Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[hyzenthlay]

The trouble is getting them all the way there, on a more or less regular basis.

I really do hope I have some silvers left when the train goes through. I will have Legbars the same age also for you. They will be about 6 weeks old by then, large enough to go outside without heat (as long as we don't get an April blizzard).

Fair enough on the distance, didn't know how far "away" you were looking. They might take hatching eggs, which could be shipped--and I know they receive chick shipments, but I am guessing you don't want to ship chicks.

I will be so excited if you have silvers left when the train goes through! I wasn't initially looking for legbars--I wasn't sure I liked some of the crests I saw in pictures, especially of hatchery birds, looking like crazy toupees--but yours are lovely and I'm starting to be won over. For some reason, my blue/green egg layers are on strike at the moments, so I'm jonesing for more. My elderly EE is obviously past her prime laying days, my younger EE, who was one of my most reliable layers, is laying about 1 egg a week at the moment for some reason, my Blue Ameraucana laid about 10 eggs after the winter break then went back on strike (???), and my OE pullet is 26 weeks old and still hasn't laid her first egg. Makes me look forward to the new chicks on the chicken train even more!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote:
Just butting in here, Dheltzel's CCLs are fantastic. Excellent layers of beautiful blue/green eggs and very pretty birds. Each one is a little different but very cool. I did have one or two that were very chatty though. Don't hesitate to get a baker's dozen!

 

[hyzenthlay]

@AnneInTheBurbs , butting in certainly welcome!

It's funny, I just didn't think I liked the little crests on the legbars until my OE grew up. She is hatchery Welsummer x Legbar, so not exactly fancy, but she looks so much prettier in person with her little crest than I expected from pictures. I know Dheltzel's birds would be even more striking! I love the friendly hens, too, and I saw his description that the Jill Rees ones tend to have in your pocket personalities. Other than the Dorkings I've had, which are so friendly and bold they hop right up onto my shoulder, and the Sultan which just seems a little too dopey to run away, most of my hens range from a bit shy to highly skittish, despite being hand raised.

 

[fisherlady]

I might try and put a board on the side, I'm not sure if I'll be able to. I was thinking maybe just putting something over the edge like a towel to help the lamps get a good grip on it might work. Alas I cannot put hooks in the ceiling of the kitchen, my mother would probably kill me. (But I can ask her about it just to be safe). 

You can make a support stand from scrap wood. A piece of 2×4 (the width of the inside of tub minus 1.5") and two pieces of 1×4 which are about 4 foot long each and some 1.5" screws.
Use the 2x4 to make the top piece, screw it between the thinner boards, this will create sort of an upside down U. Turn it over and secure the legs of it inside of the tub by popping holes through the wood and the tub and tying each side through in two spots (it will pivot if only one secure point used). This will give you something you can the secure the lamp to, either directly or by adding a good sized cup hook to for hanging it from. Just make sure it is solid before leaving it unattended. You can add a couple of braces to it if it seems wobbly at all.
Making a tall tripod is also a good option, but a bit more involved (in both constructing and explaining, lol) but should be a few examples out on the internet if you google. You don't happen to have an old camera or telescope tripod hiding in a closet or attic do you? LOL

 

[fangedknight]

You can make a support stand from scrap wood. A piece of 2×4 (the width of the inside of tub minus 1.5") and two pieces of 1×4 which are about 4 foot long each and some 1.5" screws.
Use the 2x4 to make the top piece, screw it between the thinner boards, this will create sort of an upside down U. Turn it over and secure the legs of it inside of the tub by popping holes through the wood and the tub and tying each side through in two spots (it will pivot if only one secure point used). This will give you something you can the secure the lamp to, either directly or by adding a good sized cup hook to for hanging it from. Just make sure it is solid before leaving it unattended. You can add a couple of braces to it if it seems wobbly at all.
Making a tall tripod is also a good option, but a bit more involved (in both constructing and explaining, lol) but should be a few examples out on the internet if you google. You don't happen to have an old camera or telescope tripod hiding in a closet or attic do you? LOL

Hey that's a good idea!

Um... I think we have one old tripod lying around.... I'll have to find it though.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Along the same lines as my earlier post on the canvas drop cloth.... I have found that I can find useful items at yard sales to repurpose for use with the birds. Old bed linens make good floor coverings also, especially queen sized sheets or thinner, smooth top covers. And the birds couldn't care less about how ugly they are, they will poop on it anyways! just keep in mind that being thinner means it could allow bleed through of wetter substances, so the canvas drop cloth may be a safer option in some situations.
I have found shelf brackets and even shelves for cheap at yard sales, animal crates and carriers (our broody hens love cat carriers!), old bath towels (for wrapping up birds for medical care) , old metal pie plates or cake pans for setting out treats or feed, clamp on lights, old fans, older style baby cribs or play pens ( make awesome brooders or sick wards) .... an open mind and willingness to repurpose can lead to some great items at a cheap pricepoint!

I LOVE yard sales! I can never wait til yard sale season starts. It's so easy to get a trunk loaf of stuff though lol.

This morning I packed up nine birds to go live down south. The injured duck is being given a chance. He will have a pond to swim on (or is it in?), and minnows to catch. He's still as active as the other two, and his new caretakers are okay with feeding him feed soup, and providing extra deep containers.

I'm glad he'll be getting a fighting chance. Hopefully his bill will grow back and be better than ever

 

[yoopergirl1211]

Along the same lines as my earlier post on the canvas drop cloth.... I have found that I can find useful items at yard sales to repurpose for use with the birds. Old bed linens make good floor coverings also, especially queen sized sheets or thinner, smooth top covers. And the birds couldn't care less about how ugly they are, they will poop on it anyways! just keep in mind that being thinner means it could allow bleed through of wetter substances, so the canvas drop cloth may be a safer option in some situations.
I have found shelf brackets and even shelves for cheap at yard sales, animal crates and carriers (our broody hens love cat carriers!), old bath towels (for wrapping up birds for medical care) , old metal pie plates or cake pans for setting out treats or feed, clamp on lights, old fans, older style baby cribs or play pens ( make awesome brooders or sick wards) .... an open mind and willingness to repurpose can lead to some great items at a cheap pricepoint!

My hubby and I are really into reusing different things for new purposes. Actually been trying to think of some original recycled seating for in front of coops. Its the main thing you see from road and I want to do something cool.
Going to check out some cool thrift/indoor flea markets when he gets back for inspiration.

Anyone want to laugh at my blue coat application lol.

 

[fisherlady]

My hubby and I are really into reusing different things for new purposes. Actually been trying to think of some original recycled seating for in front of coops. Its the main thing you see from road and I want to do something cool.
Going to check out some cool thrift/indoor flea markets when he gets back for inspiration.

Anyone want to laugh at my blue coat application lol.

I want to know if you managed to keep your hands clean when you did it!

 

[yoopergirl1211]

I want to know if you managed to keep your hands clean when you did it!

Nope had to go to work with purple hands. Still have some along nails lol.

 

[hyzenthlay]

Ha ha, my EE and Blue Am must've heard me in here complaining about their slow laying--I just went out to gather eggs and found one egg from each of them!

That's the first egg from the Blue Am in about a month! Now I'm just waiting on Hazel the OE to start laying fingers tapping...).

On the flip side, my BCM pullet has been laying about 6-7 eggs a week for well over a month now, and the blue copper marans is almost as prolific--and they're such attractive birds, too. Very impressed. Also, my new Dorking pullet just started laying recently, and her eggs are a pretty, creamy shade--not unexpected for the breed, I guess, but surprised me because my previous Dorking from Meyer (RIP Violet) laid a really white egg.



Clockwise from top, that's BCM and Blue Copper Marans, Sultan, the little Dorking pullet egg, EE, and Blue Am.