***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[ashtree]

@Ksane I am so sorry for your loss. We were really rooting for that little one.

I have some questions on overcrowding issues and winterizing coops. Right now I have several small coops for my bantams and am thinking about putting the bantams all together in the 1 larger one. Its not huge tho, maybe 14sq feet and right now it houses 6 bantams. I definitely do not want to overcrowd, and I know thats maybe already pushing it, my only reason for possibly adding the others would be so they keep each other warmer. They all run together in the run, so fighting would be minimal, and I let them out first thing in the morning, and they are the last in bed at night. There is also enough roosting bar space for all of them because I sorta overdid it. I have 3 other adult bantams, and 3 eight week olds, right now those 6 are sharing another small coop, which I can absolutely keep doing. Im just wondering if in the winter it would be good for them to be a bit overcrowded. The coop has great ventilation all around and I clean it as often as I need to and wouldn't mind doing it more if it meant they were happier. Im really hoping this time next year to have 1 good sized coop for them, but until then Im trying to figure this out. so long story short, better to have too many or just enough?
Just realized this won't work anyway, my big rooster may tolerate the cockerel sharing the huge run but he would not be happy with him in his coop

I just put plastic all around the bottom of the silkie coop to keep out any drafts, and I will start working on the run today. Any other ideas? I loaded everyone up with lots of straw (I said I wouldn't but Im so nervous about weather proofing these coops) and am checking for drafts. I have no plan to add a heat lamp to any coop, just to keep them dry and draft free. Any other tips chicken experts? I feel like such a newbie going into winter. But we had chickens for years and I never worried 1 bit, they didn't even go into their house to sleep at night. Now, I'm so attached to these chickens and want to make sure they're not only secure but cozy too.

 

[1stxchknfrmr]

Hey fellow Okies! I'm looking for some cheap fertile eggs to use to work on my hatch rate in my new incubator before I start with the more expensive breeds. Anybody got any??

 

[Poco Pollo]

Mitzi - The Blue Ameraucanas are nearly grown. They are a friendly and curious bunch. Their blue seems to intensify as they age. The roo looks like he is painted with pastels. He's so beautiful. The girls take turns sitting in the nest box, but I haven't seen any eggs yet.





One of my Saipan Jungle Fowl hens stomped a field mouse to death as it attempted to enter her pen. She didn't make a sound, but she jumped and kicked to vigorously that I thought she might punch a hole in the invading rodent. When I lifted him from the fence, I could tell that his back had been broken in several places. She attacked the way the velociraptor juveniles did in Jurassic Park. If I ever witness this again, I'll shoot a video instead of still photos.

 

[Kyzmette]

One of my Saipan Jungle Fowl hens stomped a field mouse to death as it attempted to enter her pen.  She didn't make a sound, but she jumped and kicked to vigorously that I thought she might punch a hole in the invading rodent.  When I lifted him from the fence, I could tell that his back had been broken in several places.  She attacked the way the velociraptor juveniles did in Jurassic Park.  If I ever witness this again, I'll shoot a video instead of still photos.

Wow, that's pretty amazing. They look like pictures of progenitor bird species.

I'm in the middle of a chicken nightmare. I just found my other beautiful gray girl on death's door. I have her isolated, but I think her neck is broken. She's another girl who had just hit point of lay.

Is it possible for a rooster to be so rough with hens that he can kill them? Stratus is huge and young, and second to Orlando, so he has to tackle girls and work fast. I don't want to get rid of him, but I'm starting to think he's killing my pullets.

An addendum.... I've never seen Stratus do the mating dance; he just chases the girls down and jumps them. Could this be "rapist rooster" behavior?

 

[Kassaundra]

Kyzmette I'm so sorry that is horrible!

A broken neck w/o any other injuries and so soon after the other one sure sounds suspicious for over active roo to me too. (especially for a roo that does the grab and run type behavior) Can you isolate him until his hormones die down a little?

 

[Kassaundra]

Working on Rudy some clothes and a coat for the coming cold front.

 

[Kassaundra]

Betsy anything special for showgirls, are they as hardy as regular sized chickens? (or anyone else w/ experience w/ showgirls or tiny outdoor chickens)

 

[i-love-my-honey]

Junebug just seized. I picked her up and cradled her, she opened her eyes, looked right at me, then laid her head over on my thumb, gave one last, soft chirp, and died. How is it I can lose a bird last week and just hope the poor thing didn't suffer, but this one dies and I'm so tore up? I'm really going to miss her.

OH! So sorry! :'0(

 

[Kassaundra]

I've been working on clothes for Rudy for most of the day trying to figure out simple easy patterning for his shape and clothes that will be snug enough to stay on but loose enough in the right places to allow for movement, not as easy as it sounds w/o a waist or shoulders!!!!! Anyway one epic failure today had us in stitches, put it on him and it would go on, but obviously was not comfortable around the legs I think he actually may have invented a cool new dance!!!! lol lol lol Even the bunnies were laughing at him. Really wish we had brought a recording device to share the laugh.


I think I'm re-naming Bella, she was Thumbellina b/c of her tiny size and calling her Bella, but I keep calling her Bella Donna, so that is probably going to stick.


Oh and Rudy remembers Shakespear very well. The other chickens come to his fence and say hi and he interacts w/ them, even Riker the "2nd in command" and he have pleasant interactions at the fence. Shakespear walked up to the fence today and Rudy took off running like a shot, didn't know he could move that fast!!!!

 

[HeyBigRhondaq]

I am sorry to hear about all the losses this week. Losing favorite birdies is never easy.

Maybe these will help find a smile...

All 7 of my Olive Eggers hatched! I'm excited to see how the Splash feather in. @ashtree, my Ameraucanas stopped laying. If they start back up, I'll let you know.