Okies in the BYC The Original

[countyroad1330]

Dee - When did that happen!? Was that recently? Your story made me cry! I've been sitting here feeling sorry for myself, thought I'd come over to the board; you made me stop and put things in perspective.

I haven't been on the board the past few days, I'm sure I've missed ALOT! I went and shoveled out the chicken pen and redid my snow prevention system. Got little miss Silkie back out there with her chicken family, she was starting to growl at me in her pen in the kitchen. Lol

Everybody ready for more snow tomorrow!?

 

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
Depends on how much we get. I certainly don't want another 14 inches of the stuff! I still have a huge drift across the middle of the backyard that I have made foot paths over the top so I can get everything fed. It would be nice however if it were a better texture for making snow men and snow forts

 

[countyroad1330]

I think 1-2" is what we're gonna get around here. I kinda wish it would've been a little more spaced out though! Lol.

When I went to take care of the chickens I left a little snow man for my mom. There are some around town that are taller than me! Which I guess isn't saying too much, but its still cool! Today was the first time that I have driven since the storm, other than just to Walmart; hubby said my little car looked like a 4 wheeler comin over the slush piles.

 

[nnbreeder]

Brooding chicks in the house?

Buy a bale of Alfalfa and spread it around in the brooder a little bit at a time. It's absorbant, controls odor and if they eat it so what, it's good for them. The only down side is the dust but you can change it often and put it directly into either the compost pile or the garden.

 

[poultryand bees]

My mom used to help us make snow forts when it snowed and she was a master builder. Our forts would still be standing long after the rest of the snow melted. I probably should have taken a box and packed snow into it to make bricks, so I could show the grandkids (and my youngest son) how to build a snow fort. Mom always used a board across the top on the inside, so it wouldn't collapse on us and we would sit inside and drink hot chocolate.

we tried to make a snow man with the stuff we got this past weekend, but it wouldn't pack well. In fact, I don't recall seeing any snowmen around this area. Jaxon tried to convince me he wanted a carrot "to eat" but I told him to get his snowman built first and then he could have a carrot for its nose.

 

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
Elkhunter, you haven't lived until you have tried to erradicate the "dust" from the house after a winter of having chicks brooding in boxes or tubs inside the house. I guess it is the fluff that they lose as the feathers come in, but something creates a fine dust that is difficult to get off of all the surfaces of the room that held the chicks and the three adjoining rooms as well

 

[Elkhunter]

Thanks. I not only want to keep the wife happy but I think we will find a better way, soon!! Once I get confident that the heat will be consistant I will move these babies. I saw what you mean. I clean that room daily but the dust multiplies like crazy. I don't mind the barnyard smell but I will try to keep it out there!!lol

 

[poultryand bees]

Quote:
One reason I am not a big fan of hatching in the winter is the challenge of brooding the chicks, when the weather is changing constantly. I sort of like having the chicks in the house so that I can watch them, but it only takes about a week for them to develop a grown up chicken odor

 

[EngieKisses]

Quote:
I agree the inside odor is awful. However, the outside smell reminds me of my grandparents house. We keep them all clean, scrub them and fresh bedding, but if you are inside the coop there is a little light scent. I am sure to most people it might be a little barnyard smelling, but to me it is like home.

 

[bigokie37]

ive got 150 babies right now only kept them in the house long enough to dry off. an then moved them outside to a 8 x 10 building.ive lost only 5 chicks an i have them from 5 days old up to 5 weeks in there.i got 2 125 watt heat lamps in one brooder that is 2 x 2 x 8 on wire an another brooder with a heater from a metal gqf brooder between me an john we got close to 400 chickens some up to 4 months we have been busy