NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

We are off to a great start for beginners. 3 years of cleaning the property though and we have only got enough done so far to get chickens. Hopefully before I'm 40 we will be on our way to full scale homestead. We have maybe 2 acres barely cleaned and 7 more that no one has touched in at least 30 years. Its all good though. I love my messy little chunk of earth.

Really? You should see this place. Junk tossed into the woods. Old tires and tarps, Huge cement slabs. I will never get it cleaned. We're in our sixties. Most of what I mow is uneven and bumpy.

I just cleaned up where a twg pile was and underneath found broken glass. I had to clean that up and dumped it in an area to be buriend.

So I've defined a perimeter and will work in that. The woods will still be woods.



This I dug a trench next to and buried it.



This I plan to paint and turn into yard art. I'd like to do the same with all the tires but can't figure out how to cut them in half.



This other mess is outside the perimeter so will stay there.









This guy was rescued and turned into lawn decoration I'm working on painting him green and adding chicken wire around his legs so Ivy can grow up. He has some holes stuffed with moss too.

 

[rancher hicks]

Funny you mention the water. I check it every day, usually only have to fill it twice a week. The last week I've had to fill it every day. No leaks I can find. Thinking I need to get a bigger waterer so I know for sure they aren't running out.
Their appetites seem to have increased too with the drop in temperature. Learning every day!

I use more than one waterer and feeder. Also at different ends of the run so the low totem pole birds can eat too.

I like my black rubber tubs since I can just knock out the frozen water and the back wash comes out too.

Feed does increase in the winter. Perhaps in part because they're bored from not being able to range.

 

[rancher hicks]

If you don't want to use heated water I've used one of those black rubber bowls from TSC, easy to knock the ice out. I refill it twice a day. Milk jugs cut down work great also and are free, ice comes out easy. I keep the water and food in the coop but coop is 8'x16'.

Ditto here. Though I do get tired filling milk jugs. Most times I go out and break the ice so they can get to the water. If it's low I just pour on more HOT water.

I don't keep the water in the coop though. Set right on the ground it's surprising that it freezes slower. Perhaps from the heat of composting stuff on the floor. Too it has to be out of the draft.

Lord give me strength to survive another winter. My fingers got frost bit delivering mail and they hurt something fierce.

 

[Beer can]

@rancher hicks Sawzall for cutting tires. Guys use them to take them off rims on scrap metal cars.

 

[Purpletie3]

@rancher hicks the tires make great planters for root crops like potatoes because they can keep some warmth later.

I was cracking the ice off my buckets this morning...it's going to be a really long winter for me with all these chickens and 8 coops. I may get to the point where I throw them all in the garage together and shut the door.

 

[rancher hicks]

@rancher hicks Sawzall for cutting tires. Guys use them to take them off rims on scrap metal cars.

Do you have one?

@rancher hicks the tires make great planters for root crops like potatoes because they can keep some warmth later.

I was cracking the ice off my buckets this morning...it's going to be a really long winter for me with all these chickens and 8 coops. I may get to the point where I throw them all in the garage together and shut the door.

In light of what I've read previous and recently in the news about the possible cancer link I don't want to risk using them for food crops.

My rubber pans that are under cover had no ice. The back hoop had just a sliver which the hens just broke up pecking. Still I wonder if you can put a heater in them

I think some have put a light under metal pans to keep them liquid.

TTFN,

Rancher, appreciates you being here, Hicks

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Last night we got our garden fully cleared and tilled. I potted my geraniums. Then this morning something went in my back while dashing to make the time clock. I went to urgent care and had an xray. I have a curve in my spine but they think it was muscle spasms. I now get to take muscle relaxers and pain meds and a list of exercises to do. Maybe after a day or so I can get my garlic planted.

 

[Gramma Chick]

@rancher hicks the tires make great planters for root crops like potatoes because they can keep some warmth later.

I was cracking the ice off my buckets this morning...it's going to be a really long winter for me with all these chickens and 8 coops. I may get to the point where I throw them all in the garage together and shut the door.

Anyway you can combine them to less coops ? like my babys go in with the adults- one coop to take care of

 

[Gramma Chick]

Really? You should see this place. Junk tossed into the woods. Old tires and tarps, Huge cement slabs. I will never get it cleaned. We're in our sixties. Most of what I mow is uneven and bumpy.



This I plan to paint and turn into yard art. I'd like to do the same with all the tires but can't figure out how to cut them in half.

It would be more work ...but instead of cutting the tires ...bury them 1/2 in the ground

 

[Gramma Chick]

Last night we got our garden fully cleared and tilled. I potted my geraniums. Then this morning something went in my back while dashing to make the time clock. I went to urgent care and had an xray. I have a curve in my spine but they think it was muscle spasms. I now get to take muscle relaxers and pain meds and a list of exercises to do. Maybe after a day or so I can get my garlic planted.

oh no ...take it easy ...