Official Squatch Watchers

[21hens-incharge]

I think aart made a plexiglass entry shelter on her coop for exactly the same reason, the wind blew right in the pop door and the chickens wouldn't leave. Plus, on sunny days, it creates a greenhouse effect where the birds can warm up a bit.

I love that idea.

I may implement it here.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I selected these pictures from aart's coop article. It is down towards the bottom. I thought it was a neat idea for someone who can't pick the orientation of their coop.


Got an awning up to cover the pop door, that faces west and the prevailing wind here.
Glass 'Foyer' (heehee) installed......Hey, a little levity mixed with a tad of folly is good for the soul! But really, I needed a wind block as the pop door faces west with wicked winds and I had the windows laying around and they were the perfect size....so yes, Glass 'Foyer'. Awning enhanced with an extension to cover gap facing west...and the door 'stoop' excavated.
The glass has chicken wire attached to the inside as a visual barrier.

 

[CapricornFarm]

The picnic table on our deck is slowly disappearing under the snow.

 

[Chickassan]

Well... the littles, Hobo, Susan and Tucks never made it outside today. All day in the coop and nobody died.

 

[Chickassan]

Ohhh...and iv'e been blaming that cat for eating birds. It isn't her, it is Beavis. I caught her killing and eating a bird. Not much I can do about that.

 

[staceyj]

Ow..... I really hurt.

I knew I did way to much pushing and pulling of the mobile coops white we were moving the birds. But I did it anyway (despite my DH's protests) because I hate feeling useless. Now my pregnant body is making it known how displeased it it. My lower back, abs and sciatic nerve on my left side are all acting up. When I put the Milk Drinker down to bed, I laid down in my bed as usual until he fell asleep. Today I was so tired that I just vegged on my phone until it was getting close to bed time. When I tried to get up, the pain was so bad I couldn't sit up. I can't do a "sit up" method of getting up because my abs don't like it, so I roll over on my left side, hang my feet over the edge of the bed and push myself into the sitting position. This set off my lower back and sciatic nerve so bad that I started crying. I had to get DH to come over and pull me into a sitting position from laying on my back. Fortunately, an application of ice and homeopathic remedies seem to be helping a lot.

I really need to get over myself and let others do the work I shouldn't be doing.

Ok. #1:

I’M CALLING IT NOW.
THIS BABY IS A GIRL!!!!!!!!

loose joints and vertebrae = more of the pregnancy hormone relaxin which is given off in greater quantities in pregnancies with female fetuses!!!!!!!

Please be careful.
I spent 2 pregnancies on a cane doe to spontaneously ruptured discs.
You DO need to get over “helping” right now.
The last thing you need is a total back blowout right now because there isn’t really much they can do for you or give you if that happens.
I am telling you from experience that it was horrible.

Just practice saying “ oh! Thank you!”
And 31-ish weeks from now you will be back to your pre-preggars strength and can do whatever you want.

 

[staceyj]

Well... the littles, Hobo, Susan and Tucks never made it outside today. All day in the coop and nobody died.

Mine stayed inside all day too even though we didn’t get snow, just high winds and driving rain plus very cold temps.

 

[staceyj]

Ohhh...and iv'e been blaming that cat for eating birds. It isn't her, it is Beavis. I caught her killing and eating a bird. Not much I can do about that.

Wow. I’m sorta shocked... what kind of bird was it?

 

[staceyj]

no snow here, and I don't want any has been 10 to 13 at dawn the last few days. supposed to get above freezing for an hour today.

The roo I used for breeding this year had been doing poorly in the cold. CX mix, his dad died this spring about the same age. around 20 months. Looked like heart issues.
I was going to put him down yesterday, but the girls wanted out into the garden and he went with them and looked better. Ate supper fine and I thought about bringing him in, but he has never been handled and I thought the stress wouldn't been good for him.... should have put him down....was dead this morning. His favorite wives were gently pecking him like they wanted him to get up.
So I picked him up and told him I was sorry. I forgot to keep his butt up. coat and pants are in the washer.
He was a white cx mix and they are meaty, clean up nice in the plucker and don't have as many feathers as the barred ones I have gotten out of that breeding... But that lack of feathers doesn't help them, just me, and they don't seem to live long. I have a younger brother,(from halloween last year) that is barred and I think I will use him next year. I also save a barred son of his as a back up... The barred just don't seem to have as much breast meat as the white, but I like the dark better anyway. There are several of his white sons I was thinking about as back ups, but I think I will just butcher them... of course it's too cold to butcher so I may change my mind

This is sad. I’m sorry.

 

[Chickassan]

Don't know it was tiny and gray.

Wow. I’m sorta shocked... what kind of bird was it?