Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Blarneyeggs]

[COLOR=0000FF]Wow, BBG, hope you're feeling better soon, and I hope Gavin is too.[/COLOR] [COLOR=0000FF]Sharron, losing memory is the worst. [/COLOR] [COLOR=0000FF]This is 'Dreamer' standing with her peeps, she thinks she's a chook.[/COLOR]

beautiful chicks, what are they?

They are Partridge Orpingtons, they are pretty, but missing that 'sweet Orpington Personality' I'm used to with my blues.

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

Wow, BBG, hope you're feeling better soon, and I hope Gavin is too.

Sharron, losing memory is the worst.

This is 'Dreamer' standing with her peeps, she thinks she's a chook.

Thanks. Gavin's keeping food down for the most part, granted it's only soup, toast, jello, homemade juice (watered down) and powerade but I'll take it. I have to go in and have a scope done to make sure it's nothing major...oh joy. (I hate being put under) Silver lining there is I'm not going to the main hospital for it, so I don't have to worry about embarrassing my Mom in front of co-workers when I come out lol.

Does anyone know about the dog food? Can chickens eat canned dog food?....Our little guy can't handle it anymore

, we..well,.. I am cooking for the dog now..good grief! He will be 11 in feb.'14...his digestive system is just to sensitive for that stuff anymore..we have some cans left.

Awe poor guy. I've given it many times as a protein type treat, I don't notice anything as far as ill effects,but they go crazy for it. I have to watch because a few of them now know the sound of the cans being opened and will peck at the door if they hear it.

I don't see why the chickens couldn't eat the dog food. If it's sloppy wet, I'd probably mix it with some of their dry food and serve it in a shallow dish. It would probably make some terribly stinky fermented feed.

It does...I only added to the batch once, NEVER again. I'll mix it right before feeding, or just dump in a dish.


***Sharron, he reminds me everyday. I really got lucky with him, he has a good heart and it's always in the right place.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Looks like we may be moving to PA soon. We are looking at a couple houses in the Ford City/Kittanning area this weekend. If anyone knows of anything in the western half of the state with at least 3 bedrooms, an acre or more of land and $600 or less per month either for rent or land contract please PM me with details. We really want a land contract place but need it to be livable as is. The 1 we checked so far is missing plumbing & wiring that would have to be fixed before we can move.

 

[chiques chicks]

Does anyone know about the dog food? Can chickens eat canned dog food?....Our little guy can't handle it anymore , we..well,.. I am cooking for the dog now..good grief!  He will be 11 in feb.'14...his digestive system is just to sensitive for that stuff anymore..we have some cans left. 

To the best of my knowledge, dog food is fine. Cast food is Iggy. Most dog food protein content isn't too high. I have used dry in my fermented.

 

[Farmer Mike S]

[COLOR=0000FF]Wow, BBG, hope you're feeling better soon, and I hope Gavin is too.[/COLOR] [COLOR=0000FF]Sharron, losing memory is the worst. [/COLOR] [COLOR=0000FF]This is 'Dreamer' standing with her peeps, she thinks she's a chook.[/COLOR]

Goats seem like such goofy animals. I was thinking about getting a few goats for milk. Are they hard to raise?

 

[Brittany7]

I would figure out a removable block/door for the nest boxes. It will be a pain for a while to put it in place every evening and remove it in the morning, but should help. Also, how much roost space is available, and is there more than one roost bar available? I have seen aggressive/high ranking hens not allow 'lower' birds to roost on a bar at the same level they are at. To avoid bullying being a problem you can offer a second roosting area at near or the same level on the other side of the coop or at a 90 degree angle from the first.
Some birds don't roost as much as others, and will often nest on the floor or an elevated platform. Our roost are now 2x6's on their side and one is a deck plank (5.5" wide). The silkie mixes and smaller birds definitely seem to like the wide boards. When the birds were younger they liked to sleep in a pile on an elevated 2'x2 foot platform we had in the pen.... they didn't go to the other boards till we removed the platform entirely. That 2x2 platform is now outside in the run and we often find 4 or 5 birds sharing it during the day... just lounging around.

I am having the same issue....I have 4 roost bars in my coop. And my rooster and 3 of my girls will roost. Two of my hens always always roost and the third one switches sometimes its on of the other ones and other times another one. But never the same hen every night. My other 4 girls all sleep in the nesting boxes. Sometimes they all sleep into the same one together, other times the sleep in different ones alone. I have 2 hens that the head of the group one alittle more then the other. My head hen has a problem with sleeping in the coop now...she will sleep on top of the coop at night. Any idea why she has started this? And I am also having issues with her pushing my rooster around and he lets her!! My rooster will also sleep on one of the lower bars not the highest with the two hens that run the coop. Any ideas on why this is happening or going on now?

 

[stake]

Wow, BBG, hope you're feeling better soon, and I hope Gavin is too.

Sharron, losing memory is the worst.

This is 'Dreamer' standing with her peeps, she thinks she's a chook.

B:

Nice pic, are they marans roos?(really good for a web site too)....I suspect you have a really nice camera....I have wondered about how some chooks seem really nice and other are just a PIA....my BO's get along with everybody while the marans are evil spawn....

 

[wingstone]

Looks like we may be moving to PA soon. We are looking at a couple houses in the Ford City/Kittanning area this weekend. If anyone knows of anything in the western half of the state with at least 3 bedrooms, an acre or more of land and $600 or less per month either for rent or land contract please PM me with details. We really want a land contract place but need it to be livable as is. The 1 we checked so far is missing plumbing & wiring that would have to be fixed before we can move.

not sure about the western part of the state, but in my area you will not find a 1 bedroom apartment for that........PA is pricey and remember to check all the weird livestock rules

 

[wingstone]

Was really woriied last night, got a phone call at work that I had a live package at the PO, since I have been extra busy lately I do not check email for a few days and had no idea they were coming,,,,could not get away from work so had to leave at PO for the night

3 very gorgeous french white Muscovy have made a successful trip....pics will follow after isolation

 

[Brittany7]

I like the variety packs but I wish they would not put the IPAs in them. I just don't like them. To me they taste like fermented grapefruit or an alcoholic Fresca.

I am leaning toward building. I can't justify $500 for a small 4 x 4 coop.

Build!! I never built anything in my life ever! I am really proud of my coop! Its alot of work but fun and rewarding!

I just got on here and looked through the coops and got ideas on what I wanted and how I wanted it to look. Read some things abour design and what people wouldnt do if they built another ones or things they would do. It doesnt have to be fantsy it just has to work and give the birds the main things they need to thrive!!

I used mostly recycled items! I dug old shingles out of a dumpster (i asked first) but I used a pallet for the base of my coop and went on from there! I think with building the coop and run I spent 100 maybe 150. I did have to by some 2x4's for the run along with the wire. But if your smart you can find stuff cheap. I bought paint for the coop but it was the missed colored stuff, I think I paid 8 dollars for a gallon and you would never know it wasnt the color it was suppose to be!

There are alot of builder place around like surplus city, or there are even sometimes places that resell items people dont need or what like a good will for building supplies. Craglist the paper yard sells. If your not in a rush you can really get what you need for cheap.Also, I know home depot sells scrap wood left over from people getting stuff cut their and not needing the rest or it. or sometimes it will be a 2x4 thats broke but still long enough to make something outta it. These kinda things are usually under a dollar depending. I started my coop the end of Feb and finished it in May. I only worked on it a few evenings a week after dinner.