Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[3riverschick]

Finally we have chicks! Been a long wait while the birds recouped from last winter. Hatching yesterday and today. Light Sussex. All are spoken for this time, maybe some later this summer. The outcross chicks came busting out a day early. Nice healthy robust chicks, a cross of 2 Light Sussex strains. I am really happy! The inbred chicks from one strain are hatching today. They look good too.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Great cooping advice by silkiesensations. One other thing. I turn on a light in my cop at dusk.
Have found the birds always go to the light, given a choice. Then turn it off after tey get inside.
After a while, they get the idea and I don't have to use the light any more.
Best,
Karen

 

[SilkieSensation]

Great cooping advice by silkiesensations. One other thing. I turn on a light in my cop at dusk.
Have found the birds always go to the light, given a choice.  Then turn it off after tey get inside.
 After a while, they get the idea and I don't have to use the light any more.
 Best,
 Karen

No electric in my coop but I can see where yhat would work.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Coop looks great!

1 suggestion: Move food & water outside under the coop. It will save much mess & bedding changes.

As for bedtime, they will learn to go in. I train mine by telling them "bedtime" as I put them in or shoo them up the ramp. Within a few days, maybe a week, everyone gets used to the routine. & starts going in on their own about 30-45 minutes before dusk. If I go out just at dusk everyone is in & all I have to do is shut the door. If I go out a little early they have been trained with "bedtime" so know where to go.

Thanks! I did move their food outside this morning. I didn't want to do it right away yesterday since I wasn't sure they would come out lol. I will be moving the water out but I still need to build something to hold it up. It's a 5 gallon bucket with 4 Nipples on the bottom. Maybe I'll start saying bed time when I put them in so they get the point. They definitely know the word breakfast lol.

Great cooping advice by silkiesensations. One other thing. I turn on a light in my cop at dusk.
Have found the birds always go to the light, given a choice.  Then turn it off after tey get inside.
 After a while, they get the idea and I don't have to use the light any more.
 Best,
 Karen

I would try that but we don't have an outlet in the coop. ..yet. It's planned though. I want to be able to put probably a fish tank heater in their water bucket during the winter.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Coop looks great!

1 suggestion: Move food & water outside under the coop. It will save much mess & bedding changes.

As for bedtime, they will learn to go in. I train mine by telling them "bedtime" as I put them in or shoo them up the ramp. Within a few days, maybe a week, everyone gets used to the routine. & starts going in on their own about 30-45 minutes before dusk. If I go out just at dusk everyone is in & all I have to do is shut the door. If I go out a little early they have been trained with "bedtime" so know where to go.

Thanks! I did move their food outside this morning. I didn't want to do it right away yesterday since I wasn't sure they would come out lol. I will be moving the water out but I still need to build something to hold it up. It's a 5 gallon bucket with 4 Nipples on the bottom. Maybe I'll start saying bed time when I put them in so they get the point. They definitely know the word breakfast lol.

Great cooping advice by silkiesensations. One other thing. I turn on a light in my cop at dusk.
Have found the birds always go to the light, given a choice.  Then turn it off after tey get inside.
 After a while, they get the idea and I don't have to use the light any more.
 Best,
 Karen

I would try that but we don't have an outlet in the coop. ..yet. It's planned though. I want to be able to put probably a fish tank heater in their water bucket during the winter.

Suggestions for the waterer:

1. If there's enough space under the coop screw a hook into a floor brace & hang bucket.

2. Attach plant hanger bracket to side of coop & hang bucket.

 

[wingstone]

3 little broody Cochin are sitting on eggs in a corner of the coop, there's 3 eggs and the girls just randomly pile on these eggs....now the problem is, I checked those eggs and only one is good, how will these 3 girls do sharing that one chick...and hopefully they will finally give eggs again afterwards, been awhile since I got eggs from that pen

 

[fisherlady]

3 little broody Cochin are sitting on eggs in a corner of the coop, there's 3 eggs and the girls just randomly pile on these eggs....now the problem is, I checked those eggs and only one is good, how will these 3 girls do sharing that one chick...and hopefully they will finally give eggs again afterwards, been awhile since I got eggs from that pen

It is possible that they will share it, but may cause trouble...if you have any source for day olds I would give them 5...2 per hen...and preferably have them all look similar so the hens don't squabble over who's are who's.

 

[barbiegirl]

Oh yeah, broodiness is a bit like the plague. I found a sure way to break them is to order some really expensive irreplaceable eggs and put them under her, this is usually when they jump ship.

Haha that would be my luck. My GLW is still sitting on her eggs and growling, I think she will be a good momma. My silkie has no interest in going broodie. Go figure lol.

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather today

 

[wingstone]

[COLOR=0000FF]Oh yeah, broodiness is a bit like the plague. I found a sure way to break them is to order some really expensive irreplaceable eggs and put them under her, this is usually when they jump ship.[/COLOR]

Haha that would be my luck. My GLW is still sitting on her eggs and growling, I think she will be a good momma. My silkie has no interest in going broodie. Go figure lol.

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather today

I have 1 broody that requires welding gloves to check under or around, she charges me for even getting close.... she is the one sitting on the buckeye eggs

 

[SilkieSensation]

I'm so glad all my broodies have been fairly calm. Only had 1 biter & you could lure her out of the way with food...lol