Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[tinychicadees]

Hi, I live in western Pa, near New Castle area. I am new to chickens. But I am wondering if anyone lives around here where can you buy fertilized chicken eggs? Or do you have to have them shipped?

 

[LisaYolkUm]

stake---------green egg layers............awesome! how can you tell if they will be blue or green egg layers?

today I am happy to report -------I made some important repairs and winterizing

I fixed the coop door with a better set up----------hinged door etc......

I made wood shutter like window attachments.......basically I have a removable piece of wood to reduce wind and cold from getting in windows yet still allows some ventilation.

these wood shutters can propped open for more ventilation in the daytime, if desired.

I will have to take pictures..........but basically think of a board that is hinged on the horizontal edge----and then can be propped up ............like some camping cabins have. I actually use hooks to attach these though..........so I can just take them off in the summer, if desired.

Annie----your progress with your coop looks good too! I think you are doing great..........I wonder if you might need more ventilation. I wonder if you might want to consider some type of window that is covered with hardware cloth and could be sealed up in bad weather? Maybe as part of your large door wall? I also agree with others that you may want to consider some roof vents ---ie vents at the upper parts of you walls.........as the heat rises---------that it can escape..........otherwise it may cause indoor condensation to form and then the birds could get wet from this.......that's just what I was reading........I am still relatively new to this as well! I love that you have the floor and walls covered with flooring material.............it really will be such a wonderful thing--------poop seems to happen in many directions.........and cleaning off these flooring works well. I have a spray bottle of water and vinegar mixture that works wonderfully..........and is not toxic.

On Saturday I bagged a bunch of leaves and have them stored under a plastic tarp. I am hoping to use them in the winter ------if we have snow or ice------as warmer surface for cold chicken feet!

okay that's all for me!

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

BG:

Sorry..but, these discussions frustrate me...your "bio-material donor" is usually understood to be Father/Dad...at face he has a 50% responsibility and 50% of the quality times.....don't know the issues the responsibilities... or who has committed to what....I really hope things work out...life is complicated and getting a nasty letter from and "X" doesn't mean anything.....but, bitterness exists....my two cents...

The bitterness it gone, it's just a term, there's no venom to it anymore. He made his choices, unfortunately my son needs to live with them as well. As far as the most recent ex (Seth), people don't realise how quickly I move on and remove them from my life until it's already done. My way of preventing the bitterness that I don't need in my life or heart.

wow, so sorry things have not been working out. Geesh,

..hang in there, try to stay positive for yours and Gavins' sake. It will pass, it will get better

We had a good drive back to the mountains. It is so beautiful going along 80....that river sure is low...it is good to be home!! The girls are doing well..4 eggs, but sadly have to toss due to worming

..gosh I really hate doing that! Only 1 week to go though.....Hope everyone is having a nice evening..it is so awesome out right now...take care all-Danielle

Thanks. I LOVE driving along 80 or 81 (north of Scranton) this time of year the colors are so wonderful.

i think you should have your lawyer re-evaluate for more support, kids ain't cheap to raise these days.

I've had it reevaluated twice in the nearly 8 years he's paid it. Once was due to me paying for ALL health expenses including the insurance, the other was to cover 1/2 the childcare while I worked. I haven't been able to work for 2.5 years now due to my health, and no one will hire me because of the restrictions the docs have (never would have thought I'd say it when I was working, but I miss working so much), but I didn't have it reevaluated when I got sick because I figured they'd have him pay more. I was waiting until the disability decision was final, then (hopefully) there'd have been income to report on my side. I wish I was at a point where I didn't need anything from him, but I'm obviously not, especially if I want Gavin to have everything he needs.
He's probably gonna **** himself over, as there is no income on my side and Gavin has Access for insurance. Since he is working two jobs, has health insurance, has a spouse to help with bills, and was able to afford a honeymoon to Cancun (my Dad looked it up after I got the letter) I have a feeling this will go badly for him. Oh well he filed it, and chooses not to see Gavin so it's no skin off my teeth. I doubt he'll expect a lawyer to be with me this time though, I never had one at the past evals.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

BBG, sorry things are rough, breaking up is never easy. I hope things get easier for you.

Stake! 3 chickies!! Kudos! Nothing as endearing as a broody n her chicks. Hey, and I could use that Hard Cider. Recipe again, if you get a chance.

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

BBG, sorry things are rough, breaking up is never easy. I hope things get easier for you.

Stake! 3 chickies!! Kudos! Nothing as endearing as a broody n her chicks. Hey, and I could use that Hard Cider. Recipe again, if you get a chance.

Thanks. We have some new chickies hatching soon (looks like they're at day 19 or 20 from the candling pics I've seen) to keep me busy, plus the normal stuff around the house. Need to find miss Nettie (or Nellie, Gavin keeps bouncing between the two) a friend.
Had a bit of fun with her last night. I was bent down checking on the broody girls, and Nettie grabbed the little bottle of vodka (I was taking it to my house from my parents') outta my back pocket, and tried to run with it...
Then tonight we had a mini rodeo, she's in the chicken coop at night until I get her a proper shelter built. Well while we were doing headcount, one of the Serama roosters (who refuses to come in the house at night) jumped onto her back, and refused to get off. Poor Nettie was running around the coop 1/2 squatting (he was near her tail) baa-ing at the top of her lungs. I felt so bad, but I couldn't help laughing until I was nearly crying while I was trying to get him off...thank goodness she isn't a cow or I'd have broken toes, she kept running over my foot.

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

Anyone else see these on FB?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Anyone else see these on FB?

That's just awesome! Pics of my adjustable ventilation and also of the not-yet-divided-into-two-sections nest box:

Does anybody have their nest box separately, like in the run? My Aunt in Bradford County has just a covered fenced in run with with roosting bars and a decent sized nesting box. I am considering keeping the nest box elevated off the ground but separate from the coop. Thoughts?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

There's no spoiler, just an idiot behind the keyboard......

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Hi, I live in western Pa, near New Castle area. I am new to chickens. But I am wondering if anyone lives around here where can you buy fertilized chicken eggs? Or do you have to have them shipped?

Hello everyone! I was wondering if anyone can help me find some duck hatching eggs close to Carlisle? I have already tried and failed at hatching some out and I would love to be able to try again before spring but I don't want to ship eggs until I have a little more experience hatching them. I'm not looking for anything in particular, just ducks or anything other then chickens really.
If anyone could help me out I would appreciate it. Thanks

Hello and welcome to all new peeps!!!

.... There are alot of helpful and enabling people here ready and willing to fulfill your feathered friend dreams!!...Have you checked out http://www.communitywalk.com/pa_bycers/map/1552784....it shows the other PA poultry/duck etc. lovers in your areas! Just let everyone know what your looking for and I am sure someone here will have it for ya!!! Good luck!!

stake---------green egg layers............awesome! how can you tell if they will be blue or green egg layers?

today I am happy to report -------I made some important repairs and winterizing

I fixed the coop door with a better set up----------hinged door etc......

I made wood shutter like window attachments.......basically I have a removable piece of wood to reduce wind and cold from getting in windows yet still allows some ventilation.

these wood shutters can propped open for more ventilation in the daytime, if desired.

I will have to take pictures..........but basically think of a board that is hinged on the horizontal edge----and then can be propped up ............like some camping cabins have. I actually use hooks to attach these though..........so I can just take them off in the summer, if desired.

Annie----your progress with your coop looks good too! I think you are doing great..........I wonder if you might need more ventilation. I wonder if you might want to consider some type of window that is covered with hardware cloth and could be sealed up in bad weather? Maybe as part of your large door wall? I also agree with others that you may want to consider some roof vents ---ie vents at the upper parts of you walls.........as the heat rises---------that it can escape..........otherwise it may cause indoor condensation to form and then the birds could get wet from this.......that's just what I was reading........I am still relatively new to this as well! I love that you have the floor and walls covered with flooring material.............it really will be such a wonderful thing--------poop seems to happen in many directions.........and cleaning off these flooring works well. I have a spray bottle of water and vinegar mixture that works wonderfully..........and is not toxic.

On Saturday I bagged a bunch of leaves and have them stored under a plastic tarp. I am hoping to use them in the winter ------if we have snow or ice------as warmer surface for cold chicken feet!

okay that's all for me!

...like the idea of the leaves...yes, pics!!

There's no spoiler, just an idiot behind the keyboard......

...bet you don't even remember how ya did that!! hahhaha.....hey, lookin' good!!! nest boxes are great! I am new to this too, so I can't really say to much about putting nest boxes in the run

..sorry., only experience with nest boxes for me is the girls don't use them...the little-one sometimes sleeps in them, but other than that..nada! The ventilation is a good , maybe another one/two of those doors or a small hole for a vent in the other side for more condensation/heat release...JMO, others have been doing this alot longer than me that's for sure!

Anyone else see these on FB?

OMG!!!...

...it is 3am and this is what I get to see...too funny....love the fact that the toe nails are painted...

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

jacen is 40, pushing 41 so like i said, no spring chick

i don't know where he got his love of getting hurt, but he does love working out, doing the mudders, wounded warrior events, things like that.
betty is the milk dexter we bought over a year ago, shes the black with horns, showed you a picture of jr. the miniature hereford bull last i think, the little wimp that he is

hes scared of betty i'm hoping that he grows a set one day and becomes a sire.

hey now sharron....I am 40!! no spring chick huh?!

...well....

...can still do that! hahahha....the only explanation for the little-brother and his need for punishment is I guess we didn't fight enough when we were younger...IDK..hahaha...Have you seen video of that 'mudders' stuff?... brother did that one too.,once...really kicked his butt!! hahah, oops, maybe I shouldn't say that..oh well..

...hahaha , he said if you actually "do" it, it is very physical....he said some, not all..but some people where going- around the course-'events'...and not even getting dirty....I guess just to 'say' they did it...he said he was real tempted to toss a couple of them in the mud, ..hahaha...would have loved to seen that!

okay, the little one(jr.) I saw was the boy....hahaha, he is afraid of her??!! hahahha..ohhh, poor baby...I hope he "matures" for you too!!