Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[N F C]

I certainly had a full day today, working on our kitchen & my craft room. When I was finally ready to call it a night...I heard a rooster crow. I opened a window and listened...first I heard a neighbor's rooster & then I heard one of mine answering. I shouldn't have heard him so clearly, if he was in the coop. So, I slipped on a sweater & my chicken boots, grabbed a flashlight and headed out to see what was going on. I looked in the coop first & there were only 6 in there. Evidently something happened to the power & the automatic door closed before everyone had a chance to go in. So, I picked them up one at a time and placed them on the roost bars. This is what happens when I don't go out & check on them every night! Also, Spazzy is still broody...I knew it was too good to be true that she'd come to her senses...

Glad you got them safely in the coop before they had to spend the night outside!

 

[drstratton]

Glad you got them safely in the coop before they had to spend the night outside!

Thank you Debby, me too. Although the night was already half gone for them by the time I'd figured it out. They kept me warm as I picked them up...it's amazing how much heat they put out.
On my way out now to see what's going on with the power & to reset the timer for the door. It was midnight and I knew they'd be fine if their door didn't open as early as it normally does.

 

[drstratton]

I have everything reset and figured out that some moisture got into the door panel box and caused the GFCI to trip. I hopefully have that taken care of for now...we need to do a little work on it when the weather warms up!

Before I get back to work, here's a picture of my flock and the little bit of snow that we still have! Have a beautiful day everyone!

 

[BY Bob]

Good morning all! I'm getting read to head to town, again, I need an oil change and tire rotation, if we go to Montana we will drive my SUV. Anyway, we were greeted with about 3 inches of snow this morning and it's still coming down, it's the most we've gotten so far this winter. Last week they were saying that we had a chance of snow...less than an inch. Yesterday it turned into a winter storm warning! It will be a slower than normal trip into town, but at least where I'm headed didn't get any snow, so it shouldn't be too crazy!

Have a beautiful day everyone!

A view of the chicken coop under a fresh blanket of snow! Also in this picture, we lost a branch off of our Deodar Cedar tree it's the large tree on the right, looks like a lower branch. Oh well, it will make it easier to mow the lawn in that spot...
View attachment 2504801

Just beautiful

 

[BY Bob]

Good morning all! I hope everyone is having a great day. It looks like Spazzy decided she'd spent enough time being broody. She was out running around in the free range pen with everyone else today. I will check later to see if that's still the case.

I wanted to share a picture I took yesterday and a little local geography. This is Rattlesnake Mountain, I see it every time I drive to town, there is also a huge herd of Elk that we see on a regular basis in this location...I saw them yesterday, but they were to far away to get a picture of. It's the tallest treeless mountain in the contiguous US. I thought it was pretty with the snow on it, but of course the picture doesn't do it justice!
View attachment 2506433

Just spectacular!

 

[BY Bob]

I certainly had a full day today, working on our kitchen & my craft room. When I was finally ready to call it a night...I heard a rooster crow. I opened a window and listened...first I heard a neighbor's rooster & then I heard one of mine answering. I shouldn't have heard him so clearly, if he was in the coop. So, I slipped on a sweater & my chicken boots, grabbed a flashlight and headed out to see what was going on. I looked in the coop first & there were only 6 in there. Evidently something happened to the power & the automatic door closed before everyone had a chance to go in. So, I picked them up one at a time and placed them on the roost bars. This is what happens when I don't go out & check on them every night! Also, Spazzy is still broody...I knew it was too good to be true that she'd come to her senses...

That was close. I have had issues as well so I have a reminder on my phone tell me to check on them. Of course I have a camera in the coop and only need to login to make certain everyone is roosted.

 

[drstratton]

Just beautiful

Just spectacular!

It was just enough snow to make everything beautiful!

That was close. I have had issues as well so I have a reminder on my phone tell me to check on them. Of course I have a camera in the coop and only need to login to make certain everyone is roosted.

Honestly they were fairly safe as they were in the pen, but I feel better knowing they are in their coop and I think they felt much more secure being there, that's truly the safest location. We have seen raccoons & sometimes skunks and we've had owls living in our treeline, but we haven't seen any for quite awhile.
I will be glad when I get my camera set up and I will probably buy 2-3 more. I want to have full views of the run & I would like to have at least one in the coop! I'm looking forward to seeing their interactions as they all find their spot for the night. I'm sure I didn't put them in their proper places last night, but no one seemed the worse for it this morning!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I know right...I keep thinking I should stop myself...but I'm just not strong enough...it would have to be an intervention from my friends...but all of my friends here are more of the enabling ilk, than the, are you sure you want to put yourself through that?
Seriously though...I'm very excited about them!

I, for one, am NOT going to say “don’t get more chickens...”
I am the one jumping up and down shouting “Yes!! Yes! Get the Wyandottes! Get some Lavender Orps!!!”

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I feel for you. We have 5 kids & we've been trying to get them to come get their stuff for decades. I am ready to ditch everything! Even worse, the crabbing duo often stop in here for a coffee & a loo stop & leave even more stuff behind. It's a thankless, never ending task.

Yep, they never completely leave. They always have something left behind.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Yes, this is so true...we get rid of one thing & then 10 things take its place! My daughter has slowly been taking her stuff & almost has it all! The youngest told me that if he hasn't used it in all these years...then he doesn't want it, so I will go through it keep some special things for his baby & donate the rest! The oldest is still here...that's a whole story in itself! Once a parent always a parent...I have no one to blame but myself...

I feel your pain!