NY chicken lover!!!!

[Henicillin]

My ducks appear to be pairing off, so all may be well (the Metzer website states that if you have fewer than 10 ducks, you're generally OK with pairs). One of the "couples" is adorable. The drake parks himself in the duck water bowl while the hen sits outside of the bowl, stretches her neck out, and rests her head on his back. He then grooms her neck while she closes her eyes in duckie bliss.

 

[Framac]

Probably would not be in time but I will hopefully have chicks on Friday. Nothing special, just mixed breeds. Have one broody, was going to give her a chick or two but was planning to just craigslist the rest. =)


Here's my little pullet broody Princess! She's broody after about a month of tiny blue eggs.

let me know when they hatch how many you might have.

 

[featherz]

let me know when they hatch how many you might have.

Probably 10-12 is my guess, but we shall see what I get. Have 17 going into lockdown, probably keeping < 5.

 

[Henicillin]

The Peeps have been rehomed - they're now at my sister's house sorting out the pecking order with a twelve-week-old Red Sexlink pullet, sole survivor of the raccoon massacre. My four-year-old nephew wants to name the black Peep "Ant," because "ants are black." Kid logic - gotta love it.

Captain Morgan spent last night in a rooster box, because he has taken to crowing at 3 AM. This wouldn't be an issue, except that he's roosting up near the roof of the coop. The walls don't touch the ceiling, so he's essentially crowing outside. We can't hear him, but our good neighbor mentioned that he's "sort of annoying." Technically we could say "tough," but we like these folks and don't want to be obnoxious. So, Alan is going to finish the walls and put in proper vents on the roost side, as that'll knock down the noise to a dull roar. This is good not only to keep things quiet, but to improve heat retention in the winter without compromising ventilation and block the open spaces near the roof that the blasted egg-eating squirrels are probably using to get in and predators could potentially use to get in. Until that time, His Nibs can spend his nights on the floor of the playroom in my Hen Hotel, where he won't bother anyone.

This is the Hen Hotel. I paid less than this, as I bought a color that was on clearance. The thing is great - it collapses to store, and is more than large enough for a big bird. It'd even make a good broody pen, come to think of it. http://www.walmart.com/ip/SportPet-Pop-Open-Kennel-Large-Dogs/5192528

 

[featherz]

T
This is the Hen Hotel. I paid less than this, as I bought a color that was on clearance. The thing is great - it collapses to store, and is more than large enough for a big bird. It'd even make a good broody pen, come to think of it. http://www.walmart.com/ip/SportPet-Pop-Open-Kennel-Large-Dogs/5192528

I have one of those!! My chickens don't seem to like it but I should clean it up (it's been sitting outside) and see if I can make use of it. It made a lousy cat carrier tho - my cats had too much freedom and would try to 'dig' out of it.

I finally moved everyone out of growout coops and into their permanent homes. Moved 1/2 my remaining easter peeps into the coop vacated by my old biddies (now in retirement, I still miss seeing their flappy little leghorn heads!) and moved the other half into my big coop. Once in the light discovered a few more surprise roos. Bleh, I have a knack for hatching roos! I have at least one extra NN roo (one definite, maybe two), one chantecler roo (from annie's eggs) and one possible mystery breed roo. Hate those late bloomers after I gave away all the obvious dudes. =)

Anyone have brown leghorn eggs? DH wants me to replace those leghorns, but I wanted to try something different..

 

[Henicillin]

I ended up buying a hard-sided "intermediate" kennel today, as the roo evidently jumps around too much in the collapsible one. Alan said that the goofy thing had managed to knock the sides askew, and so was a bit cramped and annoyed this morning.

The hens don't have this issue, as they aren't nuts.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Everybody ready the heat?

 

[stonykill]

Everybody ready the heat?

bring it on. I'd rather sweat any day than be cold.

 

[happyhensny]

I have one of those!! My chickens don't seem to like it but I should clean it up (it's been sitting outside) and see if I can make use of it. It made a lousy cat carrier tho - my cats had too much freedom and would try to 'dig' out of it.

I finally moved everyone out of growout coops and into their permanent homes. Moved 1/2 my remaining easter peeps into the coop vacated by my old biddies (now in retirement, I still miss seeing their flappy little leghorn heads!) and moved the other half into my big coop. Once in the light discovered a few more surprise roos. Bleh, I have a knack for hatching roos! I have at least one extra NN roo (one definite, maybe two), one chantecler roo (from annie's eggs) and one possible mystery breed roo. Hate those late bloomers after I gave away all the obvious dudes. =)

Anyone have brown leghorn eggs? DH wants me to replace those leghorns, but I wanted to try something different..

I saw free leghorns on CL today. http://albany.craigslist.org/grd/3088291360.html

 

[Henicillin]

My Jersey Giant has two new chicks under her, with the possibility of a third hatching within a day or so.

She's being a good broody and not letting me lift her wing to see about the third egg. She and the peepers are securely screened off from the others, and will be in lockup for a week or so until she gets the hang of this mom business.

Mrs. Beasley the Buff Orp has somehow managed to get her four two-week-olds up onto the highest level of the stepped roost tonight. It looks amazingly uncomfortable, but apparently she's all for it. One of the chicks is snuggled between her and my BO who had a failed hatch. Apparently a Not-The-Mama is as good as a Mama when it comes to sleeping.

As for my roo, he is tucked away in his new, darkened rooster box kennel. He showed his acceptance of the situation by promptly falling asleep.

Let's see if that helps. Alan claims he heard him early this morning, when he was in the roo box that had been knocked askew, but it was pretty faint, not like it is if he's right up next to the roof.