NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Due to come back on the 29th. Staying for thanksgiving. It's the first holiday I'll be spending with my son and his since he joined the military 11 yrs ago.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well life goes on. I posted to SDWD thread if you'd like details of what's going on.

Talked to DD today seems the rooster I have with the disjointed leg needed to be put down. I think the cold weather did him in. (I'm in AL you remember). He's a CR from GA. I have another, but was hanging on to them both since I only have six birds. Two rooster and four hens. I haven't heard if the hens are laying yet. Probably not even though they are old enough. I don't heat nor put lights in the coop.

Take care and thanks for the prayers. Lord knows I need them.

Rancher.

So sorry.

 

[Glasshen]

Rancher, being a parent is certainly hard work. What to say, what to swallow. I am happy that you are having a holiday with your son and his family. Baby steps.

You were right about the roosters, I do wish I had returned one, but probably would not have returned the right one. I do like the Sussex, he is beautiful, and he seems very even tempered, just acts normal around me. The Americauna has a look in his eyes, and was trying to fight with the sussex. He spent the rest of the day away from the rest of the flock, and was better the next day. Don't think this is the end of it, though.

 

[marquisella]

I'm excited! I finished making my 2 new waterers. 5 gallon pails with nipples. I put them altogether tonight and will hang them tomorrow. Yay!!!

Don't let them freeze. It might wreck the nipples. Last year I didn't put mine away in time & a couple froze. When I went to use them again inthe spring, I had to replace several of the nipples.

 

[featherz]

I already put all my nipple waterers away.. don't want em to freeze up. =)

Lost three chickens today to hawks argh! And here I thought I was doing a good thing by letting them out when I was at work, since it would be dark by the time I got home. Day two of that little experiment and sure nuff, hawk got my little favorelle hen and two of my california white pullets. Could be more, but wasn't able to see anyone else immediately missing and my smaller pullets and hens seem to be accounted for. the favorelle was very standoffish and didn't hang with the flock, so I can tell why she was eaten - and the little white birds are just like targets to a hawk. Sigh. Everyone back on lockdown except for the few times I can be out there. =(

 

[In His Service]

Sorry about your chickens. I am afraid to let mine out even if I am just going to leave for an hour or less.

 

[cheeka]

featherz, I'm so sorry to hear...
since losing two this summer to a fox, I have not left my gang unattended. it's definitely a bummer that they can't free range all day anymore, but I don't want to lose any more. I still miss BaBaBaBarney and his pretty favorite pullet, Lily. S'why I built the enclosure. plenty big for scratchin' n' diggin' n' roostin'... n' all chickeny stuff like that there... if one can measure "happiness" in terms of chickens... mine are delirious despite not having the whole yard.

 

[featherz]

featherz, I'm so sorry to hear...
since losing two this summer to a fox, I have not left my gang unattended. it's definitely a bummer that they can't free range all day anymore, but I don't want to lose any more. I still miss BaBaBaBarney and his pretty favorite pullet, Lily. S'why I built the enclosure. plenty big for scratchin' n' diggin' n' roostin'... n' all chickeny stuff like that there... if one can measure "happiness" in terms of chickens... mine are delirious despite not having the whole yard.

We've been very lucky this year as far as hawks until now - I put up the electric fencing so after losing a pile to a fox, no more fox after the electric netting.. but now that the foliage to hide under is gone and the hawks are migrating, they just have to stay in unless I am there =(. One of my runs is a decent size but the other two really need expanding. All are covered with aviary netting, however.

RIP to my strange little favorelle. =(

 

[Lapeerian]

I think the 2 Ancona girls are hiding eggs again. Been at least 3 days since I've gotten a white egg, blue egg production has been down, so the gold EE is hiding with them. They free range all day, can't keep any of them in the run. The other girls go back to the coop to lay. And I can't lock the Anconas in the coop, because they don't roost in the coop. They have actually been the biggest disappoinment; last to start laying and only medium size eggs. I was expecting early maturity and large eggs.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

My brother's liver function showed improvement so he starts another round of chemo on Monday. I was happy with the news because it is nice to have something positive happen in such a dire situation. He's essentially living 2 weeks at a time.

I'm on vacation this week starting. I'm looking forward to not having to wake up at 2am and my youngest is turning 3 on friday.