Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[drstratton]

Today was a hodgepodge of different things! Dale spent some more time on the fence & was able to level out the top pretty good. We ran into an issue we knew might happen, but hoped wouldn't...when we tightened the fence the posts near the gate weren't firm enough. So Dale hooked a chain to the post & tractor to straighten it up. We are going to add a stake & wire to keep it in place & when it's more firm we will remove it!

We made a dump run of all the useless junk that had built up out here in the back corner. What a good feeling to get rid of it.

We also picked up a bunch of berry plants from a friend. We have thornless blackberries thornless raspberries, currants, Josta Berry, gooseberry & strawberries. We are going to plant everything but the strawberries next to the new fence.

 

[drstratton]

Two more chicks now have names!!! My French Black Copper Marans hens!

Madeleine - Still not sure that she is a FBCM, her color is so different from the others...I love it and can't wait to see her fully feathered out! She will actually let me touch her now!

Maybelline - she's still not as approachable but getting better!

 

[N F C]

Today was a hodgepodge of different things! Dale spent some more time on the fence & was able to level out the top pretty good. We ran into an issue we knew might happen, but hoped wouldn't...when we tightened the fence the posts near the gate weren't firm enough. So Dale hooked a chain to the post & tractor to straighten it up. We are going to add a stake & wire to keep it in place & when it's more firm we will remove it!

We made a dump run of all the useless junk that had built up out here in the back corner. What a good feeling to get rid of it.

We also picked up a bunch of berry plants from a friend. We have thornless blackberries thornless raspberries, currants, Josta Berry, gooseberry & strawberries. We are going to plant everything but the strawberries next to the new fence.

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I hope the berries do well for you, that's a really nice assortment!

 

[drstratton]

I hope the berries do well for you, that's a really nice assortment!

Thank you Debby! I hope so too. We used to have a berry patch in the new chicken pen, but there is to much shade in there now, so hopefully they will get enough along the fence.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Two more chicks now have names!!! My French Black Copper Marans hens!

Madeleine - Still not sure that she is a FBCM, her color is so different from the others...I love it and can't wait to see her fully feathered out! She will actually let me touch her now!
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Maybelline - she's still not as approachable but getting better!
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Aaaww, I love those names!

 

[drstratton]

Aaaww, I love those names!

Thank you! I've finally named everyone, I just need to get individual pictures of all of them. I mostly have a pattern for them - The Breed name, plus the country of origin, for most of them anyway! The Marans all start with M, the Orpington Ladies start with O etc...

 

[WhoDatChick]

Thank you! I've finally named everyone, I just need to get individual pictures of all of them. I mostly have a pattern for them - The Breed name, plus the country of origin, for most of them anyway! The Marans all start with M, the Orpington Ladies start with O etc...

Oh that’s cool! I like that idea...

 

[drstratton]

Two of my girls are the first to make it to the upper roost!

Ophelia & Pearl! Spazzy kept looking up, wondering how they managed it...lol!

 

[N F C]

Two of my girls are the first to make it to the upper roost!

Ophelia & Pearl! Spazzy kept looking up, wondering how they managed it...lol!
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They definitely learn from one another...Spazzy will get it!

 

[drstratton]

They definitely learn from one another...Spazzy will get it!

Yeah and it probably won't take them long!

I just read an article from the Chicken Chick on Bumble Foot! She said that the roosts should be kept no higher than 18" to help prevent it, especially for the heavier breeds. I'm trying to decide how to lay out the roosts in my coop and now I'm a little nervous! I'm thinking of doing a ladder type of set up, to help with that issue, but there's no way I can accommodate all of my chickens with an 18" roost! What has your experience been Debby?