Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[JerseyHen]

Having a 100 square foot coop is great
Having it elevated about 1 foot is great
Having to fish 12 chicks out from under said coop is not so great.

That was an adventure I would rather not have again. Apparently they didn't follow the mommas up the duck walk and decided that they would huddle down together in the dead center under the coop. So, here we are, Lilly and I, in near darkness, trying to coax them out. Well that didn't work, since they were all neatly bundled eyes shut. So we got out the flashlights and a broom handle and tried to shoosh them out. That also was a fail. Next up: Hillbilly ingenuity. We took a fishing net and duct taped it to the broom handle and netted the little buggers. Everyone survived and are now snuggled under a warm momma hen. That net now hangs on the barn wall for the next round. Handy bit of equipment.

 

[Harborview Hens]

...

Two unique events for me this week: Broody Breaking and Never Again Wasting the Dregs of Chicken Feed.

1- First time any of my hens went broody.  It was the little black Frizzled Cochin that I got from ChickenFairyGodmother Roberta a few months ago.   Found her in the nest box yesterday with a very warm ceramic egg tucked under her chest.   I lifted her out and set her on the ground.  She clucked a long story to me and then ran right back into the coop, up the ladder and into the nest box where I watched her use her tiny beak to push that same egg under her chest and settle down on it.    So, I took a plastic grocery bag and filled it completely with every single bit of wood shavings that sits three inches deep in that nest box.   Took the broody out and set her on the ground again.  Quick lined the now-empty wood floor of the nest box with a layer of waterproof fabric AND deliberately left the nest box door wide open.   No privacy;  bright daylight, considerable wind blowing through, and no longer a cozy intimate spot.    She ran right back up the ladder, layed an egg on the fabric in that wide open space and promptly ran back down and joined the rest of the flock within the hour.   The next morning, I dumped the old shavings right back in the nest box and all is normal again.   I'm guessing that must be some record-breaking broody-breaking!!

2-  You know all that fine powder and broken pellets at the bottom of the feed bag?  I usually end up tossing it all out.  This time however, I simply poured it all into one of their big food bowls, added enough water to make a very wet creamy mush, and it was all eaten up by the end of the day!!!    Yay, no more wasted feed.

That is all;  keep on truckin' on down the road.
-Carolyn252
Mother of Chickens


Great idea about the crumbles....
By the way......I recently got wood shavings from Steve. He still is as nice and accomodating as ever. My last pick up lasted me a year. Of course, loading up a suburban allowed me about 30 bags.

My 5 girls are still doing very well and laying up a storm!

Regards, Irene

 

[queenchick16]

Morning All,
Hope everyone is OK after all these storms.just a lot of water in the street around here. Still managed to get to knit night.
Welcome back Iris. Glad everything went well with your mom.
Lalany I had the same problem for a while.
Christina , I bought a fishing net with a long handle on it years ago. Great for catching run away babies .
Be safe everyone

 

[HippyChippy]

Hi all
I've been a bit quiet lately. Sorry. So much is happening around here what with the demolition for the reconstruction and keeping on top of the weeds and oh my how these storms have encouraged them!!
Has anyone had trouble with rodents digging into their chicken run, chewing through the 1/4" hardware cloth we put 1' under the run as well as up the sides and over the top! I'm at my wits end to know how to deal with it! I would be "hung drawn and quartered" if my neighbours found out! Help... I'm probably going to have to dig the whole thing up after the summer and put a concrete base in unless anyone has any other ideas.

 

[RobLII]

Hey everyone, does anyone know of any poultry swaps, sales or shows in the area? My father Inlaw cared for my chickens last weekend, didn't lock the door correctly and raccoons got in...
Needless to say, I need some new chickens! Any one know of anywhere in Putnam/northern westchester??

 

[queenchick16]

Sorry to hear of your loss Rob. Apparently there is a poultry swap in the tractor supply parking lot in Amenia NY in Dutchess county. Every second Saturday of the month through October. I've never been . I found it looking up swaps for you. Couldn't hurt to call tractor supply. What about the county fairs that are going on all over. Might be able to get some girls at one. Good luck I'll let you know if I hear of anything.

 

[queenchick16]

Rob, it's advertised on Craigslist. For Sat. August 9 at 10 am in Amenia .

 

[JerseyHen]

Hi all
I've been a bit quiet lately. Sorry. So much is happening around here what with the demolition for the reconstruction and keeping on top of the weeds and oh my how these storms have encouraged them!!
Has anyone had trouble with rodents digging into their chicken run, chewing through the 1/4" hardware cloth we put 1' under the run as well as up the sides and over the top! I'm at my wits end to know how to deal with it! I would be "hung drawn and quartered" if my neighbours found out! Help... I'm probably going to have to dig the whole thing up after the summer and put a concrete base in unless anyone has any other ideas.

I have been fortunate enough that the only rodents we have had issue with are bunnies, squirrels, and woodchucks. My roosters eat anything smaller than that. The only reason the chipmunks are still around is that they are fast as lightening. You probably have a nest nearby. I would recommend a repeater trap or bucket trap to get rid of this nest before they multiply out of control. I wonder if those "sonic" deterrents really work? Has anyone tried them?

 

[JerseyHen]

 

[RobLII]

Thanks for the help. Would you believe I found an ad on CL the very next week, someone living about 15 min from me breeding silkies, polish and comets! Picking them up Saturday!