Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[LittleMissPurdy]

Thanks for all the offers, I will get back to each of you tonight after work...

Have a good day Wing

...

 

[LadyBehir]

Wing, if I didn't have the 2 year old this weekend, I'd consider it. Even with a 2.5 hour drive.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

I am totally trying this tomorrow!

So I finally made a decent run that the girls can't escape from. 6 foot high fencing all around. It actually looks much better too, since the fencing is black. Do you think my girls have enough weather protection? They can either go into the coop or hang out underneath it. They were not amused at being penned up today, they only laid 3 eggs and were a bit noisier than usual. I sure hope that dies down after a day or so! They were all rushing the fence whenever they saw me. Do all your chickens do that, or is it just because mine were unhappy at being restricted?

I loved letting them free range but they were digging big holes in my grass and just leaving bare dirt. My DH would have let me go if I let it continue.

They will be able to free range after the grass grows back a little.

. And then my one girl went broody again....

And although you can't see it, there is clear fishing line run back and forth over the top of the run to deter hawks.

I think they have plenty of nice space to explore in your enclosure. One thing you might want to consider is snowy winter..............I was really glad that I bagged a lot of leaves last year. When we had so much snow it was helpful to open a bag to put on the ground to warm up the surface for them. Also we would go thru snow and then melting periods which would leave cold patches of mud.................so the leaves and some logs to perch on helped to keep their feet a bit dryer and warm.................logs were very helpful .

My understanding is that dry and draft free is critical in the winter................with snow and melt and snow and melt and freeze into ice...........it makes it hard to be sure their feet would be dry.

 

[fisherlady]

okay you two..then it is all settled...now, where am i sleeping?

My imaginary fort has a large communal building which acts as a living room/ meeting area with large community kitchen for larger meals or food prep/canning... multiple alcoves or side rooms that could double as sleeping areas in case of poor weather or unusual circumstances...

Multiple small cabins in close proximity to the main structure would allow folks some privacy... each big enough for sleeping a few people and a small kitchen area.

So you can bunk in the main structure or pick a cabin!
But I promise you would have a warm spot to stay!

 

[McChickenNugget]

Two free golden comet rooters to a good home. They are about 5 months old and not aggressive to people. They were extras from mcmurray hatchery so they're pure breeds and have been vaccinated as chicks for coccidiosis and mareks disease. They are both very healthy and would make great breeders. We're located in weatherly zip code 18255 and may deliver if close by for a small fee. Yeah I finally found out what breed they are lol they keep raping our ducks and my poor little dominique hens

 

[Jnkbtd08]

Wow @ chiqueschicks
Day 19, one little cutie is already completely hatched!.
Must be eggcited to meet me. Lol

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I think they have plenty of nice space to explore in your enclosure. One thing you might want to consider is snowy winter..............I was really glad that I bagged a lot of leaves last year. When we had so much snow it was helpful to open a bag to put on the ground to warm up the surface for them. Also we would go thru snow and then melting periods which would leave cold patches of mud.................so the leaves and some logs to perch on helped to keep their feet a bit dryer and warm.................logs were very helpful .

My understanding is that dry and draft free is critical in the winter................with snow and melt and snow and melt and freeze into ice...........it makes it hard to be sure their feet would be dry.

Lisa...I had forgotten about leaves last year..then you reminded me. THANK YOU..so I had spent some time raking around the only tree we had at that time..dogwood..it gave me 2-nice sized bags.. They really enjoyed it too, only issue is it didn't last long..hahaha...i am going to be doing this again this fall, maybe have a few more to add to the bags this year..hahaha...
it really does help them have something else to step on when things get nasty, that is what i try to save it for. I also have a pallet in their run, gets them up off the ground and it is in one of the low-lying area so, helps keep feet just a little bit dryer....until they start partying inn the snow

...

My imaginary fort has a large communal building which acts as a living room/ meeting area with large community kitchen for larger meals or food prep/canning... multiple alcoves or side rooms that could double as sleeping areas in case of poor weather or unusual circumstances...

Multiple small cabins in close proximity to the main structure would allow folks some privacy... each big enough for sleeping a few people and a small kitchen area.

So you can bunk in the main structure or pick a cabin!
But I promise you would have a warm spot to stay!

Thank you...I think I will take a cabin if one is empty...

Having a "community" is the way to go..safety with more numbers, and lots more ideas/talents..etc...anyway..with all the hubbub with worldly events..space issues..water..does make you really think about ....doing something....

 

[stake]

I'm glad you got it already...now you'll be nice and toasty on the cold mornings! it is time for us to finish our wood and coal also. I will probably clean the chimney this week so I'm ready to fire up the pot bellied stove.

yep, I need to do mine also....its a PIA....and I have more wood to cut/split too...

 

[stake]

we need to get up there and clean our chimney too so we can start using the fireplace. Our oil is all filled up but we refuse to turn it on until October lol. I REALLY can't wait until we get an insert for the fireplace someday. I think that would dramatically cut back on how much oil we use over the winter. They're just SO expensive!

Auro:

Mine paid for itself in less than three years of oil savings....its a Joutal and does 43,000BTUs.....

 

[stake]

My imaginary fort has a large communal building which acts as a living room/ meeting area with large community kitchen for larger meals or food prep/canning... multiple alcoves or side rooms that could double as sleeping areas in case of poor weather or unusual circumstances...

Multiple small cabins in close proximity to the main structure would allow folks some privacy... each big enough for sleeping a few people and a small kitchen area.

So you can bunk in the main structure or pick a cabin!
But I promise you would have a warm spot to stay!

you forgot the man cave.....now I'm conflicted....