NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Dang blasted monster chickens! !! I had to retrieve 16 off the top of the run tonight and another out of the garden! !! Doofy birds were so busy eating bugs they forgot to go to bed. My arms are scratched up and bit up and sore now. Guess I have to Hurd them before dark from now on.

Mine started roosting in trees last yr, lost some to predators so I stopped free ranging and keep them in a covered run so they couldn't fly out. The jersey giants and sussex I got in June I had in a uncovered run and lost one of my best giant pullets to a hawk. All runs will be covered now.

I started extra kale about a two months ago and another bed last month along with spinach and beets for greens. Only paid $2 a ounce for the seeds so I figure why save them for next yr.Should be plenty extra for the chickens the bed of kale I started in the spring is still going strong.

I generally leave them in the coop for a couple of weeks before I let them out.

Though the hoops are open at the front and they can see out. Then they get a feel for the area.

Of course my other coops have runs so they stay in for couple of weeks there too. Though this past week I had my Marans wander into the wood and I got scratched up trying to get them back home, before I got the can of scratch and "lead" them back home. They have not been out since.

I've been seeing rabbit in the yard at evening so I figure they must be back and there are not predators nearby. I have been going into the woods and "marking" quite a bit too. I've also been starting fires in the back fire ring. There is a great deal to burn and clean up in the woods. Some big trees have fallen. Bigger than my little chainsaw can handle I think.

Well take care folks. Hope tomorrow isn't to bad. School volunteer tomorrow.

Rancher, stayed up to late, Hicks.

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

Quote:
The greens are the gift that keep on giving.

You've gotta love that! Corn is something we have a hard time growing for some reason and garlic. I don't know WHAT I'm doing to garlic but it never grows for me. We still have watermelon growing. I wish we'd gotten the seedless but the sweet taste is pretty awesome! Potatoes have been good but we were unable to keep up with them this year so we don't have as many as last year. My neighbor gave me more perennials that she got from her clients (she's a beautician). With the cold weather, it may be too cold for them to be replanted. They may not take root before the frost but we're do for weather in the 60's next week. We'll see how they all do next spring. 2.00 an ounce for seed. That's great!

 

[Beer can]

I didn't grow much this yr. Weird yr for what we did grow. Some stuff grew great, others bad. Decided to go big next yr, triple size of garden and put the red sussex and white giants I'm keeping to work clearing more garden area so it's easier tilling come planting time. I'll separate them once the start laying but I don't expect that till spring, got them in begining of June. The ones we got in May the yr before EE and leghorns started laying middle of winter with no supplemental light.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Oh no! 16 birds off the top does not sound like a picnic. I'd imagine it was frustrating all the while I'm betting they got quite the kick out of YOU trying to retrieve them. It seems the bugs are in full force right now. They're enjoying the smorgasbord.  I'm sure you know this already but just in case, grab up some triple antibiotic ointment and lather those scratches that are hurting.   We're trying our hand at a winter garden of greens so if ours landed in the garden they'd be toast!

We have out winter garden in boxes so the flock can't raid it. As soon as I got in the house I rinsed with peroxide and slathered triple antibiotic ointment on. They itch like crazy though.

 

[Beer can]

Some of the giants and red sussex we got in June. Giants look huge, I guess they're right when they say they grow their massive frame first and put on weight later cause they only weigh a pound more than the sussex. Giant cockerels five pounds sussex four.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I

Oh No ! such fun .. I hope you are feeling better .
I had to climb under the deck one time ...when some decided to bed down there ..
I wasnt scratched up ...but I was all dirt ...as I had to carry a chicken crawling along ...underneath ...they were screaming all the way of course !
Do you have a roo ? They usually take care of that going to bed thing ..
And yes a treat before bed works too .
I use my garden/ leaf  rake when they are where I dont want them ...
it gives you great reach & they know I mean business when I pick up that rake .
Also they hate a tarp sound ...so that will usually make them move if you shake that at them

have 2 great boys and those buggers were up top as well. Let me tell ya, they get vicious when their girls get flustered. Both attacked me as best they could in the dark. From now on its treat time come first sign of dark. Off to bed they will go.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Dang blasted monster chickens! !! I had to retrieve 16 off the top of the run tonight and another out of the garden! !! Doofy birds were so busy eating bugs they forgot to go to bed. My arms are scratched up and bit up and sore now. Guess I have to Hurd them before dark from now on.

My glw kept getting in my garden or escaping...now whatevers on the outside of the run i dont even bother with. They got out they can get back in. But those are the ones still living yet a leghorn drowns in my geese pool. Dumb breed never will get one of those again. Their flighty and brainless. At this point I only care about my geese and two roos. The rest are replaceable if I were to get more but once their gone Im done its cheaper to buy eggs then to raise them.

 

[boskelli1571]

I
have 2 great boys and those buggers were up top as well. Let me tell ya, they get vicious when their girls get flustered. Both attacked me as best they could in the dark. From now on its treat time come first sign of dark. Off to bed they will go.

I feel for you! I have one Mille Fleur D'Uccle who has the idea of roosting on top of the coop - every night I have to get her down. I think she does it for entertainment!

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I feel for you! I have one Mille Fleur D'Uccle who has the idea of roosting on top of the coop - every night I have to get her down. I think she does it for entertainment! :/

I have 4 breeds, white leghorn, black astrolorp, production reds are my girls. My boys are spitzhauben (I'm fairly sure, PhoredaBurds correct me if I'm wrong ) . Every blasted one played the hide from mom and laugh at her game last night. We almost had chicken for dinner tonight I was so mad.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I generally leave them in the coop for a couple of weeks before I let them out. 

Though the hoops are open at the front and they can see out. Then they get a feel for the area.  

Of course my other coops have runs so they stay in for  couple of weeks there too. Though this past week I had my Marans wander into the wood and I got scratched up trying to get them back home, before I got the can of scratch and "lead" them back home. They have not been out since. 

I've been seeing  rabbit in the yard at evening so I figure they must be back and there are not predators nearby. I have been going into the woods and "marking" quite a bit too. I've also been starting fires in the back fire ring.  There is a great deal to burn and clean up in the woods. Some big trees have fallen. Bigger than my little chainsaw can handle I think. 

Well take care folks. Hope tomorrow isn't to bad. School volunteer tomorrow. 

Rancher, stayed up to late, Hicks. 

all the monsters have been in the coop/run since may. They know it's home. They were just being monsters.