Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[chippysmom327]

Uggg, about the staying warm... I am afraid I may lose my favriote show Buff Leghorn rooster... We need to switch feeds, the 16% layer feed for some reason don't cut it for my show birds, he's really the only one looking bad, he's skinny, his comb is froze even thoug we put on pratrolium jelly, he's cold, and he looks horriable, We had to put him in a dog cage in the basment, and he's one of the two out of my flock I'm really attached to, his name's Abraham.

Sorry to hear that

 

[chickenboy100]

Sorry to hear that

Thanks, I think he'll get better. We had a bit of left over chick grower feed, so we gave him that, and he's eating good now, and looking a bit better since he's warm.

 

[Hounds51]

The reason I went with the Buff Orpingtons are because they are big birds, and we want to raise them for both egg laying and also meat production.
The reason I ordered 2 Roos were in case one dies early. If not I'll probally have to pen one up.
Were going to try to not get too close to the ones we are getting and will let them free range on property. Will probally loose a few to hawaks and such.
But we want to try to get enough chickens so we can utilize them for both purposes.
Maybe I should have started with more?
Oh Yea I ordered them from My Pet Chicken.

The ones that I have now we got from an AG store in Bernville and we didn't loose any chicks with that batch.
I'll have to get some pictures of our girls up in the next few days.
Right now were dealing with the extremely cold WX as all and had to do the Vaselene trick to the girls combs.
and Had to thaw out thier water bucket even though it has a bucket heater, it still froze the water nipples. **** Cold here in the mountains.

 

[PeakyBeaky]

We ended up loosing a fewof our 2-4mo olds-just too cold, even with all our preparations.

Poor things need some fat on them.

 

[stake]

Hi new here to the site. We live in Bethel Berks County PA. We currently have 2 Buff Orpingtons, and 3 New Hampshire Rocks. All hens.
We are kind of new at this, and are learning every day.
Dealing with the cold weather is a learning experiance and now we are dealing with frost bite combs and frozen water buckets that have a bucket heater in them.
Love the Buff's, so we ordered 10 for free ranging 2 Roos and 8 girls.
Were hoping to get bigger buffs so we can use them for dual purpose.
Let me know if we have our own web site for the PA chicken people?

Dennis Schools
221 Camp Strauss Road
Bethel PA. 19507
717-865-6473

Howdy Hounds, from Chester co...my crew is listed in the sig....lots of experienced folk here some rather close to you....Welcome aboard, and there's lots of folks here to help you fill your coop!!!

 

[stake]

We ended up loosing a fewof our 2-4mo olds-just too cold, even with all our preparations.

Poor things need some fat on them.

PB:

So sorry to hear....its just way too cold.....

 

[Katt66]

My guys are all still happy as can be and honestly don't seem to be minding the cold too much. And I am soooo thankful that I decided to enclose their run in plastic this past fall. I really think that's what's saving them from going stir crazy. They've got a couple of different levels and places to peck around while they're cooped up in there. I'm also guessing I'm doing it right with the ventilation, neither the Buff Orpington nor the White Leghorn are showing any signs of frostbite on their combs or wattles. Everybody else I'm not worried about as they either have small rose or pea combs or are too young to have developed full combs yet.

I did break down and plugged a 250 watt red lamp in and hung it about 2ft above the bowl I put the fermented feed in just to keep the feed from freezing before they all got a good bellyful. With that on and the run enclosed it kept the temp around 15 degrees which was like a summer heatwave compared to the howling winds in the yard. When I went out to exchange their block of ice for a fresh water my EE Roo, Peedles insisted he was going out into the yard to the point I had to forcibly push him off of the doorsill with my foot. Shoulda seen that one, me standing on one foot with a hanging waterer in one hand and a jar of fermented feed in the other trying to shove stubborn rooster back into the run with my toe. I pushed him in, opened the door the rest of the way, went through it and when I turned to close it behind me he was right back up on the sill, shoved his head out the opening and literally shoved and shouldered his way through and pushed the door right out of my hand. So I gave up and let them out while I re did their water and refilled their FF bowl. By the time I was done about a minute later, they were all back inside. Silly things should learn that sometimes Mommy DOES know best. XP

I'm guessing they are content in their coop for the night. When I went out to check on them for the night I really expected to find them bedded down on the roosts below the coop by the heat lamp. Instead they were all up in the coop in their usual spots on the roosts all snuggled together. So I closed the coop door, unplugged the heat lamp and took the water in for the night.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

My parents doesnt have a website.....My mom and step dad love my chickens and I wanted to surprise them and get them some since they talk about getting some but they haven't yet. They live near Raystown Lake. I remember my dad saying we couldn't have anything where we lived growing up. But I don't know if this is true or not. Since sometimes the will tell you anything when you are little !

I am not a computer specialist ---that is for sure........however there are many website building sites that are very user friendly for the average person where you don't have to learn HTLM .

For example---if you use Verizon for you email they include a website in their package and have a step by step process that guides you thru the set up

Google has web sites you can build.

Many web site building sites have fees and you just have to compare the details..........does it allow separate email addresses, how many pages, what special advertising features.......I cant remember all the features---------and you can look of reviews of website building sites as well..........

You don't have to pay a lot of money for an expert , unless you really want that level of expertise........... I would recommend that you look into this a bit first. Especially since a free website building option may be part of a service you are already paying for.........internet provider or email provider......

 

[LisaYolkUm]

I am not a computer specialist ---that is for sure........however there are many website building sites that are very user friendly for the average person where you don't have to learn HTLM .

For example---if you use Verizon for you email they include a website in their package and have a step by step process that guides you thru the set up

Google has web sites you can build.

Many web site building sites have fees and you just have to compare the details..........does it allow separate email addresses, how many pages, what special advertising features.......I cant remember all the features---------and you can look of reviews of website building sites as well..........

You don't have to pay a lot of money for an expert , unless you really want that level of expertise........... I would recommend that you look into this a bit first. Especially since a free website building option may be part of a service you are already paying for.........internet provider or email provider......

Also try vista print.........I think that is what it is called.........its where you can get business cards for free or low cost and stationary etc....

 

[stake]

OK at the risk of being a total thread hog....here's my today

1) a couple of the girls got out so I let the other seven out with them..(misery loves company)....well they hunkered down quite a bit but, they also got out to scratch and peck and by afternoon were rather slow(as in no hurry) to get to the coop....3 degrees and high winds didn't seem to bother them, noticed a bunch of wild birds out too and had three deer come thru at dusk....all are locked in tonight and they will stay there til it hits 20....

2) sick roo is hanging in there...he has been getting force fed by me sugar water and meds....I also got him to eat some scrambled eggs (some forced and some voluntary) he also crowed twice today in the basement....(I think a good sign)...I do not know if its the tetracycline or the warm basement that is the tonic, but he seem a tad better,...will be dusting him with permethine (sp) tomorrow morning.... and will facilitate a worming when I can coordinate things meds wise...he's still shaking his head alot....

Keep warm!!!