NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

check

 

[rancher hicks]

Cass,
My solution to carrying the 50 lb bags when it is not possible to access MANpower is a little plastic sled. I set it under my tailgate and lower the bag/s onto it and give it a gentle tug! Off we go. I pull it right into the basement. I even have used this in summer, it slides pretty well on grass, gravel, you name it. And I like the cost.

I use a little red wagon and then transfer to cat litter jugs. These are sitting on a 2x4 suspended over a couple of cement blocks inside the chicken run.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Mark

 

[Glasshen]

It looks like the food is being guarded. Do they have shifts or do some just gravitate toward security work?

 

[ChickPrincess]

I FINALLY coaxed my chickens to go outside today. Gave them lots of fresh straw in the coop and a turkey carcass to peck apart outside. They were "happy, happy!", as Emerill would say.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Just gave the chickens a new treat. Last night we had Maine lobster. We enjoyed it a great deal and haven't had fresh lobster in a long time, so it was all the better. I looked at all the debris left over and thought perhaps the shells could be good grit and calcium for the birds. So this morning I dragged almost one leftover shell in and cut it up a bit with my kitchen scissors. When I took it out, some of the girls were excited about the rice and salad but leery of the red shells. Not Stewy! She bustled right over and chowed down on a big bit of meaty stuff. Stewy has come a long way. After her molt she has beautiful feathers, and no one messes with Stewy anymore. So the others plunged in and scattered stuff all over. Am going to try the food processor to make things more compact...don't tell DH...misuse of a tool...very bad.

Funny!! I just got back from Gloucester(MA) and brought back 6 2 lb lobster carcasses. I dumped them in th chicken pen right away. Th chickens will pick them clean leaving only the shell!!!

 

[rancher hicks]

It looks like the food is being guarded. Do they have shifts or do some just gravitate toward security work?

 

[rancher hicks]

I FINALLY coaxed my chickens to go outside today. Gave them lots of fresh straw in the coop and a turkey carcass to peck apart outside. They were "happy, happy!", as Emerill would say.

My chickens have no problem going out. With the hoop coop I made a overhang so the first foot or so is bare of snow. Though the support is not as strong as I'd like and sags. I'll have to modify it some spring or summer.

It's funny cuz it got filled with water when it rained and I didn't realize it. When I pushed it up to empty it I got a shower.

 

[stonykill]

mine all go out and free range in the snow. Doesn't seem to bother them in the least.

 

[rancher hicks]

mine all go out and free range in the snow. Doesn't seem to bother them in the least.

Mine go much farther than the over hang. I snowblowed quite and area and they wander where ever they like. None of the runs is completely covered. They have to have some fresh air. The runs are more for protection and separation of breeds. Otherwise the roosters would have a free for all .