North Carolina

[HenThymes]

Quote:
I have 3x10 runs in my horse barn for all of my bantams, we also have a 8x10 run for a few bigger ones, a 6x6, and even bachelor hutches for those with mo girlfriend. Outside we have a 25x30 and 14x25 for a couple other breeding groups. Here we have too many predators to free range and I care too much about them to loose any.

Here's a link to the hutches my DH makes, they come in real handy for some of our smaller ones.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/grd/2254150348.html

 

[Matt A NC]

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I have had Standard show cochins for a few years. The only way to get good fertility is to trim the feathers. Using a good pair of scissors trim off every feather within 3-4 inches of the vent on both the male and female. It is more important to get the feathers above the vent on the hen and below on Roo, but it is fairly easy to do them the same. Make sure the feathers are trimmed as close to the skin as you can get.

The wild birds will clean up the cut feathers in less then a day. Every year I have bird houses packed full of cochin feathers.

Matt

 

[michaelinnc84]

Thanks everyone for the great tips!

 

[birdbrain5]

hey everyone

im in the Monroe area, im looking for a few specific things so i thought i would ask you all for some help!
im looking for a few pekin duck hens, no ducklings because my drakes are full grown.
im also looking for the following chickens: barred rocks, black australorps, columbian rocks, black copper marans, and americaunas.
if you know of anyone in my area please let me know

id prefer POL age, no chicks please! thanks in advance!

 

[michaelinnc84]

Warning: Butt shot below...

I have a white cochin bantam that when we got her a month ago she had mites. We seven dusted her and they went away. But now she has the white crusty balls stuck around her vent. I don't know what this is and she seems slugish and isn't as excited and perky as the other chickens. Is that poo and bantam cochin hens just layed back or do I have reason to worry?

Thanks for any help!

 

[BHep]

michaelinnc I think that may be lice/mite waste... you need to retreat and treat the coops, the roosts etc. Some people treat with ivmectin or expernix ( not sure on spelling) I believe these will kill the external parasites as well as the internal... I am sure someone here will correct me.. is this right everyone??? There is also 2 week egg withdrawl with ivmectin.

NH... I hope you can find free stuff for your coop.. there are a bunch of coops on here made from free/recycled pallets. I just got some free pallets and will be building a duck house/coop with them. That is my warmer weather project with my son.
Also...it does not have to be fancy !! just dry, draft free, vented and predator proof. A preowned dog kennel makes a great run. You can buy them for about 100 bucks. I have seen people that convert a childs playhouse(little tykes) into coops, you can get them on CL for 60 bucks, just add a roost and wire up the windows, set inside your dog kennel and done! Chickens are not fussy, their owners are. !!!!

My chickens are locked up in a dog kennel at night, their roosts are tree branches and old shutters. I have a small doghouse in there for my rabbit to sleep in and a bunch of old milk crates for nest boxes. My rooster stands on top of the doghouse to watch over his harem.. lol It is NOT a "fancy coop" it is practical & SAFE!

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Thanks again everyone for your amazing support.

I was up until the wee hours talking with my husband (I think he forgot the time difference...east coast vs west coast...but well worth it). He has not completely relented, but seems to be softening again. I think everyone's right and it's just sticker shock!!
What cracks me up is HE is the one that is wanting an elaborate coop. All I asked was for it to look like a barn (if we could and if not painted like one). I told him about the Shipping Crates and pallets that were suggested as well as the old shed, etc... His response...that wood isn't going to last. Honestly?

I think the problem is, he's a perfectionist, so he wants the best materials so it can look "perfect." I did explain that we should start small, that way we can decide what we like/don't like and then grow as our flock grows

I was careful to avoid discussions of chicken math!!

Another problem...neither of us has a truck and I think he's worried about HOW to get the materials, but we do know a few people who have offered to lend us theirs to use...one lady offered us her son's truck any time we wanted to because he's away serving our country (a special thanks to our service men/women!!

) and doesn't want the truck to sit idle.

Why is it he's being so difficult??

It must be because I have not converted him to the "chicken side" yet. Hmm...BHep, you're an enabler, why don't you talk to him.

just kidding. I do think he's warming up to the idea because he was playing around with googlesketch last night after the meetings and designed a few different coops for me to look at (don't worry, once I get the email I will be sure to share it will everyone

). That much work doesn't fit someone who has completely thrown out the idea!!
Where is a good place to find pallets? Can you just go to a company and ask them for some? How did you all get yours?

Thanks again everyone.

I'm suppose to have an answer (well tentative) today on whether or not he plans to "allow" me to have them.

I'm going to continue to see just how much we can get for free or discount to "aide" in that decision.

You enablers have taught me well.

hehe

edited to correct horrible grammar...lack of sleep...that's my excuse.

 

[ourlittleflock]

good morning all NC's

ready for another rainy day? IT's hatch day for my splash/blue cochins

look what I heard on the news this morning (someone else may have already mention it) The news said it was 6 roosters and 4 hens...

$2,500 in chickens stolen in Clover
The Herald

CLOVER --

Officials are investigating the theft of 10 chickens worth about $2,500 in Clover, deputies say.

The chickens’ owner reported to the York County Sheriff’s Office that someone entered his property through his fence line and stole six roosters and four hens, according to an incident report.

The theft occurred sometime before Sunday morning, the owner reported.

All of the stolen livestock were marked and have bands on their feet, the report states. Their value is listed at $2,500.

The incident remains under investigation.

Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/03/08/2894475/2500-in-chickens-stolen-in-clover.html#ixzz1G1LgVl2w

I wonder what breed they are?

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Quote:
Did you read the comments? I find it interesting that the first thought that goes through someone's mind is that they're cockfighting birds because of their value. I wish it said what kind of chickens they were. Maybe...they were the posh Polish chickens and someone DID mistake them for Phyllis Diller and stole them to ransom them back to her...just another speculation (I like mine more that cockfighting ones). Sure do hope the owners get their flock back.

 

[ourlittleflock]

Quote:
Did you read the comments? I find it interesting that the first thought that goes through someone's mind is that they're cockfighting birds because of their value. I wish it said what kind of chickens they were. Maybe...they were the posh Polish chickens and someone DID mistake them for Phyllis Diller and stole them to ransom them back to her...just another speculation (I like mine more that cockfighting ones). Sure do hope the owners get their flock back.

no I didn't read the comments - but if they were cockfighting the birds

<that's how I feel about that
I has hoping someone in NC had a extremely rare bird and althrough stealing is 100% absolutely no right, the person/people who took the birds know what they were gaining..

is that an odd way of looking at that story