but when the sun sets they decide to go in this box where they sleep on the floor. Oh-well. I don't see any harm in it.

 

[Olive Hill]

Celia, of the 8 Brahmas I had here when you came only 3 liked to roost -- the other 5 preferred to sleep in or on that wooden crate that was just inside the coop door. I still have 3 that roost every night which means your two were of the "cuddlers". I wouldn't worry about them. They may take up roosting as they age, or they may always prefer to cuddle up in a corner. Neither way is more "right" than the other. If you're okay with them not using the roost it won't hurt anything to just let them sleep where they want to sleep.

 

[Water Pixie]

Good evening all! It has been a drama filled month here at my house so I am just getting around to winterizing the coop.

I have a couple of questions.
1. Right now I have a heat lamp over the water to keep it from freezing should I change the bulb to a different type?

2. I forgot to bring in some eggs the night before last and it got below freezing are they ok? Is there a way to check them?

Thanks for all the help,
Dawn


Is Hoping that Nov. will be a better month!

 

[LyonFuzz]

Celia,

I think your little green and pink coop is great The white stuff is pine shavings right? I found that straw in the coop was too hard to keep clean and took it all out and just put a few inches of the pine shavings in there instead. It's so much easier to clean....just get a cat box scooper and scoop the poops out a couple times a week. With straw, you can't do that because the poo sticks to too much of it. The girls like to snuggle down into the shavings too.....the silkies that is....the others roost. Nice job!

 

[Opa]

Looks like we have a pretty reasonable week ahead of us. Temperatures in the 50s should give me time to get a few more things done before it gets too cold. I want to get my xmas lights up without my fingers freezing off. Howell has the Parade of Lights scheduled for Nov 26th and I like to have my lights up for that, plus my oldest son and his family may be here for Thanksgiving so it would be nice to have the lights on for Morgan.

 

[Olive Hill]

'Morning All!

So far, so good with the Narr hen. I checked on her first thing and she was alive and well; answering the tom's calls when I tossed out some corn but not budging off that nest.

I'm with you, Sam. I'm going to be appreciating the weather this week while working outside. It won't get me out of being out in the cold once it sets in, but at least it postpones it some.

I don't remember who asked about the frozen eggs, but they're fine.

This winter if you leave them when it's really cold they'll freeze and split.