NY chicken lover!!!!

[Hillaire]

yes it certainly is, I grew up on a dairy farm so this helps fill the void of not being able to have Holsteins lol. I won't get too big though we have plenty of acreage but I don't plan on getting any more birds for a while after we get these ducks and turkeys.

 

[tao chick]

yes it certainly is, I grew up on a dairy farm so this helps fill the void of not being able to have Holsteins lol.  I won't get too big though we have plenty of acreage but I don't plan on getting any more birds for a while after we get these ducks and turkeys.

I grew up on a dairy farm too, and have that same feeling of missing holsteins and jerseys. I think that once you're a farmer it's hard to change your mindset. Making the best use of the land was ingrained in my upbringing. We only have 2 acres but it came with 2 barns. Barns are for livestock, so one that was supposed to be part coop has turned into all coop. I only have 22 birds right now, but that is typical for me for end of winter. I'm incubating 90 in April, and maybe 90 more in May. I'm getting at least a dozen chicks at chickenstock.

 

[rancher hicks]

Whew! It's been above freezing the last few days, so it was time to clean out the coop. I hadn't cleaned it all since that last warm spell. Since then I've just been piling on fresh bedding.
We got hit hard by Stella, and the ladies weren't going outside - even though we shoveled a bit of the run for them (not the whole thing....it's over 3000sq ft).

I couldn't get to our pile in the woods, and the composted is full (mostly snow...) so I tossed the old bedding into the run. The ladies were thrilled! They were also fascinated by the clean coop. You'd think it was a whole new place. I spent a good 20 minutes just watching them explore the coop they've lived in since they moved out of the brooder.

[/URL]

I've been doing some of that too. Then they can rework it. Too they have the hay bales that either get broken open or I break open. Too I sometimes dig up a bit so they have to scratch and work it some more.
I hear you on the compost pile. I've got a new one but it's back to far and without snow blowing a path I won't get to it. So it's into the run the stuff goes. The plan is to dump a small bale of peat moss in there too. It looks as though your run is covered like mine. That keeps things relatively drier, though not completely dry here. I like your splash hen.

 

[Hillaire]

I grew up on a dairy farm too, and have that same feeling of missing holsteins and jerseys. I think that once you're a farmer it's hard to change your mindset. Making the best use of the land was ingrained in my upbringing. We only have 2 acres but it came with 2 barns. Barns are for livestock, so one that was supposed to be part coop has turned into all coop. I only have 22 birds right now, but that is typical for me for end of winter. I'm incubating 90 in April, and maybe 90 more in May. I'm getting at least a dozen chicks at chickenstock.

I hear ya, we have a "barn" (old shed with foundation) on our property that I am going to turn into a dairy goat shed and maybe do some pigs next year as well. Farming sticks with you that's for sure

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm pretty sure my fiancé would leave me or throw me in the Hudson river if I had that many birds lol. although we have 10 hens 2 roosters 4 guinea fowl 2 mallard ducklings 8 chicks and over 30 eggs in the incubator and 2 runner ducklings to be picked up Thursday and 4 turkey coming in april... oh man we may have over 200 in a couple years.... I'm okay with that lol

Yeah so what's your point? You've heard about "Matchdot.com" and "EHarmony"?

I'm sure you can find a replacement there.

We are such enablers here, we'll even help you look.

Prerequisites: 1. Must like chickens. Lots and lots of chickens.

2. Must like goats. Lots and lots of goats.
3. Must like ducks. Lots and lots of ducks.
4. 5. 6. etc. etc.










10 Must have all their own teeth.

 

[Hillaire]

Yeah so what's your point? You've heard about "Matchdot.com" and "EHarmony"?

I'm sure you can find a replacement there.

We are such enablers here, we'll even help you look.

Prerequisites: 1. Must like chickens. Lots and lots of chickens.

2. Must like goats. Lots and lots of goats.
3. Must like ducks. Lots and lots of ducks.
4. 5. 6. etc. etc.










10 Must have all their own teeth.

hahaha no no this one is a keeper she is coming over to the dark side for sure. Those ducklings... yeah they are hers lol

 

[AmberKnits]

I've been doing some of that too. Then they can rework it. Too they have the hay bales that either get broken open or I break open. Too I sometimes dig up a bit so they have to scratch and work it some more.  
I hear you on the compost pile. I've got a new one but it's back to far and without snow blowing a path I won't get to it. So it's into the run the stuff goes.  The plan is to dump a small bale of peat moss in there too. It looks as though your run is covered like mine. That keeps things relatively drier, though not completely dry here. I like your splash hen.  

I am low on hay - so I haven't been tossing that out to the chickens to play in. Last time I bought hay - they only had half bales, so I didn't get nearly enough. It's not visible in that photo, but I've got a kids playhouse I picked up off the side of the road - needed some repairs - but it makes an excellent dust bath house. Ive been adding peat moss there for dust baths. The run isn't covered, it's so big....but it extends into the woods so there are lots of trees covering it, lots of places to hide. There is also a small drainage stream running though the run. Originally the run was much smaller, then last year we went over the steam and into the woods with it to give them more space. They can only free range when I've got the dog secured, and he will dash out a door in the blink of an eye.

Ah, the splash Marans! Bleu and Frenchie. They are nice birds, one is low in the pecking order. She and and the black EE rarely have tail feathers.

 

[AmberKnits]

You can see the kids playhouse here.

Here is a picture of the run extension from last summer. It's not really secure from all predators, but the small main run is. My main predator is our dog, and he can't get in to the run so it works for now. Also, despite the extra space the chickens have the whole area down to bare ground now - except for the trees and shrubs.

 

[Hillaire]

looks great the fencing should be ok from most ground predators unless they dig under is it possible to throw some of that plastic netting over the top? Over time they will knock the weeds down as I'm sure they did last year. Do the chickens go down the slide? that would be hilarious to catch on camera lol

 

[FishMtFarm]

I never grew up on a farm but like bed animals. As soon as I moved out I started a farm. I now have dairy goats, meat goats and chickens! Use to have horses but do t have enough time to ride.