NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Question:
If I want to keep a roo but don't want him in the coops with my hens full time, what's the best way to keep him confined but happy at the same time? Like how much space is enough space for one chicken to live in. I'm thinking of separating my silkie roo from the girls to give them a break. And now that he's out and about with all the chickens, all he does is chase everyone down. But I want to keep him for breeding purposes with my silkie flock.

 

[rancher hicks]

My leg is killing me after working all day. It is raining buckets out there. How long, exactly, can chickens live without food and water? Cuz I really really really don't want to go down there through the lake to put out more food. They can get water outside, the door is still open. The food bag is in the coop, open...they'll be ok, right?

There were times I hung a feeder inside the coop and do with the hoop coops that have no covered run space. The hoop with no run get water each day in the winter. Otherwise they have a big tub of water. This feeder (pic) hold enough for a couple of days. The feeders in the runs are lifted up and hung near the ceiling at night.




This pitcher hold enough for a couple of days too since it's got a nipple and there is no waste. Other coops with covered runs have five gallon buckets with three nipples each. Of course they can go for more than a couple of days.

 

[mountaindog66]

Rancher, I really like your hoop coops, I have a coop but I'm pretty sure I want to build a larger hoop coop like yours next spring to use in my field as a tractor. I don't have much to contribute here being chickenless and still in the planning stage, but I'm learning so much from lurking here LOL.

 

[lizzy14]

Hi all! I'm in the western Finger Lakes region, south of Rochester, and have 7 hens: Ameracauna, Welsummer, and Wyandotte. I am interested in finding a local chicken lover who will be selling hatching eggs in July. I am most interested in trying Sussex, Plymouth Rock, Orphington, New Hampshire, Dominique, Delaware, Chantecler, Buckeye. I'd like to find someone within 1-2 hours of me so that I can pick the eggs up. Please send me a message at lizsimmons at ymail.com if you think you can help me Thanks!

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Oh, I'm the new driver for a retirement home. Casual/part time but that's fine with me.

Good deal, Rancher. Sounds like a worthy and useful thing to do.


TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

There were times I hung a feeder inside the coop and do with the hoop coops that have no covered run space. The hoop with no run get water each day in the winter. Otherwise they have a big tub of water. This feeder (pic) hold enough for a couple of days. The feeders in the runs are lifted up and hung near the ceiling at night.

Rancher, I have the same (I think) feeder, though mine doesn't have that handle, which you have the rope clipped to. Did you attach a home-made handle? If so, how did you do that? I currently have my plastic feeder elevated on a cinder block. Same with my big, galvanized waterer.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Rancher, I really like your hoop coops, I have a coop but I'm pretty sure I want to build a larger hoop coop like yours next spring to use in my field as a tractor. I don't have much to contribute here being chickenless and still in the planning stage, but I'm learning so much from lurking here LOL.

I was chickenless when I joined up here over the winter and spent that long, cold season and much of this past spring reading, soaking in a lot of info and enjoying the banter. I was very impatient, but had no choice but to wait until our new coop was built. Then, finally, we were ready for the girls! As impatient as I was to get going, it was a great opportunity (the wait) to learn a lot.

I also think Rancher's hoop coops are cool!

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

With regard to GRASS CLIPPINGS.

I would like to use them as well, but have read in more than one chicken care book that they are dangerous to chickens' crop health. (Stony, don't make fun of me for quoting books!!

)

I am getting what Gramma does though....drying out the clippings so they are not green anymore. So they don't eat them at all that way Gramma? Good to know.

Anyway, we've got plenty of lawn here, and the clippings would be a very economical way to help keep the pen cleaner and drier. Just don't want to risk the health of the ladies. The Brabanter will eat just about anything!

TOB

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

SOMEBODY PLEASE TURN OFF THE FAUCET! MY CHICKENS ARE TURNING INTO DUCKS!

Okay, seriously, we cant take any more rain. Now the wind is picking up which means downed trees because the ground is saturated. My dh has pumped out the back yard twice already and it is a mondo pump that we use.

So glad I made sure to load up the feeders and waterers last night because I did not step foot outside at all today. Dh was kind enough to grab the eggs when he was out pumping out the yard. The poor cheeps have been hiding all day under their coops and the silkies have been inside even though their runs are covered.

I hear the pump again so its going to be a long night. Be safe all.

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher, I have the same (I think) feeder, though mine doesn't have that handle, which you have the rope clipped to. Did you attach a home-made handle? If so, how did you do that? I currently have my plastic feeder elevated on a cinder block. Same with my big, galvanized waterer.

TOB

No they come that way.