Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[magsrags]

Hi
My daughter is handicapped and I am renovating our 8' x 16' garden shed based on thespoiledchickens brilliant coop design with PDZ poop boards. It is very difficult for my daughter to bend down and the waist height poop boards will be perfect for her. I hope you all don't mind me asking a few questions...
We currently have 7 silkies, 2 polish and 10 LF chicks (BO, SLW,GLW, EE). Based on your experiences, do you think our silkies could be integrated into one large flock (with the other breeds) and use one long poop board and roost? I could add a ladder...or even install a lower height poop board/roost underneath the waist high unit if necessary.
Right now the silke chicks are together with the polish chicks and have no problems. They havent been introduced to the other older chicks yet. Any thoughts and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Tina

Polish love to roost high as they can in my experience. My bird "Dinner" used to roost in the garage roof beams rather than with the rest of the flock.
Silkies will roost low cause they cannot get airborn.

Just introduce them as young as you can to get them used to the idea.....or they just might huddle forever.
Once introduced, you will get a kick out of how "birds of a feather flock together". It is so darn true. They have their own little gangs and gang fights at times.

Polish tend to startle easily because of their large top hats. I love them because they are quirky birds. Very inquisitive mine was.

 

[smkchick]

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors today. We took a trip to Agway, picked up hay and scratch. They had guinea keets for $5 each. My friend wants me to hatch guineas for her. Much cheaper that way. She wants like 20 of them. Anyone know where I can get eggs? After all the PO scrambling going on lately, I'd rather drive to pick them up.

I had all the girls out today. The big girls were more interested in the compost pile than the lawn, and the little girls spent most of the time dust bathing in my new flower bed. grrr. Even the babies were out in their little playpen. I'll post pictures as soon as I motivate to get off my fat you-know-what to go find the camera.

Not feeling so happy despite a productive day in the yard. Bobby was very quiet today. Apparently he feels like I'm picking on him, being sarcastic, etc. because of my anger/depression over my job. Ironically, today was the first day in a long time that I felt like joking around and he took it seriously.

I think I need some time away by myself...

 

[littlecritters]

 Polish love to roost high as they can in my experience. My bird "Dinner" used to roost in the garage roof beams rather than with the rest of the flock.
Silkies will roost low cause they cannot get airborn. Just introduce them as young as you can to get them used to the idea.....or they just might huddle forever.
Once introduced, you will get a kick out of how "birds of a feather flock together". It is so darn true. They have their own little gangs and gang fights at times.

Polish tend to startle easily because of their large top hats. I love them because they are quirky birds. Very inquisitive mine was.

Thanks for your reply. Our silkies and polish are very sweet. I'm going to think positively and start integrating the younger silkie and polish chicks with the slightly older gals. I'll let you know how we make out! Tina

 

[magsrags]

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors today. We took a trip to Agway, picked up hay and scratch. They had guinea keets for $5 each. My friend wants me to hatch guineas for her. Much cheaper that way. She wants like 20 of them. Anyone know where I can get eggs? After all the PO scrambling going on lately, I'd rather drive to pick them up.

I had all the girls out today. The big girls were more interested in the compost pile than the lawn, and the little girls spent most of the time dust bathing in my new flower bed. grrr. Even the babies were out in their little playpen. I'll post pictures as soon as I motivate to get off my fat you-know-what to go find the camera.

Not feeling so happy despite a productive day in the yard. Bobby was very quiet today. Apparently he feels like I'm picking on him, being sarcastic, etc. because of my anger/depression over my job. Ironically, today was the first day in a long time that I felt like joking around and he took it seriously.

I think I need some time away by myself...

R and R is required.We can please some of the people some of the time only ya know?

 

[smkchick]

R and R is required.We can please some of the people some of the time only ya know?

That's right. Today was not his day. And it's not lookin' so good for tomorrow...

 

[magsrags]

Thanks for your reply. Our silkies and polish are very sweet. I'm going to think positively and start integrating the younger silkie and polish chicks with the slightly older gals. I'll let you know how we make out! Tina

Best keep a barrier between them for a few days at leaat. A dog fol;diong EZ pen works great if you have one. Otherwise some plastic fencing is just fine. Lets them get to know each other before they actually have to face off.
Cause it happens whether we like it or not.

 

[Imprfctme]

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors today.  We took a trip to Agway, picked up hay and scratch.  They had guinea keets for $5 each.  My friend wants me to hatch guineas for her.  Much cheaper that way.  She wants like 20 of them.  Anyone know where I can get eggs?  After all the PO scrambling going on lately, I'd rather drive to pick them up.

I had all the girls out today.  The big girls were more interested in the compost pile than the lawn, and the little girls spent most of the time dust bathing in my new flower bed. grrr.  Even the babies were out in their little playpen.  I'll post pictures as soon as I motivate to get off my fat you-know-what to go find the camera.

Not feeling so happy despite a productive day in the yard.  Bobby was very quiet today.  Apparently he feels like I'm picking on him, being sarcastic, etc. because of my anger/depression over my job.  Ironically, today was the first day in a long time that I felt like joking around and he took it seriously.

I think I need some time away by myself...

 

Sorry you're having a poop day. Keep wearing chickens on your head and you'll have lots of time alone. Kinda having a poop day myself, despite lovely weather. My parents are being mean for lack of a better way to put it. Now I'm watching War Horse which isn't a great choice. Not real uplifting. If one more horse dies I'm going to lose it.

 

[ChickenAl]

This might cheer you guys up. I thought it was quite a bit of amazing German engineering.

 

[smkchick]

This might cheer you guys up. I thought it was quite a bit of amazing German engineering.

Thanks, Al. That was awesome! I guess I could take a little time away and go to Hamburg...

 

[smkchick]

Sorry you're having a poop day. Keep wearing chickens on your head and you'll have lots of time alone. Kinda having a poop day myself, despite lovely weather. My parents are being mean for lack of a better way to put it. Now I'm watching War Horse which isn't a great choice. Not real uplifting. If one more horse dies I'm going to lose it.

Sorry you're having a poop day too. No dead horses for me. I'm watching a British murder mystery. Dead people over here..

It's official. We've reached turf status:


And here are the little girls enjoying the view from their window.


And the babies back inside after their day in the yard.