NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

The chooks spent there first night outside in the coop. We were so nervous! We made the beginners mistake of buying a coop kit only to find the 700 hundred dollar thing was very flimsy. Hubby built chicken Fort Knox but I think we need to add some better locks to the back that drops down for cleaning. I don't know How they think 10 -12 hens could fit in the thing the 5 Pullets and Roo are more than enough.

Could someone give suggestions on how to re-home my 7 wk old EE roo. We can't keep him. I tried Craig's list and am going to put a sign up at the local grocery store. He will be black and white and gorgeous. Once he starts to crow we are in trouble........

You don't say where you are but you might find an auction. All our roos are gorgeous, but to have chickens is to have roos to rehome. I make no assumptions that some one is running an rooster retirement home and you should not either. Point? if the new owner shows up with a stew pot it is what it is.

As for the store bought coop I'm sorry you didn't come to us first. For that same $700 you could have bought a much more usable Shed at the Home Depot or build a nice Hoop Coop.

I cringe when I see folks buying "designated" coops.

My former neighbor built a nice set up. Then he moved and left the coop. The new owners ripped it all down and burned it. Point? Had he bought a nice shed to use it would have been a selling point instead of a pile of ash.

Such is life. I wish you well, please hang around and check in daily.

 

[rancher hicks]

So I'm in Alaska and catching which is the reason for all this typeing.

I plant my Garlic in raised beds. Usually 4-6 inches deep, then mulch with hay or straw about 6". I leave it and the garlic finds it's way up through.

Soft neck doesn't get scapes I believe. Be sure to pick the scapes off or it will go to seed. Saute the scapes with butter like other veggies. OR you can make Pesto. Recipes can be found on the internet.

 

[rancher hicks]

Been here four days. Went camping and got some, I hope, nice pics. The military hooked us up so it was free. Cold but free. I could not get the fire in the wood stove going and there was no indoor plumbing.

I missed the bear siting but expect there will be more.

We did not rent a car, but I'm hoping for some public transportation. I've been told there is some.

On the home front. My DD has called to say a hen went broody. I told her to just keep taking her out of the box for a week or so and if she is still broody to leave her as I'd be home when hatch time comes. I said give her EE or Marans eggs since I'd prefer more of them. I expect to be changin out some hens come fall for the younger. She had to get her boyfriend to take the hen out because she's a girly girl and the hen is a biter.


Did I mention she got engaged just before we left for AK? Well she did. Now it's wedding planning time.

No offence ladies but females are the most stressful. Saw someone here with triplets.

When girls are born it's "oh we have to pay more for the girly stuff"

Then it's the "oh does my hair looks nice, they gotta have the right shoes, jewelry, etc. etc. If it's not right the drama begins.

Dads just don't understand.

Then it's the break ups and "I'll never find a boy" and " I'll never get married". (Like that would be the worst thing in the world. Why do we make being single a bad thing? If a guys not married he's gay, if a girl she's a, well you know.)

Then it's having kids. Now I like MY kids and MY grandkids (most of the time) but yours suck. At least that's the truth of it for all of us.
Anyhow IMO it's okay to not WANT kids. My motto is, Not having kids doesn't make you a bad person, having kids you don't want does.

What I'm getting at is the stress of whether they will have kids or not. News flash! Having kids doesn't not make you a complete woman/man. Nor does being married for that matter. My point is, Do not become self loathing, because of either. We can still be friends.

Don't we realize that at some point we may be both again. Childless and single? The kids grow up and move away and the spouse might get planted in the bone orchard. Such is life.

OH and finally who ever decided girls don't hit should be hit. The other day the GD was ging picked on by two boys and they were hitting her with plastic bowliing pins. She cried of course and her Dad did go to their Dad but we need to teach our girls to fight back. She's 9. Still boys should not assume a girl won't fight back. It is not unfeminine to fight back. IMO. I think we should have volunteers in our schools to teach girls to defend themselves.

Well I'll take my leave now and aren't you glad? Will have to post picks when I get back to NY.

Love ya,

Rancherl .

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Not sure if this is the right place for this but does anyone know how I might be able to find silkie chickens (preferably a couple weeks old up to 1 yr) somewhat near Canton, NY?  I am willing to travel somewhat, up to maybe 1hr 30 min drive.  I will be going to syracuse in approx 2 1/2 weeks, so could pick up near there as well (Or somewhere in between).

I think @pharmchickrnmom does silkies. She's been a little scarce here lately, but that's bc she's got a bunch of chicks & working long hours. It's quite possible some of those chicks are silkies. She's in the middle of NY somewhere around here. U might try dropping her a PM.

 

[Pollita2016]

You don't say where you are but you might find an auction. All our roos are gorgeous, but to have chickens is to have roos to rehome. I make no assumptions that some one is running an rooster retirement home and you should not either. Point? if the new owner shows up with a stew pot it is what it is. 

As for the store bought coop I'm sorry you didn't come to us first. For that same $700 you could have bought a much more usable Shed at the Home Depot or build a nice Hoop Coop.

I cringe when I see folks buying "designated" coops.  

My former neighbor built a nice set up. Then he moved and left the coop. The new owners ripped it all down and burned it. Point?  Had he bought a nice shed to use it would have been a selling point instead of a pile of ash.

Such is life. I wish you well, please hang around and check in daily.    

We didn't know about this site otherwise we definitely would not have bought what we bought we couldn't have bought a shed as it would be considered an outbuilding and we already have 2 and are subject to rules and regs.. We live near Honeoye Falls NY. Can you share a bit more about auctions, where would I look for one?

Although I would love Peetu ( the roo's name was petunia) to go to a good home I am realistic and know he may be someone's dinner but at 7 weeks he's so boney he wouldn't make good eating.

Alaska sounds wonderful I've got to get my veggie garden in and the temps are hitting 80 this week.

 

[boskelli1571]

congrats on the new babies !

Sorry to hear about Deirdre ...She had a long life !
Was Deirdre a Plymouth White Rock ?
I have had awful luck with the batch of 6 I got from tractor supply a year ago ..Feb 2015..
2 are still alive ..of the 2 one is swelling & appears to be egg bound ...
I swear they must have all hatched from the same chicken ...as it seems to have happened to all of them except 1 ...

No - she was a Delaware Gramma - one of my original three. There is only Dolores left....

I will get some more, but not this year methinks...

 

[nposluszny]

what breed are they. sound like my kind of chickens.

just some basic hatchery isa's, rir's and white imposter birds...still not sure what they are but they are petite for not being bantams. Now, they all run from Zac Brown Band but come out for Dwight Yoakam, even more twangy.

 

[Beer can]

The soft neck garlic I believe is the long storing variety, hard neck doesn't store as long.
All my garlic came up this winter when it was warm, then froze again. I only see two that survived. . :'(

 

[rancher hicks]

How did you plant it? I've had garlic start, the freeze should not have hurt it.

 

[ArielleL]

I'm building a coop from pallets, I'm concerned about weasels getting in. If I make all the boards are flush on the flooring should I have a problem? I plan on having it raised of off the ground.