NY chicken lover!!!!

[Cass]

Oh my! Did I just get a shock! Went to lock the birds in for the night, they were fussing a bit - I looked up to see a possum staring at me!!

Fortunately, I arrived soon enough - it hadn't harmed the birds or anything, just tossed everything out of the cupboards looking for food! So I grabbed the young Maran girls, threw 'em in the coop with the rest and went to get my gun. Little bugger had gone by the time I got back!! A bit worrying though, first one I've seen so up close & personal.

Might want to carry the gun with you for a few days, or until you kill the little buzzard. (can't say the other word on here, family friendly) If he/she found food it will be back. Until you stop it. Permanantly.

 

[featherz]

I really NEED to shovel more but geeze, this is getting silly. I left my netting up and the snow is over it in some places - completely useless at this point until I can dig out 400 feet of netting. Managed to dig out the wiring on one coop. Might try the other this weekend - everyone keep fingers crossed until I can get my electric stuff ready again. I'm pooped!

Hope everyone else is doing well - I am starting to get eggs again, more than I can eat. =)

 

[Cass]

When is ideal in a NY climate to let a hen sit on eggs? Should I wait?

There is no ideal time for hens to just sit there not moving. The BEST time is when the hen decides she is going to do it and you want to add chicks to your flock, cuz she will do ALL the work for you...including integrating the chicks into the flock. Right now you are a mere 30 days from spring, so this would be a good time. Waiting til April would be a good time too. August is a good time because broody hens don't lay and they can start slowing down as the days get shorter anyway. October is good time because the chicks will be fully feathered by winter and old enough to lay come spring. 21 days before Easter is a fine time. (you starting to see a pattern here?

)

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Cass---youre such an enabler! Have you no shame? Hehe

 

[Cass]

Cass---youre such an enabler! Have you no shame? Hehe

Me?

Who would have thunk it?

 

[rancher hicks]

humph!

 

[rancher hicks]

 

[Gramma Chick]

When is ideal in a NY climate to let a hen sit on eggs? Should I wait?

We would not have started this early ...because it is cold ...
If you have a place to have them inside ...where it is heated / warm until it warms up outside ...no reason you cant hatch chickies now
We had a chicken go broody ...so we let her try ..

 

[Gramma Chick]

Hey why is that Rooster in the house ?

 

[Gramma Chick]

new mothers ..
She is better today ..
She isnt pecking it under her ...she lets it out ...or lets it go in by itself
yesterday they were looking at each other & the chick actually pecked her ..LOL
I think she is going to be okay ..we put some food on a finger for her ..she ate some & called the chick ..and the chick ate too.
I took Skiddy ( Her Mate ) down to see her yesterday he seemed fine ...trying to see where the peep peep was coming from .
she was fine with him coming in the cage . I only let him stay a min or two . just in case .
When I put him outside he stayed there about a 1/2 hour ...on the deck
When I opened the door he did his little roo come hither as if to say can I come back in ?