NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tough Old Bird]

You do have to cage them, but you can build a little aviary for them, or you can build a wire bottom rabbit hutch type thing for them. They need one square foot per bird. I'm going to be building a nice setup off the side of the new coop I need to build this spring and all will be moving in there.

When the time comes for me to make a move on new bird(s) I am soooo tempted by Buckeyes! Have been from the start...


TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I keep the bags of feed in the house so nothing can get to them. I'm thinking about taking an old fridge that we have in the garage and turning it on it's side and putting it out by the runs so I can store the food in there instead of the back room. I'd put locks on it so nothing could open them up. I've seen a raccoon pull trash out of a metal trash can that was all bungied with 5 bungies and they got it open enough to get out trash out...quite the sight.

They usually come out at night though. My tracks appeared sometime between 8am and 1pm. That is why I'm thinking squirrel. The chickens weren't bothered and they ducks were locked up so no harm to them. Looks like they were just checking things out...I hope...but I take a head count and lock up tight every night.

I am not positive, but think you've got gray squirrel tracks. Mine visit the perimeter of my pen daily to check for bits of scattered corn, etc. They even climb on the coop roof and pen, but have never bothered my birds. Did you see if the tracks led under that rock pile or did they just go up to it and then around towards the tree on the left side of the pic? Anyway, I don't think you would find a squirrel living under a rock pile, so if the tracks led into a den of sorts then you are probably looking at another animal. I don't think the paw prints that were pretty clear in your image were raccoon, though. They look squirrely to me! But then, I'm a little nuts, so who knows? haha! (Bad joke!)

TOB

 

[rancher hicks]

Hi Rancher. You're not alone with sluggish CR's. Only one of my two CR's are laying right now. Molly is very dependable. Ursa has not laid an egg since her molt in the fall. Grrrr! I'm hoping she'll pick up laying again soon, especially as daylight hours are creeping longer again. Helen, the Marans isn't laying either, but Pringles the Delaware is. She has a beautiful, large egg.

TOB

Well guess what? I got a nice large egg the other day finally. I noticed a rooster dancing with a hen and thought it's strange if she's not laying. I collected eggs and there was a CR egg. I saved it to hatch. Waiting for some more.

My marans were laying but I covered over the front of where they roost cuz it was so cold and they've let up some.

I must confess to not letting them out til late though. I've just been so tired. Today will be an early day I think. I've already gone out with water. I think those blasted squirrels watch to see if the chickens are out. They get in and scare the hens and then they won't lay.

 

[rancher hicks]

When the time comes for me to make a move on new bird(s) I am soooo tempted by Buckeyes! Have been from the start...


TOB

I've considered them too, but I've got enough breeds and would need to get rid of one, but which? The Columbians are big birds but late to mature and not prolific layers IMO. If you don't mind waiting and are eating them then they're worth the trouble. Much like the Jersey's I guess.

Of course if you don't count on eggs everyday it's okay too.

 

[boskelli1571]

When the time comes for me to make a move on new bird(s) I am soooo tempted by Buckeyes! Have been from the start...


TOB

Will we be seeing you at Chickenstock?? Sounds like temptation will be overwhelming there....

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all. After walking on ice for the past two weeks we have finally gotten some snow. 4 inches and still falling. I am happy because now I can get to my coops without fear of falling and breaking something. Of course the reds wont come out because the evil white stuff is falling but my silkies piled out quick. Of course they have covered runs so no snow for them to go through. I finally went into the new tsc we have in town and boy is it dangerous for me! I got a gift card at christmas so I went to see what they had and to get a new black rubber water bucket for the cheeps. Um yeah. I could spend lots in that store! Made it out with a bucket, a flock block and some poultry cell and still have money left on the card. No way am I going in there during chick days. I will not be able to restrain myself! lol I have been putting the poultry cell in everyoes water for the last two weeks and I do believe its making a difference in the cheeps. They are molting and egg production is down but I notice that they seem to be more active and their feathers are coming in much better. Its making a big difference in the silkies. I think everyone needed the extra boost of vitamins and supplements that are in it. Anyways, I will keep giving it to them for a while in preparation for hatching season. Took the reds a while to decide the game bird block wasnt going to attack them and now they are slowly pecking away at it. Its high protein and should also help with the molt. The ham bone that dh hung up in their run is slowly being pecked away as well. Interesting that they have managed to whittle away so much of that thick bone. 'They pretty much hit it every day.

Luv--you have squirrels running there. Lead poisoning works great. As far as the idea of the fridge outside storing the feed, I wouldnt. Most critters wouldnt be able to break into it but you are inviting bear trouble if you do that. Bears can easily break into locked and chained fridges and freezers, even dragging them off into yards to work on them. A bears sense of smell is very powerful and the feed inside would bring them in for an easy meal.

I hope everyone is well. Hoping to be on more often now that things have calmed down some.

 

[Metella]

pharmchickenmom - not doubting you at all .... but what is the difference between a frig or freezer outside and a trash barrel inside a barn ?

Wouldn't the smell attract no matter what ? Or is it because the feed would be closer to the coop ?

Wondering as I am designing a new coop and trying to figure out a really good place to store feed .... and convenient!

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Metalla--I advocate for neither. While I have feeders inside my coops, I keep a clean yard and feed in the cellar as we have several bears living in our area. I have had at least 3 boars of various ages come through as well as a sow with 3 cubs. This year we had to run off a youngster who was in the woods next to my silkie coops. My friend is a bear biologist (retired from the state dec) and has told me that keeping a clean yard and feed in the cellar or garage will help keep bear issues to a minimum. Because I have food in the coops, there is always a risk of a breakin. However, with the abundant garbage cans available to them, it hasnt happened so far. That being said, I did hear of someones coop across the swamp being broken into and all the chickens killed and eaten by a bear this year. You must decide for your self what works best for you in designing your coop. I suggest raising it off the ground as it makes it very difficult for critters like possums and coons to get into. Also remember that storing food outside leaves it vulneralble to humidity and temp changes that can affect quality and the possibility of mold. Understanding how a predator thinks and lives is key to making decisions about how to build a safe, secure coop for your birds. We have pics of coons and other critters on the game cam passing through and because we have tried to make it as difficult as possible for them to find a meal, we havent had any attacks. That being said, it doesnt mean it wont happen. Respect and understand the wildlife you live with and you will be able to live peaceably with them.

 

[horsekeeper]

Morning all. After walking on ice for the past two weeks we have finally gotten some snow. 4 inches and still falling. I am happy because now I can get to my coops without fear of falling and breaking something.

I finally broke down and bought some Yaktrax ice cleats for my boots. Boy do they work good, even on sheer ice.

 

[boskelli1571]

I finally broke down and bought some Yaktrax ice cleats for my boots. Boy do they work good, even on sheer ice.

Good to hear they actually work! I've been thinking about it, but dubious that they would actually be effective