Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[chickachickayea]

Happy belated Halloween!

My girls got their first pumpkin today and were quite skeptical at first, except for Ginger who dug right in

Tiny's broody spell broke within about two weeks, she slimmed down a bit but otherwise seems normal and healthy.

With the abundance of green grass diminishing, the ladies have been scratching for food... and have turned their run/pen into a chicken mine-field! I'm going to be coming up with boredom-busters this week to perhaps help with this digging a hole(s) to China mission... And will perhaps venture into sprouting greens for them... I know they are also naturally digging for foraging, but holy smokes! Any input?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Looks like our flock is going to get to enjoy some pumpkins. We never actualy got around to carving ours this year. The kids didn't even push for it

 

[Lelanae]

Happy belated Halloween!

My girls got their first pumpkin today and were quite skeptical at first, except for Ginger who dug right in

Tiny's broody spell broke within about two weeks, she slimmed down a bit but otherwise seems normal and healthy.

With the abundance of green grass diminishing, the ladies have been scratching for food... and have turned their run/pen into a chicken mine-field! I'm going to be coming up with boredom-busters this week to perhaps help with this digging a hole(s) to China mission... And will perhaps venture into sprouting greens for them... I know they are also naturally digging for foraging, but holy smokes! Any input?

We mulch up our leaves with the mower and put them in the run. Our girls LOVE them to play in and forage though. It takes them a couple weeks to turn them into compost--I am going to ask my neighbors for some of their leaves this fall!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Hey all. Remind me what auto doors you use. We are going to build an enclosed run inside the chicken pasture. We want to put the auto door on the outside of run. The coop door would be left open so they have access to the run early and can be let into the run at a safer time

I just installed the chicken guard on my coops this week. I can't attest to its longevity, but it functions very well so far. I purchased the "AST Extreme" version, because it is the heavier duty model. I figured for an extra $20, for the many years I will use it, I want one that will last and work well. It was easy to install and configure, although so far I just have it on the timer settings, not the automatic light settings. I also purchased this one because I could make my own door size. The Extreme model will lift a door up to 8 lbs. I needed a larger size door since I have a Tom turkey.

Happy belated Halloween!

My girls got their first pumpkin today and were quite skeptical at first, except for Ginger who dug right in

Tiny's broody spell broke within about two weeks, she slimmed down a bit but otherwise seems normal and healthy.

With the abundance of green grass diminishing, the ladies have been scratching for food... and have turned their run/pen into a chicken mine-field! I'm going to be coming up with boredom-busters this week to perhaps help with this digging a hole(s) to China mission... And will perhaps venture into sprouting greens for them... I know they are also naturally digging for foraging, but holy smokes! Any input?

They do love pumpkins! For snack and boredom busters, try hanging some heads of broccoli or lettuce. Also, I have heard of others hanging a suet feeder with treats. There are recipes to make your own suet chicken treats. Just do a search.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Is it battery powered or does your coop have electric

 

[chickachickayea]

We mulch up our leaves with the mower and put them in the run. Our girls LOVE them to play in and forage though. It takes them a couple weeks to turn them into compost--I am going to ask my neighbors for some of their leaves this fall!

Yeah, I'm going to have to start hoarding leaves for the girls!

I just installed the chicken guard on my coops this week. I can't attest to its longevity, but it functions very well so far. I purchased the "AST Extreme" version, because it is the heavier duty model. I figured for an extra $20, for the many years I will use it, I want one that will last and work well. It was easy to install and configure, although so far I just have it on the timer settings, not the automatic light settings. I also purchased this one because I could make my own door size. The Extreme model will lift a door up to 8 lbs. I needed a larger size door since I have a Tom turkey.

They do love pumpkins! For snack and boredom busters, try hanging some heads of broccoli or lettuce. Also, I have heard of others hanging a suet feeder with treats. There are recipes to make your own suet chicken treats. Just do a search.

Duh, suet! *facepalm*

Thanks!

 

[Werforpsu]

Hey all!
It's been forever since I was on!
My kids are consuming all my extra moments these days!

We lost our first bird this week

.
We had 6 pullets and 3 cockerels between 6 and 7 months. We started out with 5 boys but had to cull one that got really mean and gave one to a friend who lost hers to an owl.
Our chickens free range most of the day. A few nights ago we were missing one pullet at dusk and instead of our head boy outside the coop waiting for her, he was in and settled. This was very unusual because he is last in every night...he stays out for 5 minutes or so after the others have gone in.
We looked for her for an hour (my husband walked the woods while my boys and I walked through the corn fields, fruit orchard and garden.). The next day my husband found a few feathers by the woods but no carcass. We are fairly sure it was a fox. The boys have been extra vigilant with their girls the last few days.
Tonight at 8:30 the coop was closed up for the night and I heard the chickens start to make a huge racket. We went out and my husband saw eyes, he thinks a fox but it disapeared before he could get a shot off. He went back out with a rifle later but the fox didn't come back tonight. I believe he might be sitting in his truck the next few evenings!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Is it battery powered or does your coop have electric

It is battery operated, and has warning lights to let you know that the batteries are running low.

Hey all!
It's been forever since I was on!
My kids are consuming all my extra moments these days!

We lost our first bird this week

.
We had 6 pullets and 3 cockerels between 6 and 7 months. We started out with 5 boys but had to cull one that got really mean and gave one to a friend who lost hers to an owl.
Our chickens free range most of the day. A few nights ago we were missing one pullet at dusk and instead of our head boy outside the coop waiting for her, he was in and settled. This was very unusual because he is last in every night...he stays out for 5 minutes or so after the others have gone in.
We looked for her for an hour (my husband walked the woods while my boys and I walked through the corn fields, fruit orchard and garden.). The next day my husband found a few feathers by the woods but no carcass. We are fairly sure it was a fox. The boys have been extra vigilant with their girls the last few days.
Tonight at 8:30 the coop was closed up for the night and I heard the chickens start to make a huge racket. We went out and my husband saw eyes, he thinks a fox but it disapeared before he could get a shot off. He went back out with a rifle later but the fox didn't come back tonight. I believe he might be sitting in his truck the next few evenings!

So sorry, this is always terrible. Now you have to be extra on guard now that a predator knows you have the animals in one place.

 

[Werforpsu]

So sorry, this is always terrible. Now you have to be extra on guard now that a predator knows you have the animals in one place.

Yeah, I'm not letting them out today. Luckily our coop is technically large enough to keep them in it (8 chickens in an 8x12 ft coop). We did that on purpose for vacations and bad weather. Now I'm really glad it can also be for predator protection.

 

[hyzenthlay]

@Werforpsu , I'm so sorry you lost one! It's hard with dusk getting earlier and earlier--and it will be even more so after daylight savings this weekend. I agree with keeping them cooped up for at least a few days, then after that making sure they are only out during daylight. When we had a raccoon attack, it did come back for several nights hoping for more, then apparently gave up.

So, I think I have another pullet that turned out to be a cockerel--here is my 7.5 week old Lavender Orpington that is looking very masculine (the Buff Orp behind him is the same age). Anyone here want a lav orp cockerel? I think I'm going to post him on Craigslist sooner rather than later....











In better news, two of my 19.5 week old pullets laid their first eggs today! I think it was the Blue Copper Marans and Dorking, although the little white egg could possibly also be from my Polish or Sultan--but the Dorking looks the most mature, and I saw her hanging around the nest boxes yesterday watching an adult hen laying with interest. Here are some pics of my prizes--so little and cute!