NY chicken lover!!!!

[Glasshen]

Earl is still in the basement, and is looking strong and sounding strong too. He has been crowing quite often today, but when I first brought him in he hardly crowed at all. Then just in the morning...with the windows closed it is hard to heard sounds from outside, but I was able to hear the reason the crowing has picked up. At least one of the two boys has learned to crow, and must be answered. That comb needs to heal quickly,

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks Rancher - I'll pick one of those up. Don't need any more losses.

They're expensive in the pet stores I think. Not sure where else you can get them other than online. Much cheaper there and I'd order more than one. They come in different wattages and prices.

A back up is a must if you're brooding in a coop or unheated room.

 

[rancher hicks]

Yes I do ...Remember the little darling ..my boys were young when it happened ...
I didnt let them out of my sight ..and told them if anyone ever tried to get them in a car dont listen to them...run as fast as they could

Did you see the news story ?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...06c0be-9c0f-11e4-bcfb-059ec7a93ddc_story.html

Im 1/2 + 1/2 I feel a mile away from home is a little long away for 2 kids - 10 + 6 years old ( even together )
..But I think they should have some freedom ..One of the mothers said how else would her kids learn street smarts ..
I just hope they dont have to learn it the hard way ..at their expense

The world we have now is not the world I grew up in. Sadly but it's true. Many parents don't spend much time with their kids. School and other activities take up most of it. Figure how much time parents actually spend with their kids.

The get home from school at ? 3 - 4 ? Then it's off to their room or somewhere else. Dinner at the table is practically nil for some. Bedtime is ? 8 - 9 ? for young ones ? That's 4 or 5 hrs tops.

Of course there may be exceptions. Do folks watch the same programs together? Do parents watch what they want or yield for the kids benefit?

I'm not advocating "Helicopter parenting" but parental interaction with their kids. Why are kids playing at the park with other kids? Are parents, playing, reading with their kids. Bowling, reading, working in the garden, taking care of the rabbits, chickens, cooking, going to the movies, eating out, etc. etc. With their kids?

Too, I believe that NOT having kids doesn't make you a bad person, having kids you don't want does. ( Not directed at anyone in particular mind you, but I get annoyed with folks who pressure their friends and children to have kids when they may not want or even like kids).

Again the world we have now is not the world I grew up in. We didn't worry or our parents didn't that someone was going to harm us. We didn't worry someone would shoot us or pressure us to use drugs.

"Teach your children" - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

So sorry Pyxis about your babies.

I know that was a hard hit. Hopefully you will get things straightened around so that it won't happen again. I know my hubby doesn't like it when I have chicks/ducks in the back room but he tolerates them. Good luck with the others that you still have.


All this talk about chicks is starting to fire up the spring chick fever in me. It think that should be a diagnosed disorder in people that keep chickens! Anyway planning on trying to fire up my home made incubator the end of the month. Want to set some duck eggs. I don't think that I'll hatch to many of my own chicken eggs this year. I'm hoping to get some different eggs this year! Also hoping that I can convince DH that I need to buy a small incubator that will be better then my home made one...

On that note...Does anyone breed Seramas? I was thinking about getting a couple? Also does anyone have Turkeys? I want to get some turkeys this spring. Maybe some Bourbon reds and/or some Royal palms...but then again maybe a blue slate or 2...

Can't wait till Chickenstock!

Come on Spring!!! Hurry back soon...I have missed you so!!

 

[jennianne]

Gramma chick you cracked me up with your dry chicken story!

Sorry to hear about your losses Pyxis. It is good that you didn't lose them all and you have your cemanis, too. 3K posts is a lot of chicken talk, congrats!

Ok, so I am def going to look into a heated dog bowl more seriously, though I really am reluctant to spend so much money on one thing at this stage...huge shift since I laid down the cash for that auto pop door we don't need! I am curious, GC, how are you using the heating pad? Is it set in a way the chickens can't reach it or do they just not bother it? I have one I could use out in the coop if it meant that they could have their ff when they want it. It has been freezing solid in under two hours and although I love going out there, they don't love that the feed is frozen. I have noticed that when I put down fresh, they do not run for it, even first thing in the morning. I think it is because they have become conditioned to the disappointment of frozen food so they just expect it to be frozen and don't see the red pans as yum yum dispensers anymore.

On another ff note, even my cat loves the fermented chicken feed. This morning was the third time in a week I came downstairs and found the ff knocked over. For my setup, I have a shoe rack that holds the ff and sprouts and some other chickeny things next to my back door. My rescued Maine Coon mix has been pushing the mini-cooler of ff off the shoe rack in the middle of the night whenever there isn't a thawing pan of feed he can munch on. He's a riot, this cat, he gets into everything. But I thought it was interesting he likes the ff. Have it set on the floor for now until I figure out how to kitty proof the ff. Wonder if I could ferment cat food?...



I am working on pics of the girls. Tough to get them looking at me and being still! I sit down to see what I have and most of the photos are of fluffy butts! Def do not have the photography skills of others here, lol.


No more issues with pecking since I put the meanie down in the basement brooder. I have been reading that red stars can be dominant and sometimes aggressive when the top of the pecking order. My RS's are a lot more comfortable with me than my other breeds and I liked that about them, plus they are laying beautiful large brown eggs often. But it looks like the trade off is rolling the dice on flock harmony--not an option for me. So I am looking at what breed to set and am having a very tough time deciding! I think if I could come to a decision on a good choice for what direction to go in breed-wise, I will set eggs when I can get a hold of the right ones. Just got to make up my mind at this point.

Glasshen, glad your roo is perking up!

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I feed my girls any yogurt that is left in the house. Their favorite is strawberry and blueberry.

Good to know! Apparently, they are fond of the flavors most kids are, haha! My son loves strawberry the best.

My girls love warm oatmeal with a great big dollop of yoghurt mixed in - and you're right! don't stand too close you'll get hit with flying oatmeal!!

That's what I imagine! Nothing like seeing some enthusiasm at meal time!



GRAMMA:
the video of your colorful and content girls was adorable! They are happy girls! Thanks for sharing that!!




TOB

 

[Lapeerian]

So sorry Pyxis about your babies. I know that was a hard hit. Hopefully you will get things straightened around so that it won't happen again. I know my hubby doesn't like it when I have chicks/ducks in the back room but he tolerates them. Good luck with the others that you still have.


All this talk about chicks is starting to fire up the spring chick fever in me. It think that should be a diagnosed disorder in people that keep chickens! Anyway planning on trying to fire up my home made incubator the end of the month. Want to set some duck eggs. I don't think that I'll hatch to many of my own chicken eggs this year. I'm hoping to get some different eggs this year! Also hoping that I can convince DH that I need to buy a small incubator that will be better then my home made one...

On that note...Does anyone breed Seramas? I was thinking about getting a couple? Also does anyone have Turkeys? I want to get some turkeys this spring. Maybe some Bourbon reds and/or some Royal palms...but then again maybe a blue slate or 2...

Can't wait till Chickenstock!

Come on Spring!!! Hurry back soon...I have missed you so!!

I'm going to do the Valentines Hatch Along, set date is Jan 24 for chickens. Duck set is Monday? I got a flyer in the mail yesterday for the new Cortland TSC store opening. 10% off your first purchase, sales, prizes, Jan 22-24. You know they have bators.... I'm going to stock up on some dog food and maybe couple bags of horse and chicken feed.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Ok, so I am def going to look into a heated dog bowl more seriously, though I really am reluctant to spend so much money on one thing at this stage...huge shift since I laid down the cash for that auto pop door we don't need!

Hi Jennianne,

I know you're considering the heated bowl for FF, which others say works great. For me, the heated dog bowls made the difference between sanity and insanity during the winters! Also, peace of mind that my girls were getting hydrated, especially when I couldn't be around to break and refill waterers as necessary. They are a relatively minor investment, and I'm on my 2nd winter without any problems with mine. I don't think we paid more than $10 for ours, but can't recall, sorry..... As for the auto-pop door? Best thing I ever did for our coop! LOVE MINE!

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

So sorry Pyxis about your babies.

I know that was a hard hit. Hopefully you will get things straightened around so that it won't happen again. I know my hubby doesn't like it when I have chicks/ducks in the back room but he tolerates them. Good luck with the others that you still have.

PYXIS,

In my scanning to catch up on older posts, I apparently missed something. It's always troubling to hear of losses, and now that I'm not so much of a newbie anymore, here on the edge of my 2nd year with chickens, I can say that I feel for you and anyone who experiences this. Just wanted to say sorry...

TOB

 

[jennianne]

Hi Jennianne,

I know you're considering the heated bowl for FF, which others say works great. For me, the heated dog bowls made the difference between sanity and insanity during the winters! Also, peace of mind that my girls were getting hydrated, especially when I couldn't be around to break and refill waterers as necessary. They are a relatively minor investment, and I'm on my 2nd winter without any problems with mine. I don't think we paid more than $10 for ours, but can't recall, sorry..... As for the auto-pop door? Best thing I ever did for our coop! LOVE MINE!

TOB

TOB,

Okay, just looked at Amazon and see what you mean--a bit more than $10 but not as expensive as I thought. I think I was thinking of heated waterer bases, maybe....

I love my auto pop door, I just would have gone with a different model had I realized that we would eventually fully enclose & predator proof the run that the door seals off overnight. Its a little overkill right now, lol.

I see a heated dog bowl in my near future, yay!! I know my girls are gonna love it, too.

Love BYC, you guys rock!

Jenn