Texas

[TammyTX]

Silly question...what's a daytime roost? Is that a lower one?

It's just a roost out in the chicken yard. I just have a 2x2 that I slide through the fencing holes in the chicken run (the covered part of the chicken yard). The chickens like to sit on it in the mornings first thing when they come out of the coop. Mine is only about 3 foot off of the ground, but it's adjustable since I just slide it through the fence.

At the moment I'm using it to support the light in the shed for my newest babies and broody.

 

[ABlackDogRanch]

It's just a roost out in the chicken yard. I just have a 2x2 that I slide through the fencing holes in the chicken run (the covered part of the chicken yard). The chickens like to sit on it in the mornings first thing when they come out of the coop. Mine is only about 3 foot off of the ground, but it's adjustable since I just slide it through the fence.

At the moment I'm using it to support the light in the shed for my newest babies and broody.

I have two branches set up in my fencing corners (pictured below)....does this look good?

 

[TammyTX]

Yes! That works just fine!

 

[Starfire669]

Well it is a very good thing I went out to check my ladies. Daisy laid her egg, and it is big! But some of the chickens were in the nest box trying to figure out what it was. The egg was not damaged but wouldn't have stayed that way for much longer. Still waiting for Ebony to lay.

On a different front 1 of my neighbors hens, who just hatched chicks and loves digging around my compost boxes came over and started to attack some of my pullets, while my pullets started attacking her chicks that came through the fence behind momma hen. Chaos ensued until I got the momma back over the fence and the babies followed. No one was hurt but could have been. Luckily I clip my girls wings so they can't make it over the fence.

I leave for 30 minutes and all hell breaks loose in my yard. Guess no rest for the wicked, right guys? Lol

 

[epinkstn]

Well it is a very good thing I went out to check my ladies. Daisy laid her egg, and it is big! But some of the chickens were in the nest box trying to figure out what it was. The egg was not damaged but wouldn't have stayed that way for much longer. Still waiting for Ebony to lay.

On a different front 1 of my neighbors hens, who just hatched chicks and loves digging around my compost boxes came over and started to attack some of my pullets, while my pullets started attacking her chicks that came through the fence behind momma hen. Chaos ensued until I got the momma back over the fence and the babies followed. No one was hurt but could have been. Luckily I clip my girls wings so they can't make it over the fence.

I leave for 30 minutes and all hell breaks loose in my yard. Guess no rest for the wicked, right guys? Lol

Yikes!! Be careful with your back.

 

[epinkstn]

I'm kind of ashamed to admit today was the first time (in the 3 weeks we've had our flock) that I cleaned out the bedding in their coop. The previous owner said he'd done it a week before we bought the birds, and said he cleaned it once a month...so I thought I'd clean it out today & it was pretty funky. There were duck feathers everywhere (from when the quackers lived with us), and poop and other yuck in there. I don't have a sense of smell, but that didn't make this any less gross.

So, my question to all of you is...how often do you clean out the bedding in your coop?

- TieDyeMommy

I scoop when I get a chance, once or twice a week. We have sand in the run and pine shavings in the coop. I prefer the sand because you can use a pooper scooper and not lose to much of the sand. I'm not sure what to use in the nesting boxes though. The girls have been sleeping in 1 box all together

. I have an old t-shirt in there with some shavings on top, but thought straw might be a better option and I'm making a privacy curtain to hang in front of the boxes too.

 

[Brookshire11]

They are scared of her but she doesnt mess with them and they dont mess with her. I have my Black Australop that is a B#$% and has been in "chicken jail" isolation for two weeks. I put her back in today too. Those two had it out real quick but the new girl put her in her place pretty quick. If the BA doesnt straighten up soon she will be dinner before she lays her first egg.

The BCM is considered a rare bird. The females are only supposed to have the copper on their neck and head(mine does). Considered a flaw if its down the back or on the chest. Can have feathered legs but not necessary(English version dont usually)(mine has them). More common in France and with true breeding. Can have a green sheen but not a fault if not(mine does). They tint the egg a dark brown when its laid. The color can actually rub off. More people friendly than other chickens. She doesnt make a sound when I pick her up. The others act like I am killing them.

We were looking for BCMs but ended up with Golden Copper Marans, because they're auto sexing (no roos allowed here

).
They're going to be very pretty. They have feathered feet as well. They're anything but dainty though! Rambunctious little things lol.

Super sweet, super spoiled.

What's wrong with that?

Does anyone on this list have (or know of someone with) high quality pure Black English Orpingtons in Texas.... I am in search of an top notch breeding rooster.....need him very badly but would very much like to find a breeding pair or trio. They must be pure black, no BBS breeding.

I am located in deep East Texas but am willing to pick up rather than ship if it's feasible. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks so much.

There's A place near me that has a LOT of different Orps: Jubilee, Partridge, Chocolate, Blue, English Spangled etc. I Don't know if they have Black but I could almost guarantee they'd know where you could get some.
http://www.sdranch.com/

Ken this is her

What a doll....Hope she pulls through...

 

[SlipsWife]

I'm kind of ashamed to admit today was the first time (in the 3 weeks we've had our flock) that I cleaned out the bedding in their coop. The previous owner said he'd done it a week before we bought the birds, and said he cleaned it once a month...so I thought I'd clean it out today & it was pretty funky. There were duck feathers everywhere (from when the quackers lived with us), and poop and other yuck in there. I don't have a sense of smell, but that didn't make this any less gross.

So, my question to all of you is...how often do you clean out the bedding in your coop?

- TieDyeMommy

We haven't figured out a set schedule yet. At first we cleaned the coop once a month but after a couple of months, we realized it was overkill. Right now we have 20 chickens in an 8x12 coop with a 10x20 run. It really doesn't seem like there's that many in there! There's another 10x10 run but we have it blocked off with turkey poults and 2 bantams that can still get out of the big run.

Anyways...back to cleaning the coop. We have hay and are trying the deep litter method. I know there are a number of great threads out there about deep litter and we're probably doing it wrong but so far, so good. The floor of our coop is wood and its on the ground, but there's a thin layer of dirt on the floor. We added a layer of hay all over the bottom of the coop, with a little extra under the roost. After about a month, it started to get a little stinky in there so we added another layer of hay. The smell is gone. We will just keep repeating the process for about 6 months (hopefully after the summer heat passes) and clean it out and start over. I read someone used their bagged leaves from their yard...I can't even begin to tell you how silly I felt for not thinking of keeping our leaves!

Did you keep any of the ducks? I think ducks are super crazy messy. Our coop/run is a lot less work with the ducks moved over to their own area. The ducks are constantly molting...ok, maybe not but it seems like it! I'm so glad we are back to just chickens in our coop/run, its a lot less work. The ducks still get their area nasty but I've noticed now that they have more constant 'play water' access, they aren't as bad as they were.

 

[magpiesing]

Well it is a very good thing I went out to check my ladies. Daisy laid her egg, and it is big! But some of the chickens were in the nest box trying to figure out what it was. The egg was not damaged but wouldn't have stayed that way for much longer. Still waiting for Ebony to lay.

On a different front 1 of my neighbors hens, who just hatched chicks and loves digging around my compost boxes came over and started to attack some of my pullets, while my pullets started attacking her chicks that came through the fence behind momma hen. Chaos ensued until I got the momma back over the fence and the babies followed. No one was hurt but could have been. Luckily I clip my girls wings so they can't make it over the fence.

I leave for 30 minutes and all hell breaks loose in my yard. Guess no rest for the wicked, right guys? Lol

Never a dull moment at your place girl...lol

 

[Starfire669]

Yikes!! Be careful with your back. 

I'm ok. Though how with the ruckus going on I don't know. Lol

Never a dull moment at your place girl...lol

Yeah, it does seem like I am getting more than my fair share of drama. I just want Peace! Hope these crazy critters settle down soon.