NY chicken lover!!!!

[Glasshen]

Thanks everyone. They have had a flock block that they have sculpted and love. The last round of snow decreased their clear area, but it is melting again, so I've been putting down straw which keeps them busy spreading and checking for seeds and mysterious bits...Earl spent the night in my basement, with his new Blue splashed comb. I had the pleasure of waking him in the morning, revenge is sweet. Then he followed me out to the pen where he greeted the girls.

 

[rancher hicks]

Everyone is hatching and I am so itching to get my bators going but my freeloaders are giving me no eggs I actually have to buy store eggs if they don't start laying! I even have about 20 white leghorns I hatched and raised last winter so i can have eggs and they haven't even started to lay yet.

How are those Columbian Rocks doing? My girls are laying pretty good.

 

[boskelli1571]

My girls shut down completely from December to beginning February. They are 2+ years old and had a very hard molt. Now they are popping 'em out like crazy! The 2 Marans have started laying, so we have an abundance at the moment. The neighbors are happy to get fresh eggs again.
Henrietta & her step-sisters are doing well. There's one Welsummer tha loves to perch on the edge of the brooder when I open up - she doesn't know what to do then, but she's very curious and loud!

 

[Nuttyfrom6kids]

How are those Columbian Rocks doing?    My girls are laying pretty good.  

Rancher they are physically fine but not an egg from them or any of my birds I actually got more when it was cold even the aliens have stopped laying. They are all so terrible none of them will go outside since the snow hit the ground.

 

[Lynzi777]

C'mon Splash Egg!!! Just need one more and in the incubator they go! Seeing as how the last batch all hatched on day 20, if I set them today they might hatch on my birthday!!!

Doubt I'm going to get an egg from her today. Just moved the older chicks and the two ducklings out to the shed. Moved everyone in together on one side of the pen, made it a little bigger since the little ones that don't need that much space yet, and kept all the younger ones on the right hand side. Too much commotion going on now, I'm sure she'll pass on laying today. :-( Those little ones had to get outside tho, they stink! Lol

Meant to add too: when I brought the ducklings out I decided to let them run in the yard a little. The older ducks were out there too, just watching them. Well I thought the you gets two would see them and instinct would kick in to follow them. Nope! They followed me all over the yard. Hope it's not hard to get them to stay with the bigger ones when it's time. Because my kids have been handling them so much I think these two will be much more comfortable around people than all my other ducks.

 

[dragonlord483]

Guess citris makes them drunk never found any thing about cabbage Well congrats on the safe arrival. (I had read not to feed chickens citrus. More "expert" advice disclamined) :yiipchick

Rancher, was it because citrus is bad or that they aren't supposed to like it? Look what they did to the oranges in the shipping box. I think they liked it !

Rancher, was it because citrus is bad or that they aren't supposed to like it? Look what they did to the oranges in the shipping box. I think they liked it !

I have no idea, it's just something I remember reading. It's just another one of those things that aren't right I guess. Just like cabbage, yet folks have been giving it to them and they're fine.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

Grrr, I have an egg eater! Looks like I'll be making a flock block when I get home tonight, late, again.
I'm getting about 5-7 eggs a day out of 9, yesterday was the first time I found an egg like that so I don't think it's been going on too long.
I'm hoping it's just boredom, but I'll up their protein with some scrambled eggs and add salt. My cousin had this problem once, she gave them a tray of salt for free choice and it never happened again.

I'm dreading taking the dog out to exercise tonight. She will be extra muddy! I might just have to give her a B-A-T-H.....

Lynzii, I don't think there is a difference between polish and polish top hat. Whoever sold him the polish also probably did not know their breeds very well. I know they are sold as "top hat" variety by some hatcheries, but a polish is a polish as far as I know with distinct color variations, and they all have a "top hat". Probably just lack of knowledge of the breed and/or they want them to sound extra fancy.

 

[Lynzi777]

Grrr, I have an egg eater! Looks like I'll be making a flock block when I get home tonight, late, again.
I'm getting about 5-7 eggs a day out of 9, yesterday was the first time I found an egg like that so I don't think it's been going on too long.
I'm hoping it's just boredom, but I'll up their protein with some scrambled eggs and add salt. My cousin had this problem once, she gave them a tray of salt for free choice and it never happened again.

I'm dreading taking the dog out to exercise tonight. She will be extra muddy! I might just have to give her a B-A-T-H.....

Lynzii, I don't think there is a difference between polish and polish top hat. Whoever sold him the polish also probably did not know their breeds very well. I know they are sold as "top hat" variety by some hatcheries, but a polish is a polish as far as I know with distinct color variations, and they all have a "top hat". Probably just lack of knowledge of the breed and/or they want them to sound extra fancy.

That's what I was thinking. Sorry to hear you have an egg eater. I'm dreading letting my dog out period! He's a longhaired dachshund so of course he's picking up every trace of mud when he goes out. I usually groom him myself but I'm thinking of calling the place up the road and seeing if they will shave him down. I can't stand letting him out and then having to carry him to his crate back inside to keep him from tracking all over the floor/carpets.

 

[marquisella]

Quote:

Quote: Ya can't believe everything you read...I always put an orange cut in half when I ship chicks. It provides liquid & food.

 

[marquisella]

Lynzi- try putting a layer of straw or old hay down on your path. What doesn't break down can be raked up later.
I know a farmer in Little York (northern Cortland County) that supplies the local restaurants and stores with cabbage. Talking to him last week it sounded like he would have lots of leftover cabbage after St Pattys. Towards the end of the season he ends up tossing what's left. My brats won't touch cabbage, but maybe other semi-locals would be interested? Not sure if he would have any still at Chickenstock time.

Do you cut open the cabbage? Sometimes the outer leaves are tough and its hard for them to peck a hole. I cut the cabbages in half & lay them with the insides up. That way they can get to the more tender insisdes. Once they get a taste, then there is no stopping them. Even the cores are eaten. My geese especially like cabbage...