NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tab's chicken obsession]

morning

 

[Glasshen]

Yesterday I watched wet miserable chickens huddling out of the wind, and today sounded like it might be worse, so I kept them in the coop. It seems that the older hens go in the coop, then do not welcome the youngsters in, that is anyone who was hatched this year. They are not very cohesive, and Earl is not making them be nice to the young ones.

But, I am so happy that I didn't let them out, because I looked out and there was a big bird perched on the fence of the pen. It was there a long time, and I had a good look at it, then it went up to a convenient tree limb. I believe it was an immature Coopers Hawk. So, the girls will be staying in for a while.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I save the cracked eggs for home use and sell the intact ones. The cracked eggs I use are not broken wide open and the membranes are still intact-- hairline cracks. I wash them with the other eggs then refrigerate them. If an egg gets broken wide open there isn't much evidence left when I get to the coop unless it just happened.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I was up at 5 and couldn't sleep so I went out and opened pop hole doors. I figured they'd be safe with me moseying around. I walked for a bit back and forth. It rained and sleeted some but for the most part was warm and peaceful.

I really haven't noticed an increase in feed. I think some of the new girls are laying.

I still have the Del hen waddleing around. She must be eating though I have no idea what is wrong with her. Unless I see her in distress I figured to just leave her. She is getting up on the roost each night. She shows no other symptoms.

Take care, miles to go before I sleep.

Rancher

 

[Lynzi777]

What a beautiful day it turned out to be!!! Finally getting the yard cleaned up, moved the whole Silkie coop into the shed, not what I wanted to do but owell. Plans were to split them up into pairs but I just don't have the space and cages needed to do that. It's going to be too much work. Once spring comes and they're back outside I'll figure something out as far as splitting them up. They fit so snug as a bug in the shed. And we still have room for the mower to get in there. (I think) LOL DH went out to "fix his mower" and just snickered at me as I laughed at him. I didn't have my phone with me to record it, it wasn't much of the response I thought it was going to be anyway. I think he was just happy to be able to skip that step and get to mowing the grass/leaves but didn't wanna admit it.

Took my poultry netting down today, and the Orps and frizzles are back to free ranging the whole yard. I love seeing the frizzles out there with them all getting along. Who would have thought they'd mesh so well. My dog was happy to have some friends to play with (the frizzles). They go after him and he just barks and barks. It's so funny to watch.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!! It'd be nice if we can get just a few more days of this warm weather!

 

[Lynzi777]

Sorry double post

 

[Glasshen]

I'm reading Judgement Call by JA Jance, and the main character has a ring tone on her cell of a rooster crowing. Now that would be a hard sound to miss.

 

[miquwid]

One of my alarms is a rooster.

 

[Lynzi777]

Spoke too soon about my frizzles free ranging out in the yard. It is sooo windy here as I'm sure some of you in the area know. I even received a wind advisory in email this morning. Well after cleaning up the yard I left to pick up my son at school. Came back to the large rabbit hutch (TS chicken coop) with my angora rabbit in it. blown over onto its back. My son and I ran over to it, the rabbit was fine, I lifted it up and found Glinda, the white frizzle under it.

What on earth are the chances of that happening?!? I told my son to go wait for me in the house and I disposed of her. I moved the hutch up against the t-post of the clothes line. I'll have to move Evanora back in with the silkies so she's not the smallest of her group.

 

[miquwid]

Omg im so sorry Lynzi, yeah my son was afraid of the same thing happening and took them in early from free ranging. The wind is a bit much right now. Well again im so so sorru for your loss.