Montana

[DuginMT]

Thanks Azriel, the feeder box is open all of the time. It is simple and should hold several week's worth of feed. No moving parts except for the hinged lid/roof. Great idea on the nesting boxes, I can close them up easily by stapling some cardboard over the entrances.

 

[karlamaria]

Finished the run and feeder box this weekend - ready for chickens! Got the rest of the chicken wire wired together and built a feeder box with scrap 2X6's, 2X4's, and 1/2" plywood. The feeder box will hold about 70 lbs of feed. Have not used it yet, but can't see why it would not work. We also placed straw on the floor of the coop and pine shavings in the nesting boxes - that was a little premature but maybe some of the pullets will practice in there. Looking at the weather report, it looks like we will put the flock out there this Saturday. My boys are really looking forward to it. Planning to gradually cool the chicks down this week, by removing some heat every day in the brooder. They don't seem to mind 60 Degrees now at all, and are about seven weeks old and fully feathered except for a tiny area in their "armpits"! I put a GFCI receptacle (covered, NEMA 4 exterior type box) inside the coop (see plug-in sticking out front of coop) that I can hook up to an extension cord for heating water in the winter and any supplemental heat, if needed. We put "Sonny" a barred rock out there for a while to check everything out!

. Love the coop and pen! The feeder is awesome, a great job ! I have to type this fast, my iPad keeps shutting down lol

 

[karlamaria]

My mom was taken by ambulance yesterday, she could no longer walk. I was asked by my kids many times " mom why are you getting her chickens and a coop when you know soon then later she can not go out there . I explained it to them like this .... When your mom is old, would you not wish to give her last days all she wished for and try to give her comfort ? Well what ever her desire is I'm going to grant it until I can no longer do so when she has passed away! I know I have done everything I can to bless my mom in these last days, but I will continue to do so so until she passes away. Thank you dug for the nice email, my iPod keeps setting down so I have had to retire anything 50 times before I can post anything. My iPod will not let me type more then 2 lines before shutting down. I have had to cut and paste the same thing to get this far. Have a good day all.

 

[DuginMT]

May God bless your mom and your entire family. You are a good daughter.

 

[montanachicks]

Very nice DuginMT, I like your feeder box, is that one that opens when the chickens stand on the bar, or is it open all the time. I would close the nest boxes off till the girls get closer to laying, other wise they will get used to sleeping in there and will poop in them and your eggs will be dirty. Its best to make sure they are used to sleeping on the roosts before you let them into the nest boxes.

I am having this same issue (pullets sleeping in the nests) and it's soooo frustrating. And yes, having to put my gloves on every morning and clean the poop out of the nests before the big girls start laying eggs. Wish I knew of a way to break them of this...........

Have a good night, all.

Karla, I am sorry about your mom. Hope she gets better soon.

 

[Montanaducks]

Hello all! I live in Missoula, MT and have three Rouen ducks (two years old now) that I can no longer care for- two drakes and a hen- does anyone happen to know someone who would be willing to welcome them into their flock? I'm afraid to post an ad on Craigslist- I want to make sure that they have a good home. Anyways, thanks for your time, any leads would be appreciated!

 

[popsicle]

Hello everyone!

I'm wondering about Blackhead here in MT. I'm near Livingston/Bozeman.

I usually only have some hens, but got a BBW turkey with an assorted order of chicks. Soo... of course I had to order more poults.

I have enough ground to pasture them separately, and our small property is already crossfenced. The turkeys would probably get much more free-ranging than the chickens. I'm curious just how vigilant I need to be about keeping them away from each other.

 

[ReptileMom]

Well I am here is Fl for my daughter's Masters degree graduation. Left all the incubators and 77 baby chicks, adolescents and adults in DH's care. Got a frantic call last night at 12:30. DH was worried about how long it was taking hatchling to zip an egg. He wanted to know if he should intervene or not. Calmed him down and told him to let it do it's thing and call me if no change in 24 hours, Called this morn, it's just finishing the zipping now. I sure hope I don't go home to a bunch of sick or dead chicks.

Last time I left for a week was before I had chickens. I still had lizards then. I left for a week and when I got back, 3 out of ten lizards had died and 2 were sick. I sure hope this trip is a whole lot better than that one! It's hard to enjoy a vacation when all I do is worry about what is happening back home!

 

[karlamaria]

Hello everyone!

I'm wondering about Blackhead here in MT.  I'm near Livingston/Bozeman.

I usually only have some hens, but got a BBW turkey with an assorted order of chicks.  Soo... of course I had to order more poults.

I have enough ground to pasture them separately, and our small property is already crossfenced.  The turkeys would probably get much more free-ranging than the chickens.  I'm curious just how vigilant I need to be about keeping them away from each other.

I'm not sure, I know some let there turkeys roam with there chickens. In fact several people new me do. Maybe someone else can answer this.


Montana ducks, I wish I could have ducks ! Hope soe one takes them and gives them a great home

 

[karlamaria]

Well I am here is Fl for my daughter's Masters degree graduation.  Left all the incubators and 77 baby chicks, adolescents and adults in DH's care. Got a frantic call last night at 12:30. DH was worried about how long it was taking hatchling to zip an egg.  He wanted to know if he should intervene or not.  Calmed him down and told him to let it do it's thing and call me if no change in 24 hours, Called this morn, it's just finishing the zipping now.  I sure hope I don't go home to a bunch of sick or dead chicks.  

Last time I left for a week was before I had chickens. I still had lizards then.  I left for a week and when I got back, 3 out of ten lizards had died and 2 were sick.  I sure hope this trip is a whole lot better than that one!  It's hard to enjoy a vacation when all I do is worry about what is happening back home!

enjoy your time with your daughter ! Praying they all hatch and do well !