NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

I figured it was humidity so I put a few more vents in but also I got rid of 8 large roo's at that same time. I've had this set up for 3 yrs but this yr I had 8 more birds inside. Like I said, it hasn't happened again after adding the extra vents. My birds don't seem to mind the cold at all, or rain. But let it snow and they don't come out. Must be southern birds.

Can your birds get to the fleece and do they peck at it?

TOB I'm so sorry about your dog. It's so hard to lose a family member.

Vents should be strategically placed. Directly across from one another. So the cross breeze will "draw off" the warm moist air. I haven't noticed the fleece being picked at. I wouldn't use a red pattern though. The coop in the picture has fleece on one side all year long. In the summer it gets too hot.

This coop is in the shade and the hole you see they may have picked but then it is green, like grass I guess. They haven't made it bigger though so I guess they're leaving it alone. The fleece covers hardware cloth on the front of the coop. I have feed bags covering the back. It sits into the woods a bit and is shaded in the summer.

 

[Cass]

I just placed my seed order. Spring must be just around the corner. For those who are just starting a garden this year or have a small garden, Walmart (I can't beleive I am advocating that place) has seed packets for 20 CENTS. There are very few seeds in each packet, but I picked up some flowers (the bed is small), Basil (who can use a whole package of those anyway?) and acorn squash (I only want one hill of those cuz I grow them every year, harvest them and never eat them. LOL) Oh and yellow summer squash, cuz I forgot to order them....got 2 packets of those....I love them and want several hills. Feels like there are 6 seeds in each packet, so that would be about 3 hill from the 2 packets. That's enough for 2 people. Right?

Y'all know I don't baby my birds, but my lone rooster's run is shear ice. (Side note: Never build a run you can't get IN. What a PIA) I didn't know what I could do for his poor feet....while walking to the ash pile it came to me. I poured the wood ashes in his icy run....now his feet have a little insulation from the ice. I will have to find a way to enlarge that run so I can walk into it this spring. It is such a pain to have to remove the "removeable" panel (takes a drill and lots of patience to put it back)....and of course when a bird dies it ALWAYS dies in that run. Or lay eggs in there. Actually I guess I am getting pretty good at putting it back in, having it done it half a dozen time since construction.

 

[Sally8]

Vents should be strategically placed. Directly across from one another. So the cross breeze will "draw off" the warm moist air. I haven't noticed the fleece being picked at. I wouldn't use a red pattern though. The coop in the picture has fleece on one side all year long. In the summer it gets too hot.

This coop is in the shade and the hole you see they may have picked but then it is green, like grass I guess. They haven't made it bigger though so I guess they're leaving it alone. The fleece covers hardware cloth on the front of the coop. I have feed bags covering the back. It sits into the woods a bit and is shaded in the summer.

Thanks rancher. I can cover the fleece with the feed bags. but come summer I'll have to watch the temp. My very first year raising chickens I never had any ventilation, didn't realize I needed it and I'm positive that I lost a hen due to the heat. It was over 100 f.

 

[rancher hicks]

I just placed my seed order. Spring must be just around the corner. For those who are just starting a garden this year or have a small garden, Walmart (I can't beleive I am advocating that place) has seed packets for 20 CENTS. There are very few seeds in each packet, but I picked up some flowers (the bed is small), Basil (who can use a whole package of those anyway?) and acorn squash (I only want one hill of those cuz I grow them every year, harvest them and never eat them. LOL) Oh and yellow summer squash, cuz I forgot to order them....got 2 packets of those....I love them and want several hills. Feels like there are 6 seeds in each packet, so that would be about 3 hill from the 2 packets. That's enough for 2 people. Right?

Y'all know I don't baby my birds, but my lone rooster's run is shear ice. (Side note: Never build a run you can't get IN. What a PIA) I didn't know what I could do for his poor feet....while walking to the ash pile it came to me. I poured the wood ashes in his icy run....now his feet have a little insulation from the ice. I will have to find a way to enlarge that run so I can walk into it this spring. It is such a pain to have to remove the "removeable" panel (takes a drill and lots of patience to put it back)....and of course when a bird dies it ALWAYS dies in that run. Or lay eggs in there. Actually I guess I am getting pretty good at putting it back in, having it done it half a dozen time since construction.

Chickens love squash. Butternut I grew had skins so hard they couldn't get through. I bought some cheap last year, cut them open and they ate the whole thing.

I bought one of those green house things? But it was no good outside. It got to hot. I may use it inside the house again. I must remember to put something under it.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks rancher. I can cover the fleece with the feed bags. but come summer I'll have to watch the temp. My very first year raising chickens I never had any ventilation, didn't realize I needed it and I'm positive that I lost a hen due to the heat. It was over 100 f.

I have a thermometer in this one and of course pull the fleece off and the plastic too by the middle of summer. It's not in a shaded area so it gets hot. I do let them out to range of course. I think the green house affect with the plastic in the winter keeps it warmer. Ventilation could be better though.

 

[miquwid]

Hello!

It's been a bit since I've been on, but I've been working working working. I'm actually in the process of looking for a second job c-shift.

The coop is great, the chickens are great. I followed some advice and keep the water and food out of the coop and the chickens do fine. The hoop coop is an open air one so it's dry. We have one that has been living out of a dog crate and broken pen with a tarp and she has handled the cold and wind no problem.

The banana tree plant is doing good
The dogs and cats are good.

The chicks are getting big they are all going to freezer camp I believe end of March.

Running sucks something awful so slippery out there and people will run you over.

I met someone new we will see what progresses in the future.

I have some good things seemingly coming my way so I'm excited, but really tired LOL.

I hope everyone had a great holiday!

 

[Lynzi777]

Good morning!
My two hens leave today. :-/

Miquwid - good to hear from you! I was beginning to worry that maybe something happened but sounds like all is good!

TOB - so sorry to hear about your dog :-(

 

[rancher hicks]

Morning all,

Snow is falling and there is ice underneath. Any ideas what can be used that will not harm the chickens. I only need it for the drive way where they don't go in the winter. DW fell this am and DD is coming with the babies. Warm weather will take care of some of it, but I'll need waders for parts of the yard when it all melts.

All seem fine though I wish there were more eggs.

While Tabs is coming tomorrow for the orps there are still others in that coop that are not laying too. I've EE's , a RIR and 3 CR's. Not one egg. Theyr'e eating fine and look good. Just not one egg.

The BR's too are not laying. Only the EE's and BM's might lay an egg or two each day.

School today so I have to get dressed.

and go out. I need more 1/2 X 1/2 so I HAVE to go out. Can't live without coffee and 1/2 X 1/2.

Miq, glad all is well.

Take care all and have a safe day,

Rancher

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

Hooray, I actually figured out how to resize and get Chumley's pic up as a new avatar.

Feeling slightly less dumb. haha!


TOB

Hi! Glad you're back! I am looking forward to more of Miss Chumleys Advice!
I'm very sorry to hear about your dog, it's never easy.

I just placed my seed order. Spring must be just around the corner. For those who are just starting a garden this year or have a small garden, Walmart (I can't beleive I am advocating that place) has seed packets for 20 CENTS. There are very few seeds in each packet, but I picked up some flowers (the bed is small), Basil (who can use a whole package of those anyway?) and acorn squash (I only want one hill of those cuz I grow them every year, harvest them and never eat them. LOL) Oh and yellow summer squash, cuz I forgot to order them....got 2 packets of those....I love them and want several hills. Feels like there are 6 seeds in each packet, so that would be about 3 hill from the 2 packets. That's enough for 2 people. Right?

Y'all know I don't baby my birds, but my lone rooster's run is shear ice. (Side note: Never build a run you can't get IN. What a PIA) I didn't know what I could do for his poor feet....while walking to the ash pile it came to me. I poured the wood ashes in his icy run....now his feet have a little insulation from the ice. I will have to find a way to enlarge that run so I can walk into it this spring. It is such a pain to have to remove the "removeable" panel (takes a drill and lots of patience to put it back)....and of course when a bird dies it ALWAYS dies in that run. Or lay eggs in there. Actually I guess I am getting pretty good at putting it back in, having it done it half a dozen time since construction.

I just got my Bakers Creek seed catalog, I drool over it! It always gets me itching to start my tomatoes.
My entire yard (which is the side of a hil) is all ice. The past few days I have had trouble getting into the run for sheer lack of traction.

Hello!

Hi! Glad to see you back!

 

[Sally8]

...

Morning all,

Snow is falling and there is ice underneath.  Any ideas what can be used that will not harm the chickens.  I only need it for the drive way where they don't go in the winter.  DW fell this am and DD is coming with the babies.  Warm weather will take care of some of it, but I'll need waders for parts of the yard when it all melts. 


For the first time ever we've used wood ash on the ice. We never wanted it tracked through the house but our longish driveway and walkways to the house and coops are all ice. So far so good. The chickens check out the larger pieces but it won't hurt them.
It's snowing here also, but supposed to be near 50 tomorrow.