NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Good morning. I thought of you all on Thanksgiving, while doing lots of cooking, and eating. The chickens were happy it was Thanksgiving, as they started their day with the neck and giblets etc that had been crockpoted all night to make stock. That warm turkey was a rare treat. Today they get the back...but it will be cold.

We spent lots of time discussing what to do about the cyclocross race we have here each year. This year we have 6-8 inches of snow and do not feel it is appropriate to have a race which would be impossible to ride...so we are just having a free event where people just come and play in the snow however they want...snowshoes, skis, snow angels...and they can try to ride their bikes if they want. A highlight of the day is the leftover table where people can graze on other peoples leftovers and get rid of their own. Should be fun anyhow. Gotta start the big coffee urn soon.

People love to look at the chickens, but this year the chickens seem to prefer to hang in the coop until the white stuff disappears.

What is a cyclocross ? It sounds like fun though I hate the cold.

My birds were out on the opposite side of the yard with no cover for some reason. You'd think they'd stay under cover near the coop.

Good lord do they ever give it a rest ? Sales calls.

 

[rancher hicks]

HAHA! This reminds me of agnes from Despicable Me. "It's so FLUFFY!"

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!

That wet snow we had was tough on the run I built. It would have been fine if I left it uncovered, but the extra weight snapped a few screws. I'm going to have to out a support pole (or 3) in the middle to support the plastic so it stays together until spring!

My first run was 2x2's that I struggled to cut from 2x4's . I covered it with tarps having a flat top. One day I'm out and I hear a crack and there it goes crashing down. Stopped just enough for the birds to get under and stayed that way til I replaced it all in the spring.

Now it's as you see with a slanted top. I used thin plywood or any plywood pieces from HD til I could buy enough metal panels. Now it should be okay but I do have to rake snow off each year. The ply wood was covered with tarps but they don't last a year so I had to buy a few panels at a time til I had enough.

My second run was all built with 2x4's. Though the cattle panels make great runs and are easier and cheaper. No snow problems with them. The snow just slides right off.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

My first run was 2x2's that I struggled to cut from 2x4's . I covered it with tarps having a flat top. One day I'm out and I hear a crack and there it goes crashing down. Stopped just enough for the birds to get under and stayed that way til I replaced it all in the spring.

Now it's as you see with a slanted top. I used thin plywood or any plywood pieces from HD til I could buy enough metal panels. Now it should be okay but I do have to rake snow off each year. The ply wood was covered with tarps but they don't last a year so I had to buy a few panels at a time til I had enough.

My second run was all built with 2x4's. Though the cattle panels make great runs and are easier and cheaper. No snow problems with them. The snow just slides right off.

Yea, I would like to replace the corner supporting posts with pressure treated 4x4's and frame out a good roof for next year. I was thinking of saving up for the clear roofing panels.

 

[rancher hicks]

Yea, I would like to replace the corner supporting posts with pressure treated 4x4's and frame out a good roof for next year. I was thinking of saving up for the clear roofing panels.

I couldn't afford to do all clear panels, so I did do four and that lets in quite a bit of sunlight.

My intent for one run was to buy a roll of roofing and use that leaving the plywood I had under the tarps. But I scored 14 metal panels from my SIL's friend who had him replace his garage roof with asphalt shingles.

How big is your run? I made mine 8' wide since the shortest 2x4's were 8 and 8 seemed like a good size to work with. I do everything alone and need to be able to handle it. Each section of run is 8 x 6'. Then I bolted them together.

I'm short and chickens don't need the height. 6' in the front and 5' in the back. Enough of a pitch so the rain runs right off.

I'll take pics from the inside.

 

[armorfirelady]

Good morning all. Up to about a foot of snow but the sun is shining. The girls don't seem to want to come out and enjoy it. They perch on the wood at the end of their covered walkway and yell at me to bring the grapes closer. I didn't tho so they run out grab a grape and go back in the coop. You would think the sun would encourage them. Sooner or later they are going to be sick of being in the coop.

Bought a small camera that takes a pic every 15 minutes to see if I can see who is laying. Still only one egg a day but different shapes so I believe 3 are laying just every few days.

Miquid you were right the muck boots are awesome!!! Went out last night in just the boots,no socks, with temps in the low 20s and my feet were warm my carhart hoody is also toasty for chores

 

[rancher hicks]

Good morning all. Up to about a foot of snow but the sun is shining. The girls don't seem to want to come out and enjoy it. They perch on the wood at the end of their covered walkway and yell at me to bring the grapes closer. I didn't tho so they run out grab a grape and go back in the coop. You would think the sun would encourage them. Sooner or later they are going to be sick of being in the coop.

Bought a small camera that takes a pic every 15 minutes to see if I can see who is laying. Still only one egg a day but different shapes so I believe 3 are laying just every few days.

Miquid you were right the muck boots are awesome!!! Went out last night in just the boots,no socks, with temps in the low 20s and my feet were warm

my carhart hoody is also toasty for chores

I noticed the BM's and that lot are on the side of the yard with the most sun.

I think the reason the Orp coop is not laying well is there is not enough light. The run is shaded and even clear plastic panels wouldn't give it enough light. I do need to put a window in their side of the coop.

Did I mention I pulled the snow blower into place and started it up. Let it run for a while too. Thankfully there is not enough snow to have to use it.

Now I have to mention it cuz it's bugging me. I noticed my neighbors who have a rider mower have just left it sit in the yard. It's covered with snow and it just irks me.
One year I gave them a used mower, non rider, and the next year she asked to borrow ours. I said what happened to the one I gave you. She said it doesn't work. Well I can't imagine why? Duh! I didn't loan her ours.

It's just that she's section eight, and he lives there. There's more but I'll spare you.

Thing is I could use a rider and can't afford one. Even used. It's one thing to be poor but another to be lazy. When I need to do something and don't want to, I often think of this verse from proverbs. " The sluggard wants, but doesn't get".

Sorry for the rant.

 

[Aria]

Good morning all. Up to about a foot of snow but the sun is shining. The girls don't seem to want to come out and enjoy it. They perch on the wood at the end of their covered walkway and yell at me to bring the grapes closer. I didn't tho so they run out grab a grape and go back in the coop. You would think the sun would encourage them. Sooner or later they are going to be sick of being in the coop.

Bought a small camera that takes a pic every 15 minutes to see if I can see who is laying. Still only one egg a day but different shapes so I believe 3 are laying just every few days.

Miquid you were right the muck boots are awesome!!! Went out last night in just the boots,no socks, with temps in the low 20s and my feet were warm my carhart hoody is also toasty for chores

MY HUSBAND HAS A CAMERA IN THE COOP CONNECTED TO OUR TV
AND WE CAN VIEW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COOP. Beats most TV programing. Regards Aria

 

[miquwid]

Hey everyone, well the chickens refuse to go outside, whateves there choice. Tired lots of homework to finish and off to work in a few. But like Rancher quoted the sluggish want but not get. At least i have off next week, yup i got vaca time in dec working in retail lol!

So yes i built a blanket fort!
Muck boots are great gotta get another pair.

So lets say i skip the hype of sales and want a really good trap, where and what kind?

 

[Lynzi777]

Two for one deal this morning at the Nestbox...my BR was feeling generous. I figured out my Buff Orp is the other one laying now. Stella, still nothing for her but I wanted to make her feel special anyway...

 

[marquisella]

Sebastapol geese. My Thanksgiving treat to my self....

They are afraid of me, but the 2 ganders took bread from my hand, the girls held back. I have white & colored. They are a little dirty, hoping to get them a small pool when I move them to permanent pen tomorrow.