Texas

[tiedyemommy]

Wow, you guys got lucky! We had some winds and a few 5 minutes drizzles but nothing more. We needed the rain too.

It rained & hailed for about 2hrs last night. We had strong winds all day, but they got worse during the storm. We had no idea about the branch until I went to wake up The Ladies this morning. No one hurt...Nothing really damaged (besides the tree). It could have been a lot worse...AND we got lots of rain! No more complaining from me, though. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Cassie Collins]

AND another one last night...I'll be setting a trap today

Curious... How do u trap a snake?!?

 

[Starfire669]

I have 5 soon to be 6 week old BA pullets. There are 9 right now, but will go down to 6 soon. They are in the nursery section of my coop, and have been since they were day olds. When should I put them with my 11 week old RIR, BR, and SLW, and 7 week old BO chicks? The 11 and 7 week olds are together already and get along great. But I am concerned about the size difference with the BA pullets. I'd like to introduce them to my flock before the 3 are taken to their permanent home at my sisters. I figure 9 pullets running around will be easier than 6, if only because it's more targets for the older chicks to chase. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Starfire669]

It rained & hailed for about 2hrs last night.  We had strong winds all day, but they got worse during the storm.  We had no idea about the branch until I went to wake up The Ladies this morning.  No one hurt...Nothing really damaged (besides the tree).  It could have been a lot worse...AND we got lots of rain!  No more complaining from me, though.  Be careful what you wish for. 

I still want rain. My yard desperately needs it. My garden isn't as lush as it should be, and my grass is turning brown. I water everything every night, but it seems to only be slowing the withering, not stopping it. I fed my grass some all natural food, still struggling. And I need the grass to feed my geese and ducks, and healthy grass also calls in insects for my chickens to eat. I am sprouting wheat and oat seeds for the geese and ducks, chickens get some too. I am fermenting feed for the chickens, the ducks and geese just don't know if they like it yet. I also pulled some romaine lettuce from my garden that wasn't doing too great. Was enough per head to make a small 2 person salad, I fed it to my flock.

So please send me some rain!

 

[Starfire669]

Here is Ebony this morning after laying

 

[Brookshire11]

Here is Ebony this morning after laying

Is that what you're using for her nesting box? Or did she make her own?
I'm just wondering because mine are only a few inches off the floor and I'm wondering if I NEED to have them higher?
Is it a predator issue or a chicken issue.
My girls should start laying in a few weeks, I want to be ready

 

[Starfire669]

Is that what you're using for her nesting box? Or did she make her own?
I'm just wondering because mine are only a few inches off the floor and I'm wondering if I NEED to have them higher?
Is it a predator issue or a chicken issue.
My girls should start laying in a few weeks, I want to be ready

I am using it as a nesting box. It is outside the coop right now but I will make her a permanent nest box inside the coop this weekend, when my 2nd coop is completed and i move half the flock in there. She lays in there first thing in the morning, as does Daisy the only other laying duck. After laying they both leave and go play and eat in the yard. If she were to go broody I would have to move them inside the coop for safety. But since I collect eggs right after they lay it isn't an issue yet.

As long as the coop is secure I think you can have nests on the ground for ducks and geese. That is how I'd like to build my duck and goose nests. That being said, I am planning to put the my duck and goose nest boxes on a small set of legs. I am doing this because the corner I want the boxes in has a concrete slope. I am trying to cover as much of the concrete as possible, to prevent injury to the ducks and geese, as well as use the most protected corner for nests in case I get broodies. The nest boxes will be 1 to 2 inches off the ground in front and touching the top of the slope in back. The back of the boxes are completely sealed off, only access is from the front. I am actually converting my brooder box into the duck/goose nest box. I will get 3 goose sized boxes out of it when done.

 

[magpiesing]

Is that what you're using for her nesting box? Or did she make her own?
I'm just wondering because mine are only a few inches off the floor and I'm wondering if I NEED to have them higher?
Is it a predator issue or a chicken issue.
My girls should start laying in a few weeks, I want to be ready

Someone on here suggested the dog crates so I used one for my broody bantam and it worked great. She was comfortable , safe and draft free in it. I now have chicks in it. screwed it to the wall of the coop because it's up on a shelf. Got some feed cups at the pet store that have wire hooks that hang on the door.
What a sweetie...Ebony is so pretty...I like the white patch...looks like she is wearing jewelry.

 

[Starfire669]

Someone on here suggested the dog crates so I used one for my broody bantam and it worked great.  She was comfortable , safe and draft free in it.  I now have chicks in it.  screwed it to the wall of the coop because it's up on a shelf.  Got some feed cups at the pet store that have wire hooks that hang on the door.
What a sweetie...Ebony is so pretty...I like the white patch...looks like she is wearing jewelry.

We adore Ebony. She comes running when I bring the ducks their food. She also runs to me now when Howard starts chasing her. Howard this morning chased her, grabbed her and pushed her down on the ground and was going to force breed her when I got there and grabbed him off her. He had not gotten into position yet, so no chance of hurting either in the middle of mating. But I nearly strangled that duck I was so angry. Instead he is locked up in the coop without any ladies with him. He also got really rough mating with Ivory earlier, before he started chasing Ebony, but as he was in position I was scared to pull him off her and had to wait until he was done to make sure she was ok. So after both those incidents today, he is in drake jail.

Its a really good thing that Howard will be moving to his new home this weekend, if the move happens, it's not for sure yet. I am fast losing my patience with his attitude. Otherwise I think I'd be having duck for dinner, and he would taste all the sweeter knowing that Ebony and my other ladies don't have to suffer his meanness anymore.

My chickens and ducks love the dog crates. The ducks have 1 they lay in, and the chickens have another they nap in. Go figure lol. Maybe when the chickens start laying some will use the dog crates, but I have 8 nest boxes built for them waiting inside their new coop. They should be moving in this weekend.

 

[tiedyemommy]

Here is Ebony this morning after laying

Awww...Ebony (formerly Brownie) was my husband & daughter's favorite. Glad she's doing so well!