Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[stake]

All:
Here's a pic of my OE girl...similar to Anne's girls...I think....

 

[BullChick]

*sigh*
Our turkey "Tasty" who showed up a few months ago is MIA. She was around this morning, and gone now, the kids have been searching everywhere for her and are heartbroken. I pray she comes home!!! Do Turkey's just run away??????

I honestly think two of mine are with the wild turkeys.

 

[chickachickayea]

I've been MIA for the past month so I'm way behind and trying to catch up! :


Meanwhile...

Tiny has gone broody! I have not officially broken her yet, but I make sure she gets food and water everyday.

And we officially have 3 egg layers! (Minus Tiny since she is currently a broody stinker)

Also, I have a family friend who has straw and hay available and I was thinking of getting some for the girls. I thought maybe I could get started on the deep litter method since right now the run is just dirt and some river rocks, but I want to make sure I get the right stuff. The only issue is that their run is only covered with netting, so when it rains everything gets wet (I really want to fix this at some point). I've read differing opinions on the subject, and I'm inexperienced so I'm just unsure... Anyone out there have experience or advice on this? Put straw or hay in an exposed run, y/n? TIA!

 

[BullChick]

The trouble with putting straw in there is that it soaks up the water, then sits there, adding to the mud. If you are willing to rake it out once it has done its job, it works.

 

[kie4]

I was wondering what to do after Halloween with the hay bales. Into the compost or into the run on top of all the other dead leaves, weeds etc. Our coop has been used for 16 weeks now with about 10" of dead leaves and weeds. Still smells just foresty and I don't want to mess it up by throwing in a bail of hay. There's plenty of leaves on the ground already for a new layer of litter.

 

[dheltzel]

I was wondering what to do after Halloween with the hay bales. Into the compost or into the run on top of all the other dead leaves, weeds etc. Our coop has been used for 16 weeks now with about 10" of dead leaves and weeds. Still smells just foresty and I don't want to mess it up by throwing in a bail of hay. There's plenty of leaves on the ground already for a new layer of litter.

I would put them someplace where they stay dry and use them later for nestboxes or litter.

Also, everyone remember that pumpkins are great treats for chickens. if you make jack-o-lanterns, keep the insides when you clean the pumpkin and feed that to the chickens. They love the seeds and the pulp, and it is all very good for them.

 

[dheltzel]

Also, I have a family friend who has straw and hay available and I was thinking of getting some for the girls. I thought maybe I could get started on the deep litter method since right now the run is just dirt and some river rocks, but I want to make sure I get the right stuff. The only issue is that their run is only covered with netting, so when it rains everything gets wet (I really want to fix this at some point). I've read differing opinions on the subject, and I'm inexperienced so I'm just unsure...

Anyone out there have experience or advice on this? Put straw or hay in an exposed run, y/n? TIA!

I will never again put bedding of any sort in an outdoor run. Sand and gravel work great, but hay, straw, and leaves get soggy and you will regret putting them anywhere that rain gets to them.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

*sigh*
Our turkey "Tasty" who showed up a few months ago is MIA. She was around this morning, and gone now, the kids have been searching everywhere for her and are heartbroken. I pray she comes home!!! Do Turkey's just run away??????

I've heard of domestic turkeys running away with the wild ones. It happens. I hope Tasty returns safe and sound!

 

[stake]

Good evening all:

I do not know how it happened, but my smallest CCL chick (6wks +) is mia....she was in a pen enclosed with 2x4 welded wire on all sides with 2' hardware cloth around the bottom....no signs of anything getting in....???...

 

[kie4]

I would put them someplace where they stay dry and use them later for nestboxes or litter.

Also, everyone remember that pumpkins are great treats for chickens. if you make jack-o-lanterns, keep the insides when you clean the pumpkin and feed that to the chickens. They love the seeds and the pulp, and it is all very good for them.

Thanks @dheltzel , will do.
On Saturday before your talk they were giving away free pumpkins in East Goshen Park. We got some for carving and the chickens got all the innards. The grown up chickens loved the pumpkin pulp, but it's proving too long and stringy for the 5 week old Welbar and Legbar. Funny to watch them flinging it around though! .

Unfortunately after a full morning at the park our kids fell asleep and we weren't able to make the trip to Pughtown. Hope the talk went well! Will you be doing another?