Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Cheeky Chick]

I'm in Centereach and I think a meet up is a great idea! I only have virtual chickens so far. Trying to overcome family objections and financial constraints. I think meeting actual chicken people (you know I only mean that in the best possible way) would help me in my efforts!
Ginger

Meet ups are great fun! This weekend is a chicken fair in MA, so I think some of the peeps are headed up there. But we should get together for a lunch or coffee meet. We have some of the most awesome people in this thread.

I usually have a full day of baseball on Saturdays, but Sundays are pretty good for me. Let's see what everyone else says!

Peeps? What say you?

 

[Harborview Hens]

Quote: Would love a Frizzle but heard that they must be kept warm since their feathers cannot zip together to keep them warm.. Pictures Please!!!

 

[lichick28]

Would love a Frizzle but heard that they must be kept warm since their feathers cannot zip together to keep them warm.. Pictures Please!!!

I HAD A FRIZZLE (GRACE) FOR 11 YEARS & NEVER HEATED THE COOP. HAD STURDY COOP WITH PLYWOOD WALLS BUT NEVER HEATED.

 

[Sallysec]

Ladies you inspired me, I canned for the first time today. I made strawberry jam and it was AWESOME. I am addicted. I made six pint sized jars (couldn't find where I stashed those smaller jelly jars last year) .

I would love to meetup for coffee and chicken stories

 

[queenchick16]

Got my first silkie egg today. The silkies followed me home from the new England poultry conference in January.
I have 2 NN and they supposedly have 50% less feather and I've never had a problem in winter.
The frizzle is so cute I just hope it's not a roo.
I'd be game for a get together but the weekends aren't any good

Covered my potatoes hopefully for the last time , planted eggplant and some peppers.
I keep adding beds and running out of room just the same. Don't have beans in and tomato space is being squeezed out little by little.

 

[jmrosalia]

A little suggestion since you only have virtual chicks so far, since you are in a suburban area likute me (shirley/mastic) talk to the neighbor on the side closest to where you plan to put your coop. they might not be exactly thrilled with the idea but it will give you the chance to discuss it with them ahead of time rather than causing problems later on and possibly having to relocate the coop after it's built. Luckily it all is working out for me with my neighbors. I would definately be intersted in a meetup someday.

 

[CarolinaIsland]

I'm in Ridge but we also have a place in Centereach (no chickens there) if you guys ever want to meet up. Let me know!
Unfortunately, my two boys were sick and my eldest son (the one with DMD) ended up being hospitalized for a week. I wasn't able to pick up the coop from Heather but now that everyone is better and things are (somewhat) back to normal, we've begun construction of a chicken tractor.
My husband is using his own design and it looks great thus far. We currently only have 3 hens, 1.5-month-old Ameraucanas but I am always thinking of what I'm getting next.

Ginger, my husband wasn't on board either, AT ALL! So this is how I did it: I've always believed the need to be more self-sufficient, especially in this economy, so I started by dropping hints about how beneficial chickens are to a family (eggs, bug control, fertilizer), and would leave Mother Earth News and chicken magazines around the house. I dropped as many hints as I could and then finally just told him I was buying three hens.
Sure, he b!tched and moaned (he's Italian, so he b!tches about everything anyway, lol) and I bought them.
Now he turns their light on in the morning and feeds them grapes.
When it comes to introducing men to things, you've got to approach it like a traffic merge: approach it slowly then just jump in and force everyone else to go along with your plan.
Works for me anyway, lol.
He also didn't think we needed the dog or either of the cats.

 

[gkleing3]

I'm in Ridge but we also have a place in Centereach (no chickens there) if you guys ever want to meet up. Let me know!
Unfortunately, my two boys were sick and my eldest son (the one with DMD) ended up being hospitalized for a week. I wasn't able to pick up the coop from Heather but now that everyone is better and things are (somewhat) back to normal, we've begun construction of a chicken tractor.
My husband is using his own design and it looks great thus far. We currently only have 3 hens, 1.5-month-old Ameraucanas but I am always thinking of what I'm getting next.

Ginger, my husband wasn't on board either, AT ALL! So this is how I did it: I've always believed the need to be more self-sufficient, especially in this economy, so I started by dropping hints about how beneficial chickens are to a family (eggs, bug control, fertilizer), and would leave Mother Earth News and chicken magazines around the house. I dropped as many hints as I could and then finally just told him I was buying three hens.
Sure, he b!tched and moaned (he's Italian, so he b!tches about everything anyway, lol) and I bought them.
Now he turns their light on in the morning and feeds them grapes.
When it comes to introducing men to things, you've got to approach it like a traffic merge: approach it slowly then just jump in and force everyone else to go along with your plan.
Works for me anyway, lol.
He also didn't think we needed the dog or either of the cats.

I hope your sin feels

 

[Cheeky Chick]

I'm in Ridge but we also have a place in Centereach (no chickens there) if you guys ever want to meet up. Let me know!
Unfortunately, my two boys were sick and my eldest son (the one with DMD) ended up being hospitalized for a week. I wasn't able to pick up the coop from Heather but now that everyone is better and things are (somewhat) back to normal, we've begun construction of a chicken tractor.
My husband is using his own design and it looks great thus far. We currently only have 3 hens, 1.5-month-old Ameraucanas but I am always thinking of what I'm getting next.

Ginger, my husband wasn't on board either, AT ALL! So this is how I did it: I've always believed the need to be more self-sufficient, especially in this economy, so I started by dropping hints about how beneficial chickens are to a family (eggs, bug control, fertilizer), and would leave Mother Earth News and chicken magazines around the house. I dropped as many hints as I could and then finally just told him I was buying three hens.
Sure, he b!tched and moaned (he's Italian, so he b!tches about everything anyway, lol) and I bought them.
Now he turns their light on in the morning and feeds them grapes.
When it comes to introducing men to things, you've got to approach it like a traffic merge: approach it slowly then just jump in and force everyone else to go along with your plan.
Works for me anyway, lol.
He also didn't think we needed the dog or either of the cats.

I hope your kids are feeling better!! Nothing stinks worse than when the kids get sick.

I'm using this tactic (hint, hint,hint...) with the Coturnix quail I want. I actually think my husband is almost on board, since he seemed very interested in the nutritional value of quail eggs. Last year my husband and two older sons built me a chicken coop for Mothers day. I think the fact that I can keep quail in a rabbit hutch is even better. (IMO at least!)

You are right, we all need to be self sufficient, and i've been working at that for awhile now. If I don't have to buy eggs, right there is a huge bonus, financially. In addition-my girls make me happy.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

So, how was everyones weekend? It was beautiful weather! Saturday I had a baseball day, 2 games, and my older sons team won theirs BIG. (They've only won one other game...) We don't score the little ones games, but my boys did catch 3 pop flies for outs so my assistant coach and I bought the team ice cream after the game (incentive is everything!)

Yesterday was a pretty productive day-I scrubbed the chicken coop and pen, and put down fresh DE and hay. It smells so sweet! We cleaned up branches and stray logs, and my husband built me the planting boxes he promised. I have to call for a topsoil delivery-theres 2 boxes, 6x8 each, and I also need some soil for my other areas that I'm planting, and pots I'm planting around the chicken coops for a little decorative thing. So we'll be getting 3 yards. Ugh. We have to wheelbarrow it across the property. Eh-worth it. worth it. Worth it!

Then last night we went to Westbury Music fair to see "Mike Tyson:The Undisputed Truth". I've always liked him, and the show was really good. He talked about his life, the good the bad and the ugly-most of it was told with humor, and I highly recommend it.

I'm exhausted today, my arm (tennis elbow, so my doctor tells me) was throbbing at 2am, so i was up until ibuprophen kicked in, (2 hours) so I'm lacking in sleep.

What did everyone else do?