NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Hi there!

I'm new both to BYC and to having chickens. We're getting pullets the end of the month or so and we're trying to finish our chicken coop and run made from the children
s house out back. I'm a little nervous about it all. We're new to it and I don't want to kill the girls before they even get here. lol We don't have electric running out to them and I'm slightly nervous it will be too cold since we live in Phoenix area

It's been quite a busy summer for us. We're foster to adopt parents and will be filling the house shortly with children but our hope is to adopt so we've been working on fundraisers keeping us busy. I think having the girls will bring some laughter and a little bit of excitement and responsibility for the kids that come in. It will be nice to sit and just watch them.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

Welcome to the coop,

I'm sure things will go fine. There are lots of good folks here willing to help.

I've run extension cords to the coops but don't add heat. I did in the beginning but folks here persuaded me it wasn't necessary. That and lots of stuff I've read. Since you're in the Pheonix area you're not far from Barnes and Nobles so you can stop in and read the chicken magazines, have a cup off coffee and dessert.

Everyone else: There are some articles on this AI thing in some of them.

Phore: Hope you find your Brahama. They are nice birds and I like them but figured it's so wet here they've freeze their tootsies off. Surprisingly these guys didn't lose any toes.



Again Hisiris, welcome.

 

[rancher hicks]

My GS's Lizard. Very noisy too. He's only two but he loves this thing. It walks and roars.

 

[boskelli1571]

Gosh I don't think this is the place for me, a little too hostile. I just wanted to learn!

Don't leave us! It's like family here - every once in a while there's a bump in the road.

On the whole, we're pretty much ok ...

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Hi there!

I'm new both to BYC and to having chickens. We're getting pullets the end of the month or so and we're trying to finish our chicken coop and run made from the children
s house out back.  I'm a little nervous about it all. We're new to it and I don't want to kill the girls before they even get here. lol We don't have electric running out to them and I'm slightly nervous it will be too cold since we live in Phoenix area

It's been quite a busy summer for us. We're foster to adopt parents and will be filling the house shortly with children but our hope is to adopt so we've been working on fundraisers keeping us busy.  I think having the girls will bring some laughter and a little bit of excitement and responsibility for the kids that come in. It will be nice to sit and just watch them.

I look forward to getting to know you all. 

Welcome! Have fun w ur pullets! They'll let u know what they need. Most people on this forum are advocates for no supplemental heat for the chicken house. I get weak in mid January and usually give them something (w long extension cord), tho they'd prob be fine w/o it.

I find the biggest pain w chickens up here in the winter is keeping their water open. My plan this year is to convert all my birds over to horizontal nipple drinkers on 5 gallon buckets with bird bath de-icers in them. Anyone on here use these?

 

[Pyxis]

I had two geckos when my boys were young. At the time, my youngest was 2. Anyway, somehow, he got a hold of the container of crickets, and yes, he dumped about 3 dozen crickets in my living room. It was quite noisy in my house for awhile...The joys of boys and their lizards.

That's awful! That's why I prefer the dubia. They are so quiet you never know they're there, and since they're a tropical species, if they escape their nice 90 degree tub, they die.

 

[Pyxis]

Matella please stop lurking, it's a tad creepy. just joking. You have lots of great input that at least 90% of us enjoy. Chicken poo on the rest. Pyxis your dragon is neat as all get out. Bug control for inside as well. My dogs would eat one though so no lizard for us. She/he looks like a good snuggle buddy. I apologize if I have offended any of you with my comments , I'm from Kansas and we have a habit of not always thinking before "speaking ". Now on to real problems! !! How do I make my crazy flock lay in the boxes!?!? They started laying but in the neighbors horse pasture.

Thanks!

Have you tried putting fake eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes? That usually is all the encouragement they need to lay there.

 

[tao chick]

Welcome! Have fun w ur pullets! They'll let u know what they need. Most people on this forum are advocates for no supplemental heat for the chicken house. I get weak in mid January and usually give them something (w long extension cord), tho they'd prob be fine w/o it.

I find the biggest pain w chickens up here in the winter is keeping their water open. My plan this year is to convert all my birds over to horizontal nipple drinkers on 5 gallon buckets with bird bath de-icers in them. Anyone on here use these?

I'm interested in converting to this watering system too. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[tao chick]

Don't leave us! It's like family here - every once in a while there's a bump in the road.

On the whole, we're pretty much ok ...

It reminds me of family too.

 

[Glasshen]

In winter I use a heated dog bowl, it works great, just bring a jug of water to replenish, and a paper towel to clean it out, where does that yuck come from?

 

[bakingintherain]

I love my horizontal nipple buckets, use them for everyone except the ducks

Usually golf balls of something like that help the girls lay where they are supose to, but there are some that are very hard headed and want to lay where they want to lay and nothing will change their mind, I have a couple that break out just to lay in the garage and then want to be let back in, no stopping them