The Front Porch Swing

[TexasLisa]

Hi. I am joining from Virginia, near WV state line. We are originally from WV. I am from Morgantown. My husband is from Grafton, in Taylor county. Love this thread. I am sitting here sipping my freshly brewed green tea.

Welcome from Rosenberg, TX!! It is nice to meet you. Please come anytime! Someone is usually on this site. Some of us are night owls!

Lisa

 

[Beekissed]

Hi. I am joining from Virginia, near WV state line. We are originally from WV. I am from Morgantown. My husband is from Grafton, in Taylor county. Love this thread. I am sitting here sipping my freshly brewed green tea.

VA checkin' in!!!

Welcome to The Front Porch!

Whereabouts are you living near the line? I lived in Pendleton County, WV for that past several years and then moved further west, back towards my home place two years ago. That part of VA that borders the eastern panhandle is just gorgeous!!!

Well the puppy got flogged today..... he got to close and was too rambunctious around the hens and my rooster sent him packing.

Good rooster!! He's a keeper!

 

[lindz8504]

He is a very good rooster and is definitely a keeper for awhile!

 

[Triple Willow]

Well the puppy got flogged today..... he got to close and was too rambunctious around the hens and my rooster sent him packing.

I wish my rooster would flog my dog instead of me! LOL

 

[lindz8504]

 

[DufferChick]

I hope I don't ever have to heat my coops but this "heated roost" method looks pretty good to me:
http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/building_a_heated_roost.htm

Thanks for sharing.The heated roost is a great idea. I could easily do it, if needed. So far, my flock has been doing well in an unheated coop, even in sub-zero temperatures. No frostbite or any other cold-related problems. I selected cold-hearty breeds intentionally. I do not like high-maintenance pets (or friends or family members, either). Trying to keep things simple and to raise vigorous chickens.

 

[Triple Willow]

Thanks for sharing.The heated roost is a great idea.  I could easily do it, if needed.   So far, my flock has been doing well in an unheated coop, even in sub-zero temperatures.  No frostbite or any other cold-related problems.  I selected cold-hearty breeds intentionally.  I do not like high-maintenance pets (or friends or family members, either).    Trying to keep things simple and to raise vigorous chickens.

Ain't that the truth!!! LOL Well I have a mixture of birds but they all pulled through the crazy weather pretty good. A few roosters got a little frostbite but nothing serious. I was looking at my Ancona roo today whose wattles were frostbit pretty good. They are now about 1/2 as long as they were but that natural dubbing looks better than I ever could have done if I had tried. They look plumb natural.

IF I was going to use heat I think that heated roost does look pretty good. I suppose they are puttting the heat tape on the top of the roost. Not sure but I believe I would try putting it on the bottom, to keep from over doing it.

 

[DufferChick]

Quote: We are in the north-western part of VA, at the junction of MD, VA, and WV (not far from Charles Town, WV)). We just recently moved away from the suburbs to a more rural area. WE LOVE IT! Also helping to raise three granddaughters, that live with my husband, my daugther, and me.

My chickens are young. This is their first winter. They were hatched in late August. But the girls are laying eggs everyday! I have a very sweet rooster as well (Partridge rock). So, I may have chicks in the Spring/Summer, assuming that I have a broody hen. I understand that my brahmas are a breed that tend to go broody. Hope so.

 

[Beekissed]

Oooooooooo, pretttttty! I love that time of evening.....when the land is dark and the sky is bright, the contrast is so very beautiful.

Thanks for sharing.The heated roost is a great idea. I could easily do it, if needed. So far, my flock has been doing well in an unheated coop, even in sub-zero temperatures. No frostbite or any other cold-related problems. I selected cold-hearty breeds intentionally. I do not like high-maintenance pets (or friends or family members, either). Trying to keep things simple and to raise vigorous chickens.

Nice to meet someone going into chickens with their head on straight. You and I share that commonality...I don't like high maintenance anything either~life is short so keep it simple...that's my motto! That's why I choose certain breeds of animals to raise...those that will get me there without a hassle and give consistent results without pampering.

That's also why I like Labrador Retriever dogs...simple, friendly, smart, loyal and obedient, easy to find and cheap to obtain. I've never understood folks who want to get hard to manage breeds and then complain about them all the time...seems weird to me. Why would anyone want to fight with a dog for the life of the animal? It's a dog. If one can't live together with ease, get rid of the dog and get one that's worth the time and feed.

 

[lovingmyhens]

He is a very good rooster and is definitely a keeper for awhile!

He's quite handsome!!