Texas

[Ms Jellybean]

Hi!

I sent my daughter the information on the rustic painting. She is into buying stuff with the brown/white/blue-green colors or having someone do it for her. I told her how to do it but you know how it is....mom doesn't know anthing! ...sigh......

Are you putting the roses on your cake too? You are one talented lady! I can smell your baking all the way in Rosenberg!

Lisa

I am going to do the roses. Just for me.

I found another painting that is perfect for all of us. Love it! Her tutorials are pretty good. I need to get my paint brushes back from my son. He took them for a college class and well, you know how the story goes....

 

[mi2bugz]

Have you tried hiding bugs for them to find?  You could meal worms in a shallow dish and cover it with leaves in a few places.  Change it up daily so they have to hunt for them. 

Ohhhh hadn't thought of that. I actually haven't found a place local that sells them so I guess I will have to buy some online. I am not sure if I want to raise them as seems like a lot of work for only 4 chickens lol,

 

[bnjrob]

We have the east, north and west sides open but on cold windy days we put plastic up on the east side as that's the direction our wind comes from. The problem is the sheet of plastic takes away their morning sun and they are afraid of the plastic no matter how tight we secure it because wind still blows it. We didn't have much shade where the coop had to go so we built it with protecting them from the hot afternoon sun in the summer. I guess I have scaredy birds. They freaked when I put the leaves in the run lol. Their water is in the run as to limit humidity in the house. They come out for a few minutes and then go back in.

That kinda answers your question as to why they aren't wanting to go out. If you have permanent shade set up on the south side, then when it is chilly with wind blowing from the north/west, they can't get any sun to help counteract the chill.

Not sure why plastic would be taking away their morning sun unless you are using black plastic. I would not recommend black plastic, the "clear" plastic still allows light in.

You would have better results by using heavier mil painter's dropcloth plastic that you can buy in bags at Walmart. All you really need is enough plastic to block the wind at ground level - I use the 3 foot wide plastic stretched across the bottom of the run.

A heavier mil plastic stretched tightly and well secured with staples does not flap all that much.

This year I tried a different approach to secure the bottoms of the plastic using 1x2's screwed down over the plastic at the bottom so because I was having problems on days with south winds trying to rip the plastic off of the staples. The wood strips has done the trick and there has not been any problems with the plastic pulling through the staples when the wind shifts and comes from the south.

 

[mi2bugz]

The way we have the run a section of it always has sun and shade. It may be the left corner but there is always sun and always a roost with sun on it. I never though of just using plastic on the bottom portion of the run...see why I ask...always get something you never thought of .

We will try the 1x2's around the edges. Great tips thank you!

 

[lovingmyhens]

You are spring cleaning!!  What do you know that we don't?

Today is the last day of the year!  Ya'll have a good one!

Lisa

Umm all I know is that I'm sick of the clutter, 2car garage with a tandem so basically a 3 car garage and not an inch of it for a car. I've been in this house for two yrs and there are boxes in the garage that have never been opened. Ugh

 

[lovingmyhens]

That is one thing I have seen...each chicken sure had their own personality! It's quite funny.
I haven't found a scratch that they go super excited over. I have tried the happy hen mix, sunflower seeds, 2 kinds of wild bird food, a block of mixed stuff, and cracked corn, the only thing they go nuts over outside of their treat bowl is bread and I know not to give it to them daily.

I think what ronniewayne meant is that they love to scratch...as in digging in the grass/dirt to find fun things to eat!

We have the east, north and west sides open but on cold windy days we put plastic up on the east side as that's the direction our wind comes from. The problem is the sheet of plastic takes away their morning sun and they are afraid of the plastic no matter how tight we secure it because wind still blows it. We didn't have much shade where the coop had to go so we built it with protecting them from the hot afternoon sun in the summer. I guess I have scaredy birds. They freaked when I put the leaves in the run lol. Their water is in the run as to limit humidity in the house. They come out for a few minutes and then go back in.

Thank you all for your assistance.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

I was looking at Ideal the other day. I'll see if I can narrow down they're location a bit, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on the buy/sale trade, thanks!

I know where that's at! I work on the Square actually and live in the downtown area. Love it here!
I'll have to go in there and browse soon...

I found another place to get chicks. D&L AgMart on Hwy 380. They have chicks right now too. I forgot they were there. I used to buy dog food there too. They get their chicks from Ideal.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Question-my leg horn is around 28-30 weeks old and has not begun to lay. WHATS THE PROBLEM????????

 

[bnjrob]

Question-my leg horn is around 28-30 weeks old and has not begun to lay. WHATS THE PROBLEM????????

A few things that can interfere with starting to lay/decrease laying in birds that already lay (not an all-inclusive list):

Stress (which can be caused by all kinds of things)
Bugs/germs - lice, mites, worms, other illnesses
Decreased daylight during the winter
Crazy weather patterns stressing birds
Too much fat in the abdomen

I find that there are times that some of my birds lay start laying once they are with a male and get mated. For some a few have needed that sex stimulus to get going. Other things that people swear can get laying going is feeding peppers, including cayenne pepper in food, and feeding sprouted oats.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Happy New Year Chicken lovers.