Hi all!
Just finished up my 2nd "test" hatch and now have a brooder full of adorable little chicks! Yes, I know it "hasn't happened" unless I post a photo, but they're not on the computer yet.
We made "stairs" going down the sidehill to the chicken yard, and all the melting snow decided to run there.
Then it froze, so I started using the non-packed snow beside the shoveled area. Added some stones for traction from the side of the road.
Last night when I went out to close everyone up, everything was froze solid into a sheet of ice. And I can't find my ice cleats!
This "morning", I may have to go the "long way around", and use the other entrance into the chicken yard.
I don't want to risk it going down the hill with buckets of water and fermented feed.
Was able to finally empty the poop trays under the roosts last week in two of the coops. Fluffed up the litter in the PA coop, as it was still really good.
Two days now, the girls has flipped the nearly empty poop trays off their 'shelf' & I've found them on their side with the chicken looking like "we don't know how it happened!"
Still have to tackle the duck & rooster's coop, as I tried last week & it was still frozen, except for a little I took off the top.
Two Catskill Homesteader hens from the Swedish Flower Hen breeding group "escaped" from their fence (due to gaps under the fence on a side hill) and started scratching up the grass that I on purpose was keeping them away from until it begins to grow again! So, I have to go fix that today, so they don't kill all their grass.
@Beer can - last week I got a notification that you'd quoted me & had found that we're close by, especially compared to the other NY'ers on here who are at least 1 -2 hrs away.
In fact, Breakstones/Kraft foods in Walton is only 30 minutes from us. You were also talking about the ducks you used to have. I'd love it if my ducks could have a pond, and even though there are two small ponds nearby, they're the neighbors. Before we moved here and we were talking with the neighbor, I watched his dog jump into his pond and flush out some wild ducks. So, I know that the water wouldn't even be a safe place for them! So, they just have to be happy with a big rubber bowl. I also know they have been known to fly out of my fences at our other house, so hopefully the aviary netting will keep them in the fence and keep aerial predators out.
Also, thanks for your comment on my website! It's a work in progress, but I'm pleased with the results so far.
Well gotta get started on my projects, as I've been on BYC for 2 hrs 41 minutes, and that's only been on the Easter HAL thread, NY chicken stock thread and here!
Just finished up my 2nd "test" hatch and now have a brooder full of adorable little chicks! Yes, I know it "hasn't happened" unless I post a photo, but they're not on the computer yet.
We made "stairs" going down the sidehill to the chicken yard, and all the melting snow decided to run there.
Then it froze, so I started using the non-packed snow beside the shoveled area. Added some stones for traction from the side of the road.
Last night when I went out to close everyone up, everything was froze solid into a sheet of ice. And I can't find my ice cleats!
This "morning", I may have to go the "long way around", and use the other entrance into the chicken yard.
I don't want to risk it going down the hill with buckets of water and fermented feed.
Was able to finally empty the poop trays under the roosts last week in two of the coops. Fluffed up the litter in the PA coop, as it was still really good.
Two days now, the girls has flipped the nearly empty poop trays off their 'shelf' & I've found them on their side with the chicken looking like "we don't know how it happened!"
Still have to tackle the duck & rooster's coop, as I tried last week & it was still frozen, except for a little I took off the top.
Two Catskill Homesteader hens from the Swedish Flower Hen breeding group "escaped" from their fence (due to gaps under the fence on a side hill) and started scratching up the grass that I on purpose was keeping them away from until it begins to grow again! So, I have to go fix that today, so they don't kill all their grass.
@Beer can - last week I got a notification that you'd quoted me & had found that we're close by, especially compared to the other NY'ers on here who are at least 1 -2 hrs away.
In fact, Breakstones/Kraft foods in Walton is only 30 minutes from us. You were also talking about the ducks you used to have. I'd love it if my ducks could have a pond, and even though there are two small ponds nearby, they're the neighbors. Before we moved here and we were talking with the neighbor, I watched his dog jump into his pond and flush out some wild ducks. So, I know that the water wouldn't even be a safe place for them! So, they just have to be happy with a big rubber bowl. I also know they have been known to fly out of my fences at our other house, so hopefully the aviary netting will keep them in the fence and keep aerial predators out.
Also, thanks for your comment on my website! It's a work in progress, but I'm pleased with the results so far.
Well gotta get started on my projects, as I've been on BYC for 2 hrs 41 minutes, and that's only been on the Easter HAL thread, NY chicken stock thread and here!
)
