The Middle Tennessee Thread

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Oooooo... PRETTY!
I think it's a roo too, but he's GORGEOUS!!!!

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

I am in search of moving boxes. The sturdy ones. I don't mind paying a reasonable cost for good used boxes but really need them. If you know of somewhere I could pick some up for cheap or free please let me know.
I am alreay checking local stores and restaurants. Oh and I am all over craigslist.
Thanks guys.

It is official no more bators running on my property.

@ Lori!

 

[emmalynn]

Liquor (sp?- can you tell I don't drink) boxes make the best moving boxes. They have to be sturdy to keep the bottles from getting broke

 

[SilkieTime]

X2 Boxes and splash cockerel.

 

[CarolJ]

Quote:
I tried to PM you, but your inbox was full. We have a package of boxes leftover from our move several years ago. It's a package of 18 boxes (not sure if all 18 are still there - but it looks like at least most of them are), the size is 22" x 14" x 9.5". They're not huge boxes, but they're a good size. You are welcome to them - free - if you don't mind driving to Franklin to get them. They've just been sitting in our barn for 4 years. So we'll be glad to get rid of them. We got more than we needed for our move - so these have never been used.

If you want them, let me know.

 

[Tracyree]

Wish I'd have saved some boxes from our move, although I'm not sure I want to help you move away from us when I just discovered you're nearby!

So folks, I'd like to hear how you get your chicks acclimated to your older birds. Do you seriously wait until the chicks are full grown?

I've been going back and forth about how to do it. One, I could build a little tiny mini coop for them to grow up in and section off the run.

Two, I could get the older birds used to them by sectioning them off for a few day but Beijing the chicks back to sleep in their brooder. After a few days I could try mixing them? Being sure to provide hiding places for chicks? Sounds scary.

Which would you do? The chicks are 6 weeks but still so tiny. The big girls look like dinosaur next to them. I put their little mini trator in the big girl run today and the big girls are curious, but don't seem overly aggressive. Might be a different story if the wire wasn't between them.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I am really spoiled when it comes to transitioning chicks outside. I usually just dump them out in the silkie pen at around 4 weeks and tell them to have at it. The silkies are so mellow that they seem to just accept the new intrusions. To move them into the large fowl coops I do wait until they are closer to full grown. By that point they would have seen each other through the wire for about a month. I move the new kids over at dusk and keep an eye on them to make sure the new kids are okay. You just need to make sure that the little guys have a place where they can get away from the full size girls. The mini coop with a divided run would be a great way to do that, especially if the run fence had a hole big enough for the babies to come through but not big enough for the big girls. They have to have an escape hatch.

It is possible for the big girls to peck the babies to pieces if the little guys can't get away. I had a young cockerel once get pecked on the head all the way down to the skull bone. He ended up recovering fine, but he had to live in the house for about a month. It was sad.

You might as well go ahead and build another coop (mini or not). You know you're gonna need to eventually.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

When do we want to do our next meet up? Do we want to go eat or meet in one of the parks for a swap?

 

[HBuehler]

Sorry no help here on how to transition them..my young one's go in a pen together and have big birds..or bigger at least on both sides. As they get bigger they get moved around several times..I think that's why my birds don't argue with each other often..I move them around frequently so they just accept who ever I put in the pens.I must also be spoiled I never have much trouble..other than with Sam and he's going to be Sam so they may as well get used to him right away and get over it.Now,if that little dude ever gets out I'm sure there is a line of big roosters ready to kick some mini Ameraucana butt

It doesn't take much longer to build something big over small so don't waste time and build it BIG because it won't be big enough any way before you have it finished

I'm ready for another meet up..as long as I'm at home which I'm hoping won't be the weekend after Labor Day. I only have 27 chicks left and I'm hoping they leave this weekend so I won't have any needing to find a new home

Emmalyn-your down to 2 little fluffy chicks..the one that was smashed and shrink wrapped didn't make it

 

[cpegram]

I am like Citygirl at 4 weeks they go out with silkies and when I have another group going out I move the older ones to my breeding pens use them to grow out till about 16 weeks then as Anne said at dusk I move them to the big coop and they quickly find areas to hide if they need to butt all has gone well so far.

Def ready for a meet up I will ve out of town next weekend but will be home labor day. I don't have any chicks to sell. I have another splash silkie roo I need to rehome. Not the one pictured but still bobbi Porto I swear it's year of the Roos