NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

Hey all, I have a ? for you guys more expierenced than my self.

I have several EE's in my mixed layer flock they all have beards & puffy cheeks. I also have 2 Am roos in this flock. I have seen the rir/ red sexlinks picking the feathers out of the face of my Lave roo & the Lav EE hen. They don't bother with any of the other's faces. I had to move the Lav EE to a different pen and the Lav roo's face is now missing the beard & puffs. Any ideas ? I supplement their feed with black oil sunflower seed & hi-pro cat food. It's just these 2 birds.


Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated

Maybe ?
Can you smear something that tastes bitter on their faces ?
maybe pine tar or a citrus - lemon or orange ...juice or peel (ground up in a little oil so it is strong & sticks ?

 

[Gramma Chick]

I'm going to take a vote because I came across another coop that Iike for my Orps. Now keep in mind, these guys will be free ranging every day, so these coops will be a sleeping quarters only along with "shelter" from the rain, snow etc. Which one do you like better?

http://cconly.com/coop__hutches/cc-18_series - Coop Only, No run.

Or this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Overall-69x...882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20d957d67a

The first one, from CCOnly, is what the ducks are in right now. That was my first original coop that I started with and before I got the new larger coop, I had Gru and the 3 hens in there and there was plenty of space for each of them at night. Pictures are hard to go by an that's why I need opinions on the 1st one as well. Looks small in the pictures but the measurements are larger than the 2nd.

I think they are both TOO SMALL for people that are infected with MORECHICKENS disease .
The flaw I see in the 2nd one is that it has a flat roof .so there would be build up on top ...potential rotting of the roof

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: if you put it all in the same place you have got a GREAT compost pile ...that you can put on plants & Vegetables for natural fertilizer

 

[Lynzi777]

I think they are both TOO SMALL for people that are infected with MORECHICKENS disease .
The flaw I see in the 2nd one is that it has a flat roof .so there would be build up on top ...potential rotting of the roof

Well that's the thing. I want something that is JUST large enough for my 3 Orps because I WILL NOT be adding any more chickens to that flock. Those are the few larger birds I am keeping around just for the egg supply and hatching. But even then, the chicks will sold. IF I get another Splash Orp I will keep one and still have the room but that is the max. I don't want a lot of Orps. My main focus is the on the bantams like it should have been from the beginning.

 

[Gramma Chick]

I'll admit it. I laughed at the post regarding "shoveling out the run for the chickens", and thought "it'll be a cold day in a very warm place when you catch me doing THAT".

Now guess what I just did? Shoveled a path through my run so the chickens and ducks can get out the people door at the end of the run. Why? Well, two things happened. One: Ray found my shovel. The one that is light enough for me to lift heavy snow with. And Two: We have over 30 inches of snow on the ground between the two storms and the pop door was totally blocked by snow (limiting ventalation from that part of the coop) So there I am, grumbling about not tarping the top of the run like I had planned to do this fall (thanks mom and your demands to move before eviction) and shoveling a path through the run so I can get the pop door cleared out.

Are the chickens using it? Of course not. They are delighted that I finally shoveled the people path to the front door and are walking in and out the people door like it is just the right size for their small bodies. Go figure.

The little door doesnt have that poop trail ...chickies always follow that ...

 

[dragonlord483]

I'm expecting 4 Blue Swedish ducklings.  Perhaps some time we can trade either eggs or ducklings.  Not sure how long it takes before they lay.  I really need to do research.  Schools are close this week so no volunteering I should use the time. 

Everyone else:   

I have a broody hen. I thought she was but after I moved her to the coop with the EE roo I'm pretty sure. She was on the nest last night and the big pile of poo tells me I'm right.  I'm going to leave her. She has two EE eggs right now but I'm going to stick a few more in there.  BM's I guess.  I'm getting plenty of egg for now so I can afford to play around. 


Question:   How long to roosters need to be on grower?   I have two I'd like to move and one of them is pretending to crow.  He's not quite found his voice yet.   I'd like to move him to an adult coop for the time being. 

maybe. About. The trade she went brooch twice. So far but didn't sit long enough
I keep all of mine on grower feed

 

[Berner Mom]

Welcome! Glad that there are other NY's. I am in upstate NY near Saratoga Springs. I am starting a new flock this spring with a variety pack of heavy birds to see which ones I like the best. Getting 20 altogether and am so excited. Will update with pictures of the coop building when we break ground in a month or so. Just love this site as there is so much info and such nice people (well most anyway). Can't wait to start trading birds!

 

[dragonlord483]

Thankyou everyone that has welcomed me
As for the qoute part I forget some time sorry also been having issues with that on my phone
my copper is about 8x8 I figure I have enough room for about 20 chicken total built myself from scrap only the run was expense about 300$ in wire. I live in the woods so wanted them protected

 

[Gramma Chick]

Welcome! Glad that there are other NY's. I am in upstate NY near Saratoga Springs. I am starting a new flock this spring with a variety pack of heavy birds to see which ones I like the best. Getting 20 altogether and am so excited. Will update with pictures of the coop building when we break ground in a month or so. Just love this site as there is so much info and such nice people (well most anyway). Can't wait to start trading birds!

WELCOME !

As we are all New Yorkers & Neighbors ...we try to be nice on this thread .
We Look forward to seeing your progress ...with Pics

 

[Gramma Chick]

Thankyou everyone that has welcomed me
As for the qoute part I forget some time sorry also been having issues with that on my phone
my copper is about 8x8 I figure I have enough room for about 20 chicken total built myself from scrap only the run was expense about 300$ in wire. I live in the woods so wanted them protected

No problem ..things happen esp with phones ...LOL this web site can be cranky some times ...and not work just right either

Good Idea ! Chickens have TOO Many Predators ..I guess everything likes Chicken .
Do yours free range ? ours do ..only when we are home to watch out for them