***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

Monty, For your discussion topic:
I have a lot of chickens (over 70)...not as many as some. I like the large fowl and purchased some at Atwoods this year that are looking more like banty size. I may "downsize" some of those this fall. I want to increase the Wyandottes and have a reserve in with the Jarvis's to purchase a little roo or two from their recently hatched Blue Cochins to replace the one that died from heat stress ... want to complete the trio. Then too, I'm awful tempted to talk to them about the ones they have on craigslist....I know...I'm hopelessly addicted.

I've turned the air conditioner on in the hot tub room and will be moving some of the babies/young teens in there until the heat breaks. I have several that are losing weight or are just not handling the heat well. There is a sink and a refridgeraor in there in a little kitchenette and a tiled floor...easy to keep clean. I'll set up tables to hold the big bird cages and they will be fine. I can carry them out in the mornings for some range time.
I have Prince Wilhelm in the house right now eatting a cooling feed mix as I type. He will be one for the new digs. He is a Silver Lace Wing Polish roo I got from Upcdazy: Little PW is much happier inside and loving his cool formula.

 

[Kassaundra]

On the topic of the day, no I do not need to downsize, or increase my numbers. I needed 10 per coop for my gardens and I have 10 per coop. If I add another garden in the next year or two I will add another 10 chickens. (When I do that I will probably add two diff. breeds to my EE's what I'm thinking right now is NN's and Arucana's, then I will just raise replacements from that combo)

 

[sixshooter60]

Quote:
Monty i am only about 4 miles as the crow flies to the base i actually live closer to Ashland than i do Stuart although its not much of a town anymore I have hunting on it for many years both legal and some maybe not so legal back when i was a dumb kid..

 

[nocityboy]

Quote:
Where is South Harbor?

the clevland oklahoma county border

If U are near Draper lake we have many people near you.

 

[artsyrobin]

Hmmm...on downsizing- wouldn't be a bad idea, but then i go look at who would go, and its hopeless....

course my breed focus has narrowed down to what breeds i am interested in, so as i can more EE's, cochins, and recently got to looking at the english orpingtons, lot fluffier than my hatchery girl....

they are on the someday list and .... well all of em are just beautiful!

But i am gearing for more banties, not large fowl...

 

[sjarvis00]

Quote:
NanaKat,
I have a 2 ft x 8 ft cage with wire bottom and two poop catch trays if you have room for it, you more than welcome to use it as wwe are not using it at the moment and will not likely need it till late fall or early winter. That way all you need to do is carry the trays out and empty them.

 

[cameron]

Quote:
I take it you're a trad shooter too? I've never put in for the hunt there, but I got property just outside of haywood that I hunt a lot. Good luck at the base...what area did you draw?

Cam

 

[CityClucks]

Quote:
Hey Beth, What other breeds did you add this year. I still have the two Australorps and they are doing OK in the heat so far. I have several black chickens and they don't seem to be suffering any more than the others with the heat.
Are you ready for some Naked Necks?

Ha! Not ready for NNs yet...but I am afraid someday I'll have to join the Dark Side with all you other NN enthusiasts! This year I have 3 Ameraucanas and 2 Light Sussex (from Poco Pollo), and from Atwoods I have two Black Australorps, two CA Whites, and 1 surviving Production Red. My Dozen Clucks is rounded out by two older Marans hens that I got from Poco Pollo at the 2010 POOPS. I can only have 6 chickens in Tulsa, so I have those six. The other six are backup...according to proper Chicken Math, backup chickens don't count as making me over limit.

I am trying to keep these 12 alive in the heat and hoping to start seeing more eggs in the next couple of months. I don't feel any need to downsize...but I'm deciding that 12 adult birds is about the limit of my yard and coop/run. Jack came over today and surprised me by putting a fan in the hen house. It doesn't seem to make it any cooler at floor or roost level, but at least it moves the air around.

I'm glad you still have the Aussies!

 

[dgibson]

Quote:
This is opion only i dont think birds can drink enough water in this heat to supply enough moisture their body needs. I have nine five gallon buckets i put half full whole oats then fill with water ,I let set two or three days before feeding it .Like michael said it takes a while to get them eating them but when they do they love them. I think it helps grow broader and better feathers . bad side is if you have close neighbor they wont like the smell..Agin this is only opion

Wat kind of bird's do you have dgibson ...

I have wellsummer barnvelder french marans delaware buff brahma bantam old english bantam a few black langshan .I hatched seven hundred forty chicks this spring .Not to smart huh.I have three akbash guard dogs and zero preditors we also have a small herd of alapacs .Nothing really good just an old enjoying the hobby

 

[prairiehen74369]

Quote:
Monty,
I think many are in that boat with the spring chicks having come up in age and a need to unload extra Roosters and cut back on Pullets when too many survive it can be a problem. Your best bet is to free range as much as possible to cut back on feed costs, pick the ones you really don't want to keep and make sure they free range as they will keep the predators at bay from teh better ones. I like the idea of cutting back some but when it costs more to get rid of them rather than keep them I say Keep them till the price is right. I posted several for sale if they sale before this fall for the price I want then so be it, if not I get to eat eggs. 8 weeks goes fast the prices will be back up soon keep in mind kids will be needing birds for show and fairs by then.

We've tried no buyers to speak of in this heat and I have to much invested to just give them away I've decided to keep um til it cools off needless to say the incubators are turned off can't get the broody hens to give it up. I like Monty's idea.