I hear ya Rancher, I do not taking care of the chickens, ducks and rabbits in this weather and mud! Although, the ducks need very little attention, it's really just the chickens and rabbits that I go out there for. I'm seriously contemplating downsizing in the spring - getting rid of at least two silkies and just keeping my lavender pair (this way if I hatch any I can keep some offspring) and going down to three Orps, keeping Stella, Gru and my Blue Pullet so I can focus on hatching purebred orps. If anything I'd add more ducks. I love the ducks so much more than the chickens at this point. LOL I must be the only one who has messier chickens than ducks. My birds all have this ginormous area to roam around in within their chicken yard, and where to do they stand all day? RIGHT in front of the "door" next to their coop. So that area is absolutely disgusting! The rest of the chicken yard is clean and just grassy because they don't venture anywhere. Drives me crazy. If I had known thats all they were going to do I wouldn't have put that coop there and dealt with hauling their food/water up the hill every day.
I think I'm done with the bantam breed. I just can't seem to do well with those birds. Lost my black frizzle today. Have no idea what could have caused her death. I go out every single day to make sure there is food/unfrozen water in that coop. I am constantly throwing new shavings in there. I witnessed her eating and drinking. I don't get it. First my splash, and now her. I really don't understand what I am doing wrong with those little ones. I'm wondering if she could have been depressed after I removed her from the big coop and she didn't have "pal" the blue Orp pullet. I was just worried since Gru has been back at it with the girls that if he tried anything with her he would have done some serious damage. Other than that, I really don't know what could have gone wrong.
