The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[tadpole98]

So I am procrastinating letting my chickens out! When I was locking everyone up last night we had a visitor in the trees above. First one I have seen since we moved here, and of course it was 5 pm and the hippy neighbors come driving down their driveway and story ends here.

I will be so upset if I loose a bird to it! I was so torn on the open run idea, I always had chickens in enclosed runs and soooo wanted a huge area for them to wonder so I made a bigger run in the woods and left the top open. :/

Was it an owl? Raccoon? Yikes! Yeah, I free range mine in the nicer weather. In the fall they tend to wander more into the woods. I have to keep a loaded gun handy, or have my dogs out. Can't shoot birds of prey though here. It's the foxes that are my worst predator though. I've only had one hawk attack a grown chicken. It failed. Yay! They have lots of places to hide. Coons seem to come into the yard only at night when my birds are safely locked up. They clean up the spilled feed. It's all good if you can confine them well in a run. Save yourself from having to shoot anything. Free ranging vs penning. There are pros & cons to each, as I'm sure you know. Best of luck to you!

Remind me later to tell you the story of the coyote who attacked my silkie. I'm on my phone and it's too long to type right now, haha!

 

[Happy Chooks]

As some one pointed out I still had last years easter hatch in my signature. I have officially changed it in hopes of helping us recruit more participants. Roughly I think we need 66 more to beat last year record of 268. The more the merrier.

Edited to say that I thought I changed it. lol

Last year someone posted how to do that. I went to my user name, changed my website to this thread but it is still showing up as last years. What am I doing wrong?

Go to your profile and edit signature. Then put in the new link.

I show 204 signed up so far.

 

[LFchixranch]

I'M in if my flock which will be 18 weeks of age is co-operating.

 

[Brookhavens]

Here's the mug my daughter bought me for Christmas. Cracker Barrel has a bunch of neat chicken stuff:

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'M in if my flock which will be 18 weeks of age is co-operating.

Welcome! That's cutting it pretty tight.

Maybe get some fertile store eggs as a back up?

 

[Gardeningmama]

Good morning everybody! Just wanted to share a little gift my hubby got me from down in the U.S. recently.

I like the mug, but I LOVE THE PICTURE IN THE BACKGROUND!!! Where did you get that from??

So I am procrastinating letting my chickens out! When I was locking everyone up last night we had a visitor in the trees above. First one I have seen since we moved here, and of course it was 5 pm and the hippy neighbors come driving down their driveway and story ends here.

I will be so upset if I loose a bird to it! I was so torn on the open run idea, I always had chickens in enclosed runs and soooo wanted a huge area for them to wonder so I made a bigger run in the woods and left the top open.

Tough call, Sally. I lost a Lav. Orp to one in the fall, and it got my Silkie 2 weeks later(I was able to save her). I kept them all penned for a couple of weeks, and he finally went away. I do keep a pellet gun by the back door, but I had to let them back out, I couldn't bear to keep them penned up. My run is covered, but I always keep the gate open so they can run for cover if needs be.

I'M in if my flock which will be 18 weeks of age is co-operating.

Set what ya get! LOL! If it's not many, you can always go for the smallest hatch prize.

Back to Cleaning....

 

[Sally Sunshine]

LOL right now there are 4 young roos in my layer pen! not sure a young roo is much help!

 

[Gardeningmama]

LOL right now there are 4 young roos in my layer pen! not sure a young roo is much help!

For the record, the day my Lav. got eaten, not taken, eaten, in my yard, the stupid roo's stood nearby and watched. I had to chase the hawk off of her, and half wanted to chase off those useless roos too. They were big, and dumb (but young) at the time.

 

[tadpole98]

I

I'M in if my flock which will be 18 weeks of age is co-operating. 

I would get backup eggs. Mine never starts laying until27 weeks
I hear trader joes eggs hatch good for some

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I want to join. was no where close to the amount of eggs guessed last year.... My guess is 9063 set.
love the coffee cup. But I really like the picture of the hen on the wall. did you paint it.
now I have try to catch up on reading the posts

On the first page you'll see a link to put your guess of eggs set. All the various prizes/contest will eventually have links to get to on the first page.