Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[magsrags]

My turkens and cochins at 8 days old. I can't stop going outside to watch them.

They have been running round (safely fenced) outside since 3 days old and seldon run under mommy for heat. I love watching mom teach them about bugs and how to scratch for food. At dusk she walks them right up the plank and tucks them to bed. I then close door and 2 bolts and place a heavy stone in front of the dopr as well. It is overkill......I know but can't be safe enoigh.

Dory (my little 7 lb. Affenpinscher) she just sits guard and scares the squirrels away from her babies. she takes her job very seriously although smaller than my adult chickens are.

The 3 adult hens actually helped her run a cat off yesterday. Kinda cool to watch them all work together to try to intimidate it. Wish I'd had my camera handy.

 

[magsrags]

My BLRW is a real sweetie pie. I had a really nice SLW a couple of years ago who was also sweet tempered. they lay nice big brown eggies as well.




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[newchick13]

I just moved my girls into a new coop, and with the new coop came a change from pine shavings to sand. Needless to say they acted like it was molten lava! They refused to come down off their roosts, and even "flew" from the roosts on one side to the other as to avoid the sand. They won't touch the feeder and waterer inside the coop now. My concern is that they'll be super hungry and thirsty until the pop door opens so they can go outside to get their water and food....any thoughts? Will the silly birds get it soon? I will need to bring in the waterer from the run soon so it won't freeze and the only one they'll have will be inside the coop, hanging above the dreaded sand!

Again I am reposting this here in the hopes someone will have some ideas! You guys rock!

 

[smkchick]

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It just cracks me up picturing the chickens trying not to step into the sand. Like a hot day at the beach!

Of course, I know nothing about chickens, but I do know dogs and kids and when they get hungry enough they will eat. Sand or no sand...

 

[newchick13]

Well, when I went out to tuck every one in almost all the crazy birds were on the roosts and a few brave souls were on the sand!

The food was definitely consumed at some point this evening, so you were right to say they'd eat if they got hungry enough. Just like with my kids I worry about them not eating enough especially when they should be beefing up for the winter AND getting ready to lay me some eggs!

 

[smkchick]

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You mean I was actually right about something?

 

[smkchick]

Am I a terrible chicken mommy? My chicks have been escaping from the brooder box (a rubbermaid box) and pooping all over the room, so I decided it was time to put them in the coop. They're only 4 weeks old, but they have almost all their feathers and I rigged up the nesting area so they're right next to the hens without having contact. I used a semi-transparent lid from another rubbermaid tub (thank God for those things) to create a wall between the hens' roosting area and the area I'm keeping the chicks in. I just checked on them and they were sleeping all snuggled together, but not piled on each other. The hens were asleep on their side, no problem. I feel guilty. Are they gonna be okay???

 

[gfletch]

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Thanks, Carolyn! That was actually some garden fencing panels I bought from Lowe's as a temporary enclosure when I first got the birds. And those fence sections have come in handy in a number of instances since then -- money well spent!

I may be being over cautious with the two new birds, but I'm not ready to put them in the coop with the rest yet. Besides their size, I'm not sure they're ready for the colds nights yet, having just feathered out very recently. For now, they're in a crate in the laundry room overnight, and outside only when it warms up during the day. I figure a couple weeks of doing that, and they should be ready for the coop.

Question for the gang ... Anyone out there have any back issues of Hobby Farms' Chickens Magazine they're wiling to part with at a reasonable price? I'm looking for the following issues to fill out my collection: Summer 2010, Spring 2011 and Summer 2011. Thanks!

George

 

[ChickenAl]

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Sand may be such a change in color and texture that they are afraid of it. You might want to put a layer of pine shavings on top of the sand. A thin Layer will not defeat the purpose and will absorb moisture as well. I have sand in the run and always add pine shavings. It keeps the walking area softer and our girls are doing well with it.

Today we cleaned out the coop and added backa wheelbarrow full of pine shavings. The girls came right back in to inspect the job and give their approval. I had though of sand but am not sold on it yet for the coop.

Please keep us updated as to how it works out for you and your chickens.

 

[ChickenAl]

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Suzanne, we had the same tub and the hardware cloth on top worked to keep them in. Once they can hop or fly they want no part of the box. The worst will be when the dust flies all over the house. It gets everywhere!!!!