Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[mortie]

Sorry about your roo, project.

Also for all the folks who came in after the last time we had this talk, mortie is a she

 

[mortie]

Also, project, I recommend you read the whole thread. It's very entertaining

 

[BullChick]

My BlackCopper Marans were born late August, and began laying the end of February.
Welcome to the thread, btw! What do you mean "accidentally"? Like, your eyes met, and you just had to have them right then and there? If so, that is normal.
What do you have?

 

[darina]

Make sure that they are sleeping with their head under the wing. Hens are supposed to do this but they may need to be taught, I suppose that means doing it for them at night.

I am so sorry that they have frostbite!

I am also having a hard time figuring out how you could convince a chicken to put her head under her wing. If mine do it, it is rarely. Has anybody here tried "teaching" them to do that?

 

[mortie]

One egg. From Penny.

 

[BullChick]

I just took a walk around the yard. I saw that the door to the turkey pan had been flapping open. The side that leans down because of a hill, had slid towards the other side. Everything is frozen, so I couldn't pull them apart. So, I just had to put some bricks against the door to keep it closed. If it warms up while I'm home, I will pull the one side apart. Maybe. Not having any birds, I have the chance to fix things right before getting another flock some day. The turkey pen is likely to be a prefab building. Going around the country, I see a lot of places that sell all kinds of chicken coops, gazebos, and sheds. Not to mention play houses. Turkeys are outdoor (as in exposed to the elements) creatures, but I prefer to have a wind block and cover for them. The pen filled that need, but I would have added a front wall before winter. Just to keep the snow away from the roosts. Drier feet. Anyhow, a building looks nicer, and it allows me to keep a few chickens in that pen over the winter. Because one coop (or 4) is never enough! I better get the fifth one set up for chickens too!! Lol!
After fixing that problem, I checked the other coops. Boy does straw keep it warm! I had cleaned the coops a few days before selling the flocks. I thought I would keep the bedding in there for the meat birds I may get in the spring... If it seems clean enough. Not to mention I didn't exactly have time to clean coops again before going on the road!
The Macintosh tree was dead by late summer, but I had hope for the peach and cherry trees. The Jonathan Apple seemed fine. Well, Jonny is doing great, but the other two are goners. I bought them two years ago this spring. I don't see a problem getting another Macintosh, and getting it to catch up to Jon. With these winters warming up to 60, then plummeting to the twenties the next day, I think that is what is killing/stunting all my trees and bushes. I will be vewwy vewwy quwiet.... I'll be very careful with the new apple tree, and be sure to put straw down around Mac to protect him next winter.

 

[mortie]

Aw MC...makes me sad to think of you over there with no birdies.

 

[BullChick]

I am sad too! Though I gotta say, it's nice not having to go outside!! Especially when my niece is here. She is now 6 mos old, and doesn't nap at all. No way to get out to the coops.

 

[chickenlindz]

Welcome project! Join us for the wait and eventually you'll get an egg.

Good to here from you MC. How long are you home for?

Mortie you mentioned that you count the pop door for ventilation?? I read somewhere that the ventilation needs to be above the birds. If the warmer moist air rises and has no outlet it then falls down covering the bird which then the moisture causes frostbite. Maybe worth it to add more ventilation up high???

Well it looks like my roosters are getting another weekend stay. The ground never warmed up so I can't dig a burial hole. I like to bury the birds (when I processed the last set I made hubby bury the heads) cause it just makes me feel better. I wouldn't mind leaving them out for the buzzards we have but that might attract other bad guys. Oh well.

 

[gilcamp4]

we close our poop door every night, we have had night friends get in and kill our babies, lost twenty one in one night, they just kill to kill not eat them, so now that door is never opened at night, and no you do not use the poop door for air should have a vent above chickens.