NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Sand is a good option. I am so over Shavings, I can't even stand them anymore.

I am so tempted to use it. I have two bags of left over play sand from the sand box I bought this kids this summer. I keep reading about how much easier it is as far as cleanup too. Maybe I'll give it go with the bigger chickens and see how they like it. I did read that some recommend to switch back to shavings in the winter months though.

I did mention I had silkies at one time? You might like to have a look in the coop. I found plans hidden under the wood shavings to build a transmitter and receiver in mine, after I noticed they were spending so much time inside. Don't trust them or turn your back on them. This is me and nuttsy the cat. We never went near the silkies without our head gear.

Very Funny! LOL





I have a busy day of working and also getting the coops cleaned up before we leave for CT tomorrow night. The chickens will have to deal with staying inside their coops for a day until we get back Sunday. Hope they don't cause too much racket while we're away.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Lynzi--I just use pine needles in my silkie runs. Works well, they mix it into the soil and I just keep adding as needed. I use both pine needles, leaves and pine chips from the limbs we had chipped last year in the big chickens runs. works well and I just add as needed. You eventually reach a point where it is deep enough that mud is not an issue. I just throw in some de once in a blue moon if there is any smell starting.

Rancher---nice hat! Too late for me. My silkies already control me! lol

 

[Framac]

Does this mean the hen couldn't get out to eat and poop? I have one hen in a kiddie pool in the room off the garage circled with hardware cloth and fencing. It gives her room to get off the eggs and stretch her legs.

I only do this once I see a pip, and only for 24 hours, then I remove the cover, and put her in an isolation pen with just her and the chicks. That has feed,water, fresh bedding.

Of the 9 eggs, 4 were infertile, and one quit at 18 days, the other 4 hatched.

 

[rancher hicks]

I only do this once I see a pip, and only for 24 hours, then I remove the cover, and put her in an isolation pen with just her and the chicks. That has feed,water, fresh bedding.

Of the 9 eggs, 4 were infertile, and one quit at 18 days, the other 4 hatched.

Well four is good, IMO. Mine don't do more than that even if they have a bunch of fertile eggs.

 

[Lynzi777]

Coops are clean, food/water is restocked/refreshed and I put some leaves in the bottom of the run for the silkies. They are loving it. I even used some for my rabbit run. Time to go finish up some planting and possibly take one more trip out to the nursery.

 

[Lynzi777]

What on earth is this?!? So not only do I have alien chickens, I am now getting alien eggs!

 

[Adoravachick]

What on earth is this?!? So not only do I have alien chickens, I am now getting alien eggs!

That's probably the signal transmitter.

 

[Lynzi777]

LOL I'm kind of scared to crack it open...

 

[Cass]

What on earth is this?!? So not only do I have alien chickens, I am now getting alien eggs!

An "heir and a spare"?

 

[Henicillin]

What on earth is this?!? So not only do I have alien chickens, I am now getting alien eggs!

Is it ticking?

My ladies have been holding out on me. There is a tiny space behind an old window leaning up against one of the walls in the coop. Apparently that is the perfect laying space. Alan found at least two dozen eggs jammed in there this evening. We figured that there must be a hidey-hole, as I thought I'd lost a hen duck today. I couldn't find her anywhere in an enclosed run and coop, and thought maybe she had managed to get out somehow. When I threw weeds in the run as a treat, though, she came running with the others, so I thought "uh-oh." I had to work this evening, but he was home and went a-hunting. Rotten birds. Also, rotten eggs. Alan said one of my dogs sampled one, and immediately made "BLEARGH" faces, and a devilish stench rose from the thing. They're all getting chucked, and we're blocking the hidey hole. Goofy birds.