North Carolina

[BHep]

Question: I have had my younger birds outside in a brooder/run on the ground with a red light in the box for heat. They are now hanging out outside in the run all night. not sleeping out there but like being awake and scratching all night...even when it's below freezing. Is this because it's too hot in the box house or are they not on a sleep schedule because of the light?

Yes...sounds like it is too hot. You could add a lower watt bulb.

 

[BHep]

Okay, you guys are going to love this.

My son called me when I was on my way to work this morning. He led off with telling me it was the worst morning of his entire life. I was about to pull over, as I was envisioning everything from him calling from the hospital to his beloved dog being run over, to...well, lots of horrors!

He had come home on Dec 21, and left on the 30th...last Sunday. This morning was the first time he had taken out trash. His trash can is provided by his landlord. It has no lid, and it has no holes drilled in it, so he often has to dump water out of it. This morning he went to put his trash in, and noticed it was frozen. He also noticed what looked like one of Dusty's dog toys that had accidently been thrown away, so he broke the ice to pull it out.

And found out that sometime while he was gone, a skunk had climbed into the trash can and drowned in the water. With warming and thawing, the skunk was half decomposed. And because it had been frightened, it was skunky ripe. Since it had been frozen over, he hadn't smelled anything...until he broke the ice. He said it was the first time a smell had ever made him throw up. He was calling me to ask how to get it out of the trash can and how to clean the can.

I told him to put on old clothes, put a bag over that trash can, load it in the open back of the Jeep and get the whole she-bang to the dump. Then wash the clothes immediately and shower. I'll buy the new trash can, with lid, to replace it! (He's in college at Boone, so is Broke College Student)

Better him than me! And I still had to pull over, as I was laughing too much to drive!

 

[LukesCityHens]

Yes...sounds like it is too hot. You could add a lower watt bulb.

They go in there and nap during the day. I just don't want them to freeze without one at night. When would you say they can go without a light?
They are the black lav splits from beth and are getting BIGGGGGG! and some SFH's that are around the same age, almost fully feathered. the splits still have some fluff but not much.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Grrrrrr....now I come home to another dead bird. One of the older pullets. This one in the moat, because I didn't give them pasture access today. Hawk kill and it ate right there.

Just a few months without birds has made me stupid. This is when we have more hawks, since they're migratory and all the Northern birds are here. I KNOW I need to take more protective steps in the winter than in summer when other food is more available. I know this. So I leave the chicken house open one night and then a hawk? I need to spend this weekend doing some setup.

 

[jahaworth89]

Dont know who but one of our ladies, or maybe more, left us some surprises around our yard. These are our first spoils, couldnt be happier with our girls

 

[The Howards]

Dont know who but one of our ladies, or maybe more, left us some surprises around our yard. These are our first spoils, couldnt be happier with our girls

Congrats!! Aren't you just as proud as if you laid them yourself?? I always am - when one lays a first egg I do the egg dance and have to tell just everyone how proud I am.

 

[jahaworth89]

Quote: I am! My husband found one at lunch and when I came home 2 hours later and was cleaning up the yard I found to more. So I posted it all over facebook. I am still super stoked, cant wait for morning to come and see if there are more lol.. And I also thought I broke my chickens cause they are all almost 8 months or older and no one had laid eggs yet

 

[BHep]

I am! My husband found one at lunch and when I came home 2 hours later and was cleaning up the yard I found to more. So I posted it all over facebook. I am still super stoked, cant wait for morning to come and see if there are more lol.. And I also thought I broke my chickens cause they are all almost 8 months or older and no one had laid eggs yet

Congrats... You may find a few more hidden around.

 

[chicken dad]

Okay, you guys are going to love this.

My son called me when I was on my way to work this morning. He led off with telling me it was the worst morning of his entire life. I was about to pull over, as I was envisioning everything from him calling from the hospital to his beloved dog being run over, to...well, lots of horrors!

He had come home on Dec 21, and left on the 30th...last Sunday. This morning was the first time he had taken out trash. His trash can is provided by his landlord. It has no lid, and it has no holes drilled in it, so he often has to dump water out of it. This morning he went to put his trash in, and noticed it was frozen. He also noticed what looked like one of Dusty's dog toys that had accidently been thrown away, so he broke the ice to pull it out.

And found out that sometime while he was gone, a skunk had climbed into the trash can and drowned in the water. With warming and thawing, the skunk was half decomposed. And because it had been frightened, it was skunky ripe. Since it had been frozen over, he hadn't smelled anything...until he broke the ice. He said it was the first time a smell had ever made him throw up. He was calling me to ask how to get it out of the trash can and how to clean the can.

I told him to put on old clothes, put a bag over that trash can, load it in the open back of the Jeep and get the whole she-bang to the dump. Then wash the clothes immediately and shower. I'll buy the new trash can, with lid, to replace it! (He's in college at Boone, so is Broke College Student)

Better him than me! And I still had to pull over, as I was laughing too much to drive!

Oh man. What a nasty suprise. If I was him, I would throw out the clothes. Don't think I'd want that smell in my washing machine.

 

[chicken dad]

Ok I am new to chickens, got them in March. This morning I went out to check to see if their water was froze. This was around 5:15 am, so I had a flashlight with me. I went into the run and shined the light on all the kids that were out. Evidently our rooster didn't see the light. When I turned around to make sure the door to the run was shut, he jumped on my leg. It took me a few seconds to realize what had just happened. Not the first time he has jumped on me or my daughter. Out of reaction I kicked and he was between my boot and the cinder blocks that the water sits on. Reached down and grabbed him to see if he was hurt bad. I was wearing steel toes boots. Well when I got home this afternoon, I go out and let them out in the yard. Noticed that he was limping and didn't hear him crow. Grabbed him up and tried to do a once over to see if anything broken that I could feel. Didn't notice anything. He stayed way away from me the whole time out in the yard. My question for anyone is what should I do other than watch him for awhile. Thanks for your help with this. Also another question, how can I break him from trying to jump us when we are in the yard. Thanks again.