Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[OneMountainAcres]

What are you using to build the run?  I've had almost no luck with chicken wire on T-posts and U-posts.  When stapled to a rigid wooden frame however, it's pretty simple to work with. 

The framing for the run is 2x4 and 4 x 4 posts. It just keeps trying to roll back up on me, I can't get it to stay straight argh! I made it about 15' with it in 2 hours and gave up for the night. It'll probably be easier to do tomorrow when hubby's home to help.

 

[LizardCat]

The framing for the run is 2x4 and 4 x 4 posts. It just keeps trying to roll back up on me, I can't get it to stay straight argh! I made it about 15' with it in 2 hours and gave up for the night. It'll probably be easier to do tomorrow when hubby's home to help.

OH! Sorry! Took that for granted. Wire fence of any sort is a complete pain to work with solo.

 

[SilkieSensation]

 
Hi Y'all! 

Does anyone have interesting hatching eggs available close to Lititz?  I have a hen ready to set.  I would like to set her next week.  I probably won't hatch any more than 12.  (And really, I can't drive very far - super busy at the moment.) 

Looking especially for kid-friendly varieties who lay well.  My children would love some white egg-layers so we have white eggs to dye next year for Easter!  Also hoping for some blue eggs.  (I tried hatching Amerucanas last year but they all ended up being roosters, whom we rehomed.)  I wouldn't mind brown as long as they are good layers and friendly.   

Currently I have all 2 year olds.  2 black austrolopes who make great mamas and 2 Stars (Red and Black) who are my best layers. 

Sadly I need to get rid of my 2 buff orpingtons because they don't lay well any more, but I'm not quite sure what to do with them.  Any suggestions? 

Thanks!

Jen

Hey Jen, I'm in Lititz too! I am no where near the point you're at in "chicken growing", but I wanted to share a little knowledge I've gleened with you. There's a thread I stumbled on when trying to figure out how to get my girls laying for me; https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/608787/feeding-chickens-black-pepper. The members posting there seem to have had success... I have yet to have success myself, but I only brought my girl's home last Friday. We bought them at The Green Dragon small animal auction, which is held every Friday at 6pm. This is also an alternative for you if you must get rid of your BO's... we paid $17 for 2 of our girls and $17.50 for the other 2. We have adult RSL's, however I noticed the adult BSL's and BO's went for a little more and I think outside of chicks,  pullets, roos and Bantams, that was all they had in the way of hens that night.

Maybe this helps and maybe it doesn't, but thought I'd at least share with a neighbor lol. Good Luck!!

Try a sprinkle of cayanne pepper for a few days. Just not too much when it's hot out.

What are you using to build the run?  I've had almost no luck with chicken wire on T-posts and U-posts.  When stapled to a rigid wooden frame however, it's pretty simple to work with. 

The framing for the run is 2x4 and 4 x 4 posts. It just keeps trying to roll back up on me, I can't get it to stay straight argh! I made it about 15' with it in 2 hours and gave up for the night. It'll probably be easier to do tomorrow when hubby's home to help.

The other alternative is staple/tack just the top & bottom corner of the opposite end from where you start at so it can be pulled loose easily & adjusted once you get closer to that end. (Can you tell I've had to work solo a lot?)

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Try a sprinkle of cayanne pepper for a few days. Just not too much when it's hot out.
The other alternative is staple/tack just the top & bottom corner of the opposite end from where you start at so it can be pulled loose easily & adjusted once you get closer to that end. (Can you tell I've had to work solo a lot?)

The way Hubby wants it is a solid piece the whole way around. .. Which is a total of 30 feet. It doesn't help that I'm a perfectionist and every little mistake or mess up sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Plus it scratched up all the paint that I carefully painted the other day :/ lol, don't mind me. Feeling discouraged but I know I'll feel better in the morning once we get it done then I'll be putting up pictures lol

 

[chiques chicks]

Most of my fencing is 2x4 wire on t- posts. Attaching method: zip ties. Some are actually wired on properly.

I go through zip ties by the hundreds. I use them to connect all sorts of things "temporarily".

 

[dheltzel]

I went to put the Muscovy eggs into the hatcher for lockdown tonight and I found 2 of the 10 were pipped. It's only day 31 and they were in the turner with only about 30% RH. I had no idea they would start 4 days early.

I sure hope they will be ok. They are in about 80% RH now, maybe that will rehydrate them enough to get the rest of the way out

This is my first time with Muscovies.

 

[joyfulshepherde]

Try a sprinkle of cayanne pepper for a few days. Just not too much when it's hot out.
The other alternative is staple/tack just the top & bottom corner of the opposite end from where you start at so it can be pulled loose easily & adjusted once you get closer to that end. (Can you tell I've had to work solo a lot?)

Neat! I might have to give the pepper a try. Thanks for the tip! Thanks, both of you!

 

[barbiegirl]

Welcome to all the new people.

Wing, good luck with your challenge with your brothers. You can do it!!!

Dropped my son off at boyscout camp for the weekend.The camp has 6 hens running around free ranging. How cool is that?

 

[SilkieSensation]

Most of my fencing is 2x4 wire on t- posts. Attaching method: zip ties. Some are actually wired on properly.

I go through zip ties by the hundreds. I use them to connect all sorts of things "temporarily".

Both of my runs are 4 ft chicken wire ziptied to tree branches & old swimming pool posts sunk in the ground. Almost every bird I have can hop my fence but they rarely do. They like the food too well...lol

 

[stake]

I agree...take one day and do large quantities of favorite meals. yesterday I made 100 pigs and 300 meatballs. Both will be packed in meal sized vacuum packs for freezer. About 60 or 70 meals worth for us.
Both were done with wholesome ingredients...so they would probably be an option for your challenge.

Wing:

Similar to Fisher and LC, I do big batches of food and do the tupperware freezing....after you get ahead of the curve, its not that hard...some things: Pulled pork from a whole smoked shoulder....chile,...meat for tacos and nachos,....lots of soups and stews....Chinese dumplings and egg rolls, ham/cabbage/mashed potatoes...vegetables au gratin....I make my own sausage( Italian and breakfast), lasagna, stuffed peppers.....and some other stuff....I also lost 12lbs and still eat a fair amount of 'bad foods' too.....my two cents....