Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Maybe add some kind of brace above the roost so that the netting can't be pushed down that far? A coon could have crawled out there and weighed the net down to grab one too

Great minds think alike,

That was my first thought to put semi- uprights off the ends of the T bar roost that attaches back to the center pole to hold the weight to make it tighter. I worry about snow then, but This is now and snow is in the future.

I doubt a coon would crawl that far out, but it could be. It would be a very uncomfortable climb, but I put nothing past them.

 

[Minniechickmama]

It was so sad. A hall that should have been filled with crowing roosters instead was replaced by poster projects about Avian Influenza.
Had to console myself with a deep fried Snicker Bar.

Not all of them were about AI, I know my daughter's display board on Buckeye Chickens was sent up too But that Snickers sounds like a good way to make your day better. LOL

 

[Minniechickmama]

I built those new nests out of milk crates and the darn birds still refuse to use more than one nest! Yesterday there was even 2 hens in the nest at one time.
The nests are in banks of 3. Should I give up the fight and remove all but the bank they use? It would give them more floor space in the coop but would only leave 3 nests for 12 layers and 20 pullets due to lay in a few weeks hopefully

I would have to say leave them with that many due to start laying. Otherwise you will have broken eggs every day.

Have you used fake eggs to draw them into the others?

 

[Minniechickmama]

As a father of three girls (and one son), prepare yourself for drama. Lots and lots of drama. Not sure how old your kids are (my daughters are 15 and younger), everything is a MAJOR issue. I know when my daughters (and wife) are in a bad mood, the entire house has to know about it and apparently we all have to be in a bad mood, but when my son and I are having a bad day we like to be left alone and eventually we'll come around. The difference between men and women?

Congrats!

Should have grown up in my family 7 girls, 4 boys, usually some other 'orphan' who helped on the farm during Summer. 1 1/2 baths. I still don't know how we all did it.

 

[KlopKlop]

I would have to say leave them with that many due to start laying.  Otherwise you will have broken eggs every day.

Have you used fake eggs to draw them into the others?

Good call. I hadn't thought of decoy eggs

 

[Minniechickmama]

Yes I still live in MN

I have...
2 pheonix roosters
1 braham rooster
6 barred rock hens
6 RIR hens
6 pearl leghorn hens
10 Cornish (now in my freezer)
And I am also trying to hatch out some duck eggs, it is my first time with ducks, fingers crossed!!!

A nice mix of birds. Welcome aboard the Crazy Train. Watch out for our conductor (Ralphie), he is a nut

 

[Minniechickmama]

This guy tried to hunt a squirrel for 30 minutes straight this morning. The squirrel thought is was fun. I almost wish we could keep roosters, because he is bound to get close enough one of these days.


P.s. He still needs a home!

@scandiafowl did grumpy meet his doom?

Ralphie! Here is your Delaware rooster! You did say you wanted one, right? I know you want Doms, but I thought you were considering crossing some Delaware into your meat program?

 

[Minniechickmama]

And in case you all haven't noticed, I haven't figured out how to do the multiple quote posting yet

 

[cottonlouie]

The goats are doing well. Shy. Of I sit and don't look at them, George will sniff me. Irene will have nothing to do with me. She wiggles her way into the coop to get at the chicken feed. We have made the pop door smaller 3 times now. I think we did it. The barred rocks can barely get in. We fortified all fence with cattle panels, we call it Fort Knox. No one has been lost to the wolf in days....so I'm hopeful. This weekend is the end of the road for the 3 roosters, since one went after my Chihuahua. I helped butcher for the first time earlier this summer and it was a very solemn experience. Kinda made me feel like I grew up in a rather serious way. So I'm not afraid to butcher this weekend but I'm not looking forward to it either. It's just serious. I tend to want to keep the goats comfortable and healthy because I know their likely eventuality, and besides being cute litle guys their purpose is serious business so I better do my best. Does that make sense or am I being overly dramatic?

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralphie! Here is your Delaware rooster! You did say you wanted one, right? I know you want Doms, but I thought you were considering crossing some Delaware into your meat program?

I would and did want Delawares but my Delaware hen I liked so much was a victim of the attacks this summer, so I no longer have any Delawares.


So right now I am going to go towards Partridge Chanticlers and possibly Doms in the spring.