Texas

[A1momof3]

This is not something I would normally do but please send prayers up, positive thoughts, whatever you believe in for the families being effected by the mudslide in Washington state.  We just learned that a beautiful family that my husband was stationed with in Fort Polk are still missing.  The mom wasn't home at the time, they've rescued their 4 year old but her husband and 3 other children are still missing and its been almost 24 hours.  Our sons played football with their oldest and we use to keep each company during practices and games.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/house-people-inside-washington-mudslide-23019941

This is something you sould always feel ok doing. Praying for each other is all we really have in this world to rely on! Sending prays for all this families!!

 

[Ren2014]

This is not something I would normally do but please send prayers up, positive thoughts, whatever you believe in for the families being effected by the mudslide in Washington state. We just learned that a beautiful family that my husband was stationed with in Fort Polk are still missing. The mom wasn't home at the time, they've rescued their 4 year old but her husband and 3 other children are still missing and its been almost 24 hours. Our sons played football with their oldest and we use to keep each company during practices and games.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/house-people-inside-washington-mudslide-23019941

Sending prayers up now. Keep us posted.

Wow! I see we've been busy here the last two days... Lost of posts to get caught up on. Loving the stories of Mrs. KornKorn!

We had an adventure here yesterday. My in-laws are visiting, know nothing about farm life, and accidentally let the horses out. Thankfully no matter how wired up they are, nor how fast they're running, a shake from a feed bucket will bring everyone right back through the front gate and into their assorted feed pens. FWEW.

Ya'll know how chicken math works... wen't to go purchase TWO hens and ONE rooster from an old friend ( just mutts, mind you... eggs only was their purpose ) and ended up bumping into someone I've done a LOT of trading with over the years. Lo-and-behold my poor DFiance came home to 22 fluffy, fuzzy, not quite six week old butts in the shed. I've been obsessively checking on them, since they're outside and not inside, and my cats sure seem to think they're going to make a delectable dinner. Much better than the occasional cardinal, and ten times better than all those Anoles they've been eating. Bad kitty!

But, with those 22 fluffy butts.... came the fact I forgot to pick up the hens and the rooster!! Guess I've got to go back, with my DF, so I come home with only what I went to town for.

Pictures coming soon...

Glad the horses are safe! The rest of your post is just too funny. DEFINITELY something I would do, lol.

Between my husband donating a kidney & my monitor going out last Wednesday ( finally found a replacement at Goodwill) I know I've missed a ton of posts
from Selma
lisaterrell88
TXziarno
texasfinest
surfdok
leighC
& whoever I've missed

Gosh, kudos to your husband. Prayers for a speedy recovery to him and the recipient.

Ok my husband laughs at me. But I gotta ask does anyone else name there favorite hens and roosters or am I the only crazy one?

Silly husband, lol... tell him we all name our chickens. What's wrong with him??

(Just joking of course.)

This is something you sould always feel ok doing. Praying for each other is all we really have in this world to rely on! Sending prays for all this families!!

Amen A1momof3.

Prayers for the Malaysia crew and passengers as well. WHAT on earth happened??

 

[jtn42248]

So, in a quote/reply to another post here on BYC, it was suggested that I check out the Texas Forum. I did not even know it was here, so...

We are on a 3.5 acre farm north of Coleman, TX about half way between Coleman and Lawn. My partner, 8 dogs, 24 chickens who are just discovering they are Hens and 6 ducks who just discovered water yesterday. We have grand plans for a large garden if our well holds out and are really enjoying life on the farm after retiring from far to many years of city life and office work.

We are both retired and really ready for the cold to finally end and get our farm going. We call ourselves Moran-Newman Farms and, while surrounded by large farms that run cattle we are orienting our efforts to poultry, eggs and produce.

If this forum is anything like the rest of BYC I am looking forward to many pleasant interactions and the help of everyone here as we face the challenges to come.

I posted this as a new thread in error. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of that other thread. If I knew what I was doing I would be dangerous.

 

[jajeanpierre]

How about this one? It's the same brand as the TS and OverStock one.

That looks really, really small. I tried to find dimensions, but couldn't. It is advertised as "Extra Small."

 

[Brookshire11]

Ok my husband laughs at me. But I gotta ask does anyone else name there favorite hens and roosters or am I the only crazy one?

All of my 8 have names! I named the big girls and my daughter named the 2 Silkies.
I can still tell them apart too (the buff Orpingtons are getting harder)
My husband renamed one..lol..I think he's partial to her. She went from Rosy to Little Hawk.
She was reddish as a chick and now is black and white. Lol.

So, in a quote/reply to another post here on BYC, it was suggested that I check out the Texas Forum. I did not even know it was here, so...

We are on a 3.5 acre farm north of Coleman, TX about half way between Coleman and Lawn. My partner, 8 dogs, 24 chickens who are just discovering they are Hens and 6 ducks who just discovered water yesterday. We have grand plans for a large garden if our well holds out and are really enjoying life on the farm after retiring from far to many years of city life and office work.

We are both retired and really ready for the cold to finally end and get our farm going. We call ourselves Moran-Newman Farms and, while surrounded by large farms that run cattle we are orienting our efforts to poultry, eggs and produce.

If this forum is anything like the rest of BYC I am looking forward to many pleasant interactions and the help of everyone here as we face the challenges to come.

I posted this as a new thread in error. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of that other thread. If I knew what I was doing I would be dangerous.

 

[Brookshire11]

^welcome from Mckinney, near Dallas!

 

[Ms Jellybean]

That looks really, really small. I tried to find dimensions, but couldn't. It is advertised as "Extra Small."

Product Dimensions: 61 x 20.8 x 27.5 inches
Dimensions (Inch): 61 x 21 x 28; hutch 30 x 21 x 28; run 31 x 21 x 23; mesh door 13 x 9; wood door 10 x 9; run opening 27 x 19; mesh gauge 0.12 x 0.07; mesh spacing 0.5


Q: What are the dimensions of the house part and what are the dimensions of the side run part and then the entire length with the two of them side by sid

A:​

The house part is 29 1/2 inches by 19 1/2 ". The run is exactly the same 29 1/2" by 19 1/2". So total is 59" x 19 1/2". The house part is divided in two with an arch opening. Both sides of the top open up. The run can come off.


Is it too small?

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Do silkies take dust baths like other chickens do? If so, at what age should I put a dust bath in the brooder?

I have things all set up and ready to go. I'm going to start them out in a fish tank for the first week so they will be warmer. Then I am moving them into a very large metal dog kennel.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Product Dimensions: 61 x 20.8 x 27.5 inches
Dimensions (Inch): 61 x 21 x 28; hutch 30 x 21 x 28; run 31 x 21 x 23; mesh door 13 x 9; wood door 10 x 9; run opening 27 x 19; mesh gauge 0.12 x 0.07; mesh spacing 0.5


Q: What are the dimensions of the house part and what are the dimensions of the side run part and then the entire length with the two of them side by sid

A:​

The house part is 29 1/2 inches by 19 1/2 ". The run is exactly the same 29 1/2" by 19 1/2". So total is 59" x 19 1/2". The house part is divided in two with an arch opening. Both sides of the top open up. The run can come off.


Is it too small?

I really think it is too small (and I crowd my birds a bit). How many chickens are you getting right now?

The measurements they gave don't quite add up, but I gather it is 19.5 inches wide. That's really not enough quite enough width for two silkies on one perch--they need a bit of space if only to keep cool when in the heat. The dimensions you gave in the second part would give you 15 inches for the nest box and about 15 inches for the roosting part of the coop. I just think it is a bit too small. Heat builds up in small areas.

Your Silkies are not going to need a dust bath as babies in a brooder. If they feel inclined, they can and will practice in the shavings. They won't have any parasites and when they get exposed to bugs (when they go outside and are exposed to wild birds) they will be able to make their own dust bath in the dirt. Chicks are incredibly dusty--you want to try to reduce the dust level in your house.

Be really careful about using a fish tank and a heat lamp. They will have no way to get away from the heat and you will be surprised at how much the temperatures fluctuate. Put them in the dog crate with cardboard around the outside to prevent drafts. Maybe even put the crate up on a table.

One other thing--sometimes chicks sleep sprawled and flattened out like they are dead or dying. Scary to see, but they are just sleeping. I couldn't resist poking them just to make sure they were alive.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

I really think it is too small (and I crowd my birds a bit). How many chickens are you getting right now?

The measurements they gave don't quite add up, but I gather it is 19.5 inches wide. That's really not enough quite enough width for two silkies on one perch--they need a bit of space if only to keep cool when in the heat. The dimensions you gave in the second part would give you 15 inches for the nest box and about 15 inches for the roosting part of the coop. I just think it is a bit too small. Heat builds up in small areas.

Your Silkies are not going to need a dust bath as babies in a brooder. If they feel inclined, they can and will practice in the shavings. They won't have any parasites and when they get exposed to bugs (when they go outside and are exposed to wild birds) they will be able to make their own dust bath in the dirt. Chicks are incredibly dusty--you want to try to reduce the dust level in your house.

Be really careful about using a fish tank and a heat lamp. They will have no way to get away from the heat and you will be surprised at how much the temperatures fluctuate. Put them in the dog crate with cardboard around the outside to prevent drafts. Maybe even put the crate up on a table.

One other thing--sometimes chicks sleep sprawled and flattened out like they are dead or dying. Scary to see, but they are just sleeping. I couldn't resist poking them just to make sure they were alive.

My dog crate is big enough for a Great Dane (full grown) and is all metal. I have boxes I can put around the sides to keep it warmer.

I want 3 silkies, but since they can't sex them I was planning on getting 5 or 6. With my luck they will either all be hens or roosters.

Would this style coop be good? Not planning on getting this one, as I think I could build this for a small fraction of the price.