North Carolina

[sbrooks88]

Is anyone else having trouble keeping their coops dry? I have to let my chickens out everyday cause this rain! and does anyone have advice on what to put down as bedding so it stays drier?

 

[Matt A NC]

It's raining again.

Everything flooded last night. From the bucket on the picnic table, we got over 4 inches of rain in 3 hours. The river that went around the hen house had to be at least a foot deep to flood that house. I got it cleaned out, but I am flat exhausted. Mucking poop and wet shavings is NOT easy work. The bantam house was easier and Mom got home in time to help me with the bantam cochin house. No birds were harmed. They were safely up on the roosts several feet above the water.

Matt

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Nash county... Middlesex! Hello everyone! 

HOWDY Neighbor!! We're Johnston County, but Middlesex all the same!!

Welcome and I hope you learn lots, tell us lots and share LOTS of photos!!

It fuels our addictions!!

It's raining again.

Everything flooded last night. From the bucket on the picnic table, we got over 4 inches of rain in 3 hours. The river that went around the hen house had to be at least a foot deep to flood that house. I got it cleaned out, but I am flat exhausted. Mucking poop and wet shavings is NOT easy work. The bantam house was easier and Mom got home in time to help me with the bantam cochin house. No birds were harmed. They were safely up on the roosts several feet above the water.

Matt

Matt - I am SO sorry you are flooding!! However, I am so happy to hear that everyone is safe!! I know when I speak for a LOT of folks when I say I am just plum SICK of all this rain!! Hope you are able to put your feet up for a little bit and rest - or at least sleep well tonight from all the work!?!

Well...I'm STILL here...STILL incubating

...pulled cucumbers out of the garden (harvested about 10 and we have about 100 more growing!! Ack!), made zucchini bread for my little ones and just tried to keep everyone sane while being cooped up YET AGAIN. Every time we planned to take the girls on a LONG (hopefully pregnancy inducing) walk...the storm clouds would roll in and we would get rained out. I am honestly SICK of all this rain, but I am choosing to be thankful we will NOT have a dry well anytime soon!! (Hey, I'm trying to find something positive...LOL). No word on whether or not mama managed to hatch out the last duck egg or not...she's still sitting, so we're going to let her sit at least until next weekend (if she doesn't get off sooner)...just in case. Broody mama #2 is doing well and we should have some chicks in another week or so. DH and I have learned from this tragedy and have decided to build a BIGGER broody pen and make it a split level where they are elevated off the ground with a ramp to get down and a lip to prevent falling over. What do you all think about that? I have mixed feelings so some suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[DSTchickencraze]

Hello to everyone out there! Right now I have three Cuckoo Marans (1 Rooster and 2 Hens). Love em to death! There eggs are an okay size but the rooster is starting to get a little testy. My mom has put him on probation and we've read something saying that its good to have about 8 hens to 1 rooster. We were planning on getting more chicks, but if our rooster doesn't calm back down within the next week or so he'll be turned into soup. I really don't want to see him go! I was wondering if anyone was selling, or are willing to sell any laying hens or pullets about to lay. We are mainly looking for

• Black Australorps
• Jersey Giants
• Road Island Reds
• Any kind of Orpingtons

Only looking at these kinds because we have heard they lay really nice large to jumbo brown eggs. Besides the RIRs and the Orpingtons. We are interested in those, because we have had RIRs in the past and were really impressed with some friends' orpingtons eggs. We live in the Charlotte. We are willing to make a day trip out to Georgie, Tennesse, Virginia, or South Carolina if we have to. We are also willing to pay a good amount, within reason, for already laying or soon to be laying pullets.

Anyone that have any hens that they are willing to sell, or know where I can buy some, feel free to comment, send me a private message, or email me at [email protected]. Thank you so much!!!

Oh and we are open to other breeds if they lay large or jumbo brown eggs!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Went up to Sanford today to go to Big Bloomers nursery, and as an aside to deliver pullets to Tammyfarms. Seriously enjoyed meeting her! Nice lady! Hopefully we can get together again.

I don't know that there isn't anyone you wouldn't get along with Hollow. just wanted to say Hi! Boring day with it having rain the entirety. Looks like its going to let up tomorrow, gonna have to cram all the outdoor chores to one day. Talk later...

That is an extremely kind thing for you to say. I wish I could say it was true, but alas, it is not!

So far the Juvenile Detention Center and grow-out are both staying dry. Probably 1/4 - 1/3 of the layer house floor is flooded, and the rest is just damp-wet ...because really, we're at 100% saturation here! And the water table was already high. Since the layers don't spend too much time on the floor of the layer house, I've given up worrying. (Yeah, right.). But at least their perches are up, and they have pasture to roam that is not all under water. On the other hand, the cows will need water wings soon.

One additional issue that may be arising due to the rain is that we may need to have the septic tank pumped. With the ground so saturated, the drain field can't drain! An added expense that we hadn't anticipated. And the mudroom roof is still leaking during heavy downpours. And all the doggies are sporting fleas. (We just treated them).

What else can I whine about? Oh, yeah. IT'S RAINING!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Hello to everyone out there! Right now I have three Cuckoo Marans (1 Rooster and 2 Hens). Love em to death! There eggs are an okay size but the rooster is starting to get a little testy. My mom has put him on probation and we've read something saying that its good to have about 8 hens to 1 rooster. We were planning on getting more chicks, but if our rooster doesn't calm back down within the next week or so he'll be turned into soup. I really don't want to see him go! I was wondering if anyone was selling, or are willing to sell any laying hens or pullets about to lay. We are mainly looking for

• Black Australorps
• Jersey Giants
• Road Island Reds
• Any kind of Orpingtons

Only looking at these kinds because we have heard they lay really nice large to jumbo brown eggs. Besides the RIRs and the Orpingtons. We are interested in those, because we have had RIRs in the past and were really impressed with some friends' orpingtons eggs. We live in the Charlotte. We are willing to make a day trip out to Georgie, Tennesse, Virginia, or South Carolina if we have to. We are also willing to pay a good amount, within reason, for already laying or soon to be laying pullets.

Anyone that have any hens that they are willing to sell, or know where I can buy some, feel free to comment, send me a private message, or email me at [email protected]. Thank you so much!!!

Oh and we are open to other breeds if they lay large or jumbo brown eggs!

If you don't find anything closer, I have two more Rhode Island Reds and several more Buff Orpington pullets that can go. The RIR are 8 months old and laying. The BOs are 5 months old and are just starting to lay. The eggs take a bit to get get big, of course. But...I am three hours from you, between Fayetteville and Lumberton. Hopefully you can find what you need closer!

 

[sbrooks88]

It's horrible here! We can't even put our dogs outside. I had a chicken die 2 days ago which I believe was due to avian botulism with all these puddles of stagnant water and mud. Poor thing. Hurt me so badly. the creek behind the house is plum full and it runs into buckhorn. The water just oozes when you step on the ground. I can't keep my chickens in that coop all day like that. Even If they do roost its not fair. I've tried to shovel as much poo and mud and water and shavings as possible with the help of my wonderful hubby but we just can't keep up with all this rain. At least it's supposed to be pretty tomorrow! Yey! Maybe well go to the flea market and get some more babies! granted I'm sure we need the rain but a nice drying out period would be nice. But not too long. I just need the coop dry and the garden drained! Can't even get in the garden cause we sink in the mud! Haha! I posted a pic of a rooster I have that I don't know about in another forum. If anyone has time please take a look! Nice to see so many Carolinians here!!!!

 

[sbrooks88]

Another round of rain just arrives! Grrrrr!!!!

 

[DSTchickencraze]

If you don't find anything closer, I have two more Rhode Island Reds and several more Buff Orpington pullets that can go. The RIR are 8 months old and laying. The BOs are 5 months old and are just starting to lay. The eggs take a bit to get get big, of course.

But...I am three hours from you, between Fayetteville and Lumberton. Hopefully you can find what you need closer!

Don't worry. I have talked to a few more people and they are just about as far as you are or aren't willing to sell. I am definately interested in hearing more from you! Do you mind me asking how friendly the birds are, where you are located, and how much you are willing to sell them?

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

If you don't find anything closer, I have two more Rhode Island Reds and several more Buff Orpington pullets that can go. The RIR are 8 months old and laying. The BOs are 5 months old and are just starting to lay. The eggs take a bit to get get big, of course.


But...I am three hours from you, between Fayetteville and Lumberton. Hopefully you can find what you need closer!

Don't worry. I have talked to a few more people and they are just about as far as you are or aren't willing to sell. I am definately interested in hearing more from you! Do you mind me asking how friendly the birds are, where you are located, and how much you are willing to sell them?

I'll pm you.