Texas

[galanie]

Love those two pictures mandaleigh!

Hi everyone. I live in a rural area off hwy 80 between Terrell and Wills Point. I have 3 hens, one just started laying a couple of weeks ago. I got my hens from a great guy at a place called Polish Farm near Poetry. Dan has a great set-up with lots of chickens and he has an excellent reputation. He regularly takes a few chickens to Northaven Gardens and does a backyard chicken informational program. His chickens are healthy, although he sometimes doesn't have just exactly what you want as far as breeds - which is OK with me.  

I am not into one particular breed over another or pure breds as long as they are good layers. Mutts are totally fine with me! I now have 2 white hens that appear to be mixes of leghorn, EE's, Aracuna, or some other white breeds. One of these is now laying and the other can't be far behind. A few weeks ago, I took one of the original birds back to him because it was a rooster! He did tell me when I made the original purchase back in May that since they were only 4-6 weeks it was very difficult to tell the sex unless it's a sex-link breed. I do not want roosters right now because I don't want chicks yet. Maybe next year. So, I got a RIR pullet that's now about 14-16 wks old to replace the rooster.

I did not isolate the new one simply because of where I got her. Dan looks the chicken over carefully before he sells, and if there is any health problem within his flock, he won't sell at all. There was some difficulty introducing her to the two established ones. She was kind of small and younger than them so they were picking on her too much. I kept them separated between the two areas (little enclosed run under the coop) and the repurposed 6x8 dog kennel. She had her own feeder and waterer, and they could see each other at all times. I would switch them out between the areas. After 1 week, they were sleeping together, and after another week, I was able to put them together all the time. That little RIR grew FAST and is now totally able to defend herself.

I can't wait until all three are laying, as I eat 2-3 eggs for breakfast every day. 

Before I can expand the flock, I have to expand their living area. Right now, the coop with attached run is inside of the 6x8 kennel. I covered the chain link with hardware cloth and my hubby built a roof for the kennel that is lightweight made from aluminum poles we already have and can be raised for extra head space while I work or to get eggs out of the nest box.  Our main concerns around here as far as predators are hawks, dogs and raccoons. The entire kennel area is secure from these, but we found a snake in there last week. I'm pretty sure that the coop and little run are snake safe, but not the yard. I check it each evening before they go in as it is open during the day. The only thing I'm worried about is a snake stealing eggs as there are some days I'm not here around laying time. We have two dogs that are outdoors when we're gone and they are very territorial. I'd guess critters go elsewhere rather than deal with my dogs.

I did lots of research before I got the chickens, and I was very worried about keeping them healthy. But I have been diligent with the cleaning, and probably a little lucky too. They have hay and shavings covering the wire floor of the inside run and also inside the coop. The open area is mostly sand with a little hay here and there, and there is a dusting area in one of the corners. I put a mix of sand, DE, ashes and rosemary and they use it daily. The coop has a slide out drawer for the floor so I empty that every few days. Once per week I also stir the litter and rake the sand, and thoroughly bleach wash the feeders and waterers. Every other week, I open up everything, remove anything that comes off and wash it, replace the litter, dust for mites. I make a small portable pen with some old kennel panels so they can scratch around in the grass and exercise. I put them in that while I clean and every couple of days just so they can stretch out. I remove the food and water from the coop and put it out there for about 30 minutes, then there's no trouble herding them into the pen - and there's definitely no problem getting them back into the yard - they run right into it! 

The only real problem I've had is when I need to handle them to check for mites, wounds, etc. . These chickens WILL NOT let you pick them up! I had to get a landing net (like for fishing) to catch them. Then I have a chair and a towel handy nearby. I sit down, get her from the net, wrap her up and cover her face with the towel so she can't struggle and hurt one of us so I can inspect her.

Well, that's my chicken saga for the first 4 1/2 months! 

And it sounds like you're off to a great start!

 

[showbarnmom]

Has anyone battle fleas in your chicken pens and if so what did you use?

 

[galanie]

I tried to give you an ovation, but apparently I am above my quota.  This!    If we could have open discussion on hard topics without people getting upset or taking things personally we might actually solve a few problems.  Sometimes it takes being blunt to get the point across.  And I don't mean being ugly, I just mean being able to speak your mind and people not jumping the gun and thinking you are talking about or to them.  There are only a handful of very personal political things that I will not talk about because I feel very strongly about them and I get very emotionally charged.  And I do avoid talking about these on the internet because its too easy to get in a fight over them.  But this WAR......you know its the same people who called President Bush (and I didn't like him either just for the record) a warmonger are wanting to go to war now.  And here is the kicker......we are on the side of the same people who were behind 9/11.  With the anniversary just days away!  As a firefighter's wife, its hard to explain how emotional 9/11 is for all police and fire.  That could have been my DH running into that building and never coming back out.  What happened to never forget?  The Syrian rebels that we are talking about aiding are being funded by terrorists.  Ugh.

Well stated.

 

[back2simplelife]

I tried to give you an ovation, but apparently I am above my quota. This!

If we could have open discussion on hard topics without people getting upset or taking things personally we might actually solve a few problems. Sometimes it takes being blunt to get the point across. And I don't mean being ugly, I just mean being able to speak your mind and people not jumping the gun and thinking you are talking about or to them. There are only a handful of very personal political things that I will not talk about because I feel very strongly about them and I get very emotionally charged. And I do avoid talking about these on the internet because its too easy to get in a fight over them. But this WAR......you know its the same people who called President Bush (and I didn't like him either just for the record) a warmonger are wanting to go to war now. And here is the kicker......we are on the side of the same people who were behind 9/11. With the anniversary just days away! As a firefighter's wife, its hard to explain how emotional 9/11 is for all police and fire. That could have been my DH running into that building and never coming back out. What happened to never forget? The Syrian rebels that we are talking about aiding are being funded by terrorists. Ugh.

Humm.. too many questions not being answered for me to believe that about 9/11.. yep, yep.. I am one of THOSE ppl!

 

[adni02]

Humm.. too many questions not being answered for me to believe that about 9/11.. yep, yep.. I am one of THOSE ppl!

Are there many people in USA who share your view

 

[back2simplelife]

Has anyone battle fleas in your chicken pens and if so what did you use?

EEEkkk! I haven't seen a flea since we left southern Illi! Have you tried DE? and a good bath in dawn dish soap maybe? Maybe start feeding them raw garlic as well? I know AVC in the water will help keep them at bay once they are under control. Sorry I guess not much help

 

[mandaleigh1981]

Humm.. too many questions not being answered for me to believe that about 9/11.. yep, yep.. I am one of THOSE ppl!

Hey I get that. I don't think the government ever tells us the whole truth about anything! Including 9/11. I don't think we will ever know the truth about that or anything else that the government has done over the last 100 years. And most people walk through life with their head in the clouds, never questioning the lies they are told. I find it very sad. Whoever was responsible for 9/11, the truth remains that the people we are supposedly going to help hate Americans, hate Christians, hate everyone that is not like them. My idea for foreign policy, lets stop giving aid and help to countries who hate American and let them hate us for free.

 

[mandaleigh1981]

EEEkkk! I haven't seen a flea since we left southern Illi! Have you tried DE? and a good bath in dawn dish soap maybe? Maybe start feeding them raw garlic as well? I know AVC in the water will help keep them at bay once they are under control. Sorry I guess not much help

DE and garlic helped us get rid of a huge infestation with the dogs. I would feed them garlic pills, poweder them and the yard with DE. It took a few doses, but we got them! Luckily that was before we had chickens.

 

[back2simplelife]

Are there many people in USA who share your view

YES! There most certainly are!

 

[mandaleigh1981]

No more organic eggs? The FDA is zeroing in on flocks with outdoor access and we need your help to simultaneously protest overreaching government regulations and defend our egg farmers. Take action:http://www.cornucopia.org/food-safety