***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[clintgil]

Hi fellow Oklahomies! I'm in Tulsa!

I'm still very new to this chicken business and still in the research phase. I'm not really that handy (except with putting kit related things together like building furniture, etc) so I'm pretty sure I want to use this coop http://www.hayneedle.com/product/habitatshavenchickencoop.cfm unless someone can pretty please recommend something else. Would this coop work??

I'm also pretty sure I want Rhode Island Reds. I only need them for the eggs. I only want/need 2-3. Please recommend other breeds that would survive our summers and winters! I like Silkies too but they're eggs are quite a bit smaller.

Now, what do y'all do about our winters and ice storms?? I've been browsing some of the other posts and I've seen some people put shower curtains around their runs which I think is a great idea. I'm also getting concerned about tornadoes. How do I make sure my coop and run isn't gonna blow away? For summers I've seen people do little wading pools, spray down the dirt in the

I'm planning on having my coop in a 10'x22' run with some kind of peaked tarp or something on top which I'm hoping my uncle will help me build or looking into using a dog kennel possibly too. I would prefer to attempt to build a fence though because I think it would look a little nicer and the dog kennels I've looked at are really expensive. Also planning on using 1/4" hardware cloth about 12" down in the ground around the run. Foxes and hawks are going to be my main issues in my neighborhood I think. Maybe raccoons too.

I'm also thinking about having a chicken friendly "play pen" (with a cover) I can put them in during the day and then move around every once and a while. Good idea or no?

I'm planning on using DuMor 16% pellets for when my chickens are adults and the DuMor chicken starter/grower too.

PLEASE tell me this will be easier than it seems right now! I'm really REALLY excited to get started but doing this much planning is stressing me out a little! lol

Sorry this is a little long winded! Hoping someone can give me some advice!

that coop is nowhere near big enough. you may only want 3 now, so you need to buy a coop for 20. I only wanted 6 hens, and my wife and kids love it so much I bought my wife a $175 incubator for our anniversary, and we are driving almost 6 hours on Saturday to buy a trio of birds that will be numbers 23, 24, and 25. chickens are more addictive than meth. someone should stage an intervention for my family

 

[ashtree]

that coop is nowhere near big enough. you may only want 3 now, so you need to buy a coop for 20.  I only wanted 6 hens, and my wife and kids love it so much I bought my wife a $175 incubator for our anniversary, and we are driving almost 6 hours on Saturday to buy a trio of birds that will be numbers 23, 24, and 25.  chickens are more addictive than meth. someone should stage an intervention for my family

soooo true! I almost never drive but I'll go just about anywhere for the perfect chicken. It's ridiculous. Makes me feel crazy at best.

 

[bardies]

that coop is nowhere near big enough. you may only want 3 now, so you need to buy a coop for 20. I only wanted 6 hens, and my wife and kids love it so much I bought my wife a $175 incubator for our anniversary, and we are driving almost 6 hours on Saturday to buy a trio of birds that will be numbers 23, 24, and 25. chickens are more addictive than meth. someone should stage an intervention for my family

Maybe so, but no one on this thread will do that...we'd probably bring chicks and make it a 'hen' party!

... Gateway livestock ....

 

[Kyzmette]

If they were torn up and scattered about it was probably canine, if there was a single bite to the base of the skull and neatly piled up it was either mink or weasel What it was doing was building a cashe to come back and feed on later. An opening as small as a quarter is all they need to get in.

I could see the cache theory if that were the case.

 

[Kyzmette]

Hey Ipeanut1990, what area of Tulsa are you in? I live in Skiatook, work in Tulsa. The best egglayers are the sexlinks bred specifically for egglaying, like the red, gold or black sexlinks, or golden comets. After that, the RIR, Leghorns and Minorcas. How do you feel about mutts that lay enormous eggs?

I need to work on Bumpers' s world domination.

 

[Chickenfan4life]

We phoned the doctor this morning and they said that it is normal for my leg to be that way, as long as there is still some blood flow. I am out of my crutches now, walking on my leg a bit more to try and keep the blood flow up. I am due back at the hospital the 13th, so we'll see how it goes from there.

 

[cathiesue]

Quote:
I second that! Have you ever really closely watched your flock when they come speeding towards you because you've just shaken the treat can? Tiny. Feathered. Velociraptors.

 

[BetsyOK]

Update on attack. I didn't look for the hen as I knew she had to be dead and figured she'd been dragged to the predator's den. However, Vashi found her body only about 3-4 feet from the pen, on the other side of a fence that separates that part of the yard. Her head was gone and her naked neck had been completely skinned. No other evidence of injury. I know there are several animals that will take the head only, but I don't remember which ones. I think owls and some hawks may be among those, but there is absolutely no way a winged creature could have gotten in.

She was a healthy, well-fleshed bird, and whatever got her had to drag her anywhere from a couple of feet (if she had been chased into the end pen) to 6 - 8 feet and over a 2' barrier, then almost straight up 7' to get her out that corner. There were very few feathers and no blood evidence. She was a completely different color from the rest.

That entry has been completely sealed off, and we'll make permanent repairs to the rest of that upper roof edge.

 

[Jeansrie]

What do I need to do? I purchased some cochin hens that where already laying eggs.  One of them has layed soft shell eggs every time, I feed them the 16% layer pellet and give them oyster shell and always fresh water, but still seems to lay soft shelled eggs.  What else can I do to correct this problem.  Thanks

I wonder if some hens are just more prone to funky eggs. One of my Marans was laying calcium-coated, soft-shelled eggs. Now they are more normal but occasionally have a weird crack in them. Now my other Marans that was laying big pretty eggs is laying the soft eggs. None of my others are having any issues so I don't think it's what I'm feeding.

 

[BetsyOK]

Have just read up on at least half dozen predator identification sites, and the only thing that fits the damage is an owl. However, since I am VERY sure an owl couldn't have gotten in and dragged her across the floor and up and out of that opening, this sort of bolsters my suspicion that a four-legged animal caught, killed and dragged her out and was then chased off by an owl. From what I read, there are others that will take the head, but they appear to first eat other parts, specifically the crop and entrails. All the sites state an owl will take only the head and neck.

Am still only able to post through received emails, but BYC is now trying to help me. It is sounding like it is a problem with my browser, but not yet sure.