NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

I realize some folks can still shovel and their backs are strong but backs wear out, so IMHO, it's never too early to get a snow blower.

Too, watch out for Hawks black chickens show up nice against the white snow. I lost a bird on year because of that.

I give the shelters now.

This one is just outside the coop and positioned so the snow doesn't blow into it. The snow seems to come from the east. Pallets are good for making shelters.



I have used hay bales in the past. Just lay an old piece of plywood over the top.



While fun to give them paths it can be detrimental to their health if a hawk or falcon comes by. Migrating birds are dangerous.



I was just thinking you can find free doors on CL and they'd make nice shelters too. A few cement blocks can be used for support, which by the way can also be found free on CL. I just don't have a truck.

If you'd like you can paint them to look pretty. Chickens don't eat some plants like mints and they could be planted around the base. They don't seem to bother my Road side day lilies either.

 

[boskelli1571]

Ugh! I hate the beginning of hunting season...the hunters field dress and the Beagles feel obliged to snarf down all sorts of things

. Wouldn't mind so much if they didn't regurgitate everything in the house...

. Consequently, they are now on 'supervised parole' on the leash. Ours neighbors dog is under 'house arrest'.....

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

I shovel the middle of my run so the chickens to have a free area to walk around. As last winter progressed the center area got smaller and smaller. I dump a bag of leaves in the shoveled area when it is super cold. My chicken coops are pretty much just a place for them to sleep and lay eggs. They spend most of their time outside going in between all the coops seeing if they can find any of the goodies that are around. I also set up feeding stations to put the bowls of food. I don't feed any of my chickens in the coops so I needed to find a way to protect the food from the elements so I made feeding boxes. I also shovel a maze/loop for the dogs to have room to run and play in...We are looking for little snow blower that will work for the runs, last winter it about killed my back. I'm hoping to have one before the snow flies, but if not I will be out shoveling.

What we do for our pets.

 

[Metella]

ha ha here is my related story ....

I had a cow slaughtered on premises ... it took all day - I was exhausted - so was planning to bury all the yuckie parts the next morning .... that night the barn burned down (all horses were outside and ok) but I didn't even have a hand spade left to dig .... the pile of yuckie was there until the excavators came ... about a week. Needless to say, I had a LOT going on that week .... and shovel shopping was not on top of the list.

The neighbor's dog loved the issue ... she was very angry I didn't dispose of the pile right away - and even when I said I don't even have a small shovel left .... was not happy. From that day forward a casual but nice neighborly relationship is now cold. Seems a shame since it was a catastrophy not neglect ... and since it was all totally on my property anyway ..... I'm still sad and a little confused at what the deal was that turned this lady so cold toward me about this issue.

That said - I feel for you - yuckie dog yak is gross ... and it doesn't take too much time to buy the guts with a small folding hand shovel.

 

[Gramma Chick]

..We are looking for little snow blower that will work for the runs, last winter it about killed my back. I'm hoping to have one before the snow flies, but if not I will be out shoveling.

What we do for our pets.

Aint it the truth ...Love this Igloo Coop .

 

[Gramma Chick]

I lost my favorite rooster Tesoro this morning to a freak accident

How Sad ...he was a pretty boy

 

[rancher hicks]

Ugh! I hate the beginning of hunting season...the hunters field dress and the Beagles feel obliged to snarf down all sorts of things

. Wouldn't mind so much if they didn't regurgitate everything in the house...

. Consequently, they are now on 'supervised parole' on the leash. Ours neighbors dog is under 'house arrest'.....

Uh, I'd be sure whoever let them eat it, cleaned it up. DW doesn't clean coops, but she will fee and water the chickens while I'm away.

DD got told if she kept Pinkypie, I was not taking care of her and I don't. Well okay if DD is away I will sift the litter once maybe. But when they move out they are taking this cat with them.

 

[rancher hicks]

I always keep a back up rooster. Right now I'm hoping the only marans chick to hatch is a rooster. I've got two C. Rocks, three Del, one EE and one Marsh Daisy. The EE rooster is easy to replace. Oh and I've got Shorty the Araucana.

 

[rancher hicks]

I shovel the middle of my run so the chickens to have a free area to walk around. As last winter progressed the center area got smaller and smaller. I dump a bag of leaves in the shoveled area when it is super cold. My chicken coops are pretty much just a place for them to sleep and lay eggs. They spend most of their time outside going in between all the coops seeing if they can find any of the goodies that are around. I also set up feeding stations to put the bowls of food. I don't feed any of my chickens in the coops so I needed to find a way to protect the food from the elements so I made feeding boxes. I also shovel a maze/loop for the dogs to have room to run and play in...We are looking for little snow blower that will work for the runs, last winter it about killed my back. I'm hoping to have one before the snow flies, but if not I will be out shoveling.

What we do for our pets.

CL always has tons of used snow blowers. I'm sure you can find one. Though finding one is easy paying for it is the hard part.

I just laugh when folks talk of heating the coop. Chickens don't seem to mind the cold. Fact is the hot and humid weather is a killer. Yours look perfectly fine and happy.

What am I going to do about these chickens laying. A C. Rock laid hers on the floor. I kicked it and broke it.

DW may have to buy eggs to cook for Thanksgiving.

In other news I scared a rabbit cutting wild roses. What a pain they are. Very invasive. I think I'll be spraying the entire area with round up. These roses are just little white one time things but good for blocking predators. I just don't have time to train them. I bet they're great climbers.

(please note my musings are for the entire group here)

 

[boskelli1571]

ha ha here is my related story ....

I had a cow slaughtered on premises ... it took all day - I was exhausted - so was planning to bury all the yuckie parts the next morning .... that night the barn burned down (all horses were outside and ok) but I didn't even have a hand spade left to dig .... the pile of yuckie was there until the excavators came ... about a week. Needless to say, I had a LOT going on that week .... and shovel shopping was not on top of the list.

The neighbor's dog loved the issue ... she was very angry I didn't dispose of the pile right away - and even when I said I don't even have a small shovel left .... was not happy. From that day forward a casual but nice neighborly relationship is now cold. Seems a shame since it was a catastrophy not neglect ... and since it was all totally on my property anyway ..... I'm still sad and a little confused at what the deal was that turned this lady so cold toward me about this issue.

That said - I feel for you - yuckie dog yak is gross ... and it doesn't take too much time to buy the guts with a small folding hand shovel.

I don't understand why she got all bent out of shape....as you say it was on your property. I'm not really complaining since the dogs were on the neighbors property, but at 0430am that was not a rational thought....

Unfortunately, Beagles have great scent noses, so anything upwind smells delicious.......the older, more nasty the better...........