NY chicken lover!!!!

[horsekeeper]

So here I am sitting in front of the fan recovering from a half hour digging a post hole in clay and rock and thinking about how much to do for chickens. My thought is to keep them alive by doing things within reason. All my animals are prisoners and have no choice about where they live, what they get to eat and drink, or who they are housed with. I don't have air conditioning and would probably be out of it with heat stroke if not for all the fans. I figure my animals deserve the same consideration. The heat and humidity has been going on for so many days it is tough on everyone. Almost lost a youngster last week to heat stroke, but caught it in time and kept soaking him under the faucet and laying him in front of a fan. He was down and going stiff, poor little bugger. He made a miracle recovery with the chilling down and a little help eating and drinking. Just saying that with all the time, expense, and caring that went into raising my chickens I would hate to lose any trying to make them tougher.

 

[armorfirelady]

TOB- I would put electric netting on your wish list. It can be solar powered also. I have 2 dogs who would kill my birds if They had access to them. An aussie lab mix & a blue heeler. They don't like any furry/feathered creatures and will kill them. It's great for squirrels and such but not for my hens. Took them about 3 days of getting their noses zapped to decide not to touch the netting and they now stay far far away from it. I can relax knowing the hens are safe from the dogs and other predators while I am not home. Makes it easier when I work long days with the electronic pop door that opens & closes on its own also. All I have to do is feed at night & collect eggs

 

[horsekeeper]

Nesting box is going in this weekend! I was thinking of making it "broody friendly" if anyone has any tips on a different feature so I can keep the broody with the flock (I'm banking on my buff orpington to go broody). Size, elevation from bedding etc.

I built a 2-foot by 4-foot by 4-foot high cage in my coop. There is 2-foot of clearance underneath so I don't lose any floor space. When no one is confined in it the girls use it as a nesting spot and it's easy to grab the eggs. It's used to transition new birds into the flock, jail a rooster who is pestering the girls too much, hold birds that are being sold, observe any off behavior, and right now Fluffy Puffy the little bantam mix is in there with 8 tiny babies. It has a plywood top and bottom with plastic chicken net around the sides and a door in front.

 

[Lynzi777]

Wanted to share of pic of my babies in blue....(well I believe the two lighter ones are blue. Waiting for them to feather out more to see if one ends up being a splash...)

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Speaking of lice. We can't keep the wild birds out of our coop/barns and I think they carry in more pests to our birds.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

I built a 2-foot by 4-foot by 4-foot high cage in my coop. There is 2-foot of clearance underneath so I don't lose any floor space. When no one is confined in it the girls use it as a nesting spot and it's easy to grab the eggs. It's used to transition new birds into the flock, jail a rooster who is pestering the girls too much, hold birds that are being sold, observe any off behavior, and right now Fluffy Puffy the little bantam mix is in there with 8 tiny babies. It has a plywood top and bottom with plastic chicken net around the sides and a door in front.

Thanks! Lots of good uses! I think I have a limitation of 3 ft wide. Maybe I'll have to build 2...

You know, just in case Rancher continues to spread the broody virus.

 

[ke5hde]

So now that the heat index has hit 100 here I went out to check on everyone. All the big girls are out in the woods trying to stay cool and our Cochins have taken refuge under the bamboo.

Chris

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Heres what I have
2 dog cages I use for the different ages . They are metal & collapsible . I can move them as I wish & store them flat when not in use .
One I got from a garage sale & one from a friend that moved away ...

This is the small one I have the teens in ...approx : 24 x 36

I have another larger one for the babies approx 3 ft x 6 ft

 

[cocopop]

Thanks for the info. I am waiting for my incubator from ebay and I have some 2 week old eggs I will just try to incubate. You never know if you don't try it.

 

[rancher hicks]

Good morning everyone, I haven't been on in almost a week been busy helping my dad he has heart problems, diabetes, spinal stenosis, and Parkinson. He had been in and out the hospital which postponed his prostate surgery, and on top of that he's buying a house. I'm so tired just can't get enough sleep, class is hard, my son is running me ragged, work is hard.

My 3 dogs are great the puppy is learning fast, the 3 cats are good though one has a slight skin issues. The chickens are good laying is back to normal, I'm working on my hoop coop almost done.

My garden is awesome especially for my first time. My snow peas and beans are ready for picking.

I hope everyone is doing well I'm just unable to read six days of post!

Not a single thing to pick, unless you count Mint! and some other herbs. A friend gave me some raspberries to make jam which I intend to do thursday even though I thought it would be raining.

This heat is killing me and we have air conditioners going. I don't feel so good.

Worked to mow some grass this AM and replanted a Currant bush. Mixed in some garden soil , peat moss and horsey doo. Will be replanting others stuff too. Asparagus is growing fronds.

Have to surround everything with chicken wire so chickens don't dig it out.