Utah!

[Cynthia12]

i dont think its the light that is causeing the laying issue for your girls. my best guess is its due to the storms we have been having and maybe even the fires.

I actually wondered about the storms. We have been getting some quick ones here..they don't last long, but are loud for a bit, dump for a bit, and then done. At least it cools it down a bit.
Hey, you should see how well my chard has done this year! I'm excited..and loving it. I now know the best place to plant it. Had that bug problem at first, but the soapy water did the trick on those earwigs, and after cutting it back, the second time around was beautiful!

 

[sillycmoy]

Casa the Sussex eats like a pig, specially if I put out fresh fruit. Not a big fan on vegs. but if I put banana's, mellon, or berries out there. She eats more the the rest. They have food all day long and fresh water. I don't know, I know Brian has 3 from the same hatch, and he said that his are all extremely small too, not going either. But I'm sure they weren't Bantams. Just so very odd.

As for the babies over night. I opened up the coop this morning, the Sussex flew right out, and the babies all just sat there staring out the door. Only my brave NN/SG has adventured out in the last 2 hours. I might have to bring them in tonight, because I think someone might come get my last 6 Bantam chicks that I was for sure re-homing. So that leaves my 3-3 week olds with the tiny 6 week old Sussex Outside, not sure if that is enough chick pile. But it is nice not having them in the house.

My husband asked this morning if I can finally clean up the brooder area, and move it out. I just said, well I guess if the babies seem okay. So weird to think of moving it outside, its had chicks off and on in there since March. And I want an Incubator. But I know there is no way I can keep all those chicks. hahaha. Might just have to use a Silkie next spring for fun.

 

[sundancenbare]

i dont know whats up with my girls lately. as some of you know i built a new coop last year and did not get the run built until this year and until the run was built they were stuck in the coop for the most part (its a big coop with tons of lighting and fresh air and they were fine, got along totally fine and all that but now they have the run and they are not getting along as well. its crazy to me. normally its the other way around. my girls are just crazy i guess

I think they are just establishing a percking order for the run. Should calm down soon

 

[sundancenbare]

Casa the Sussex eats like a pig, specially if I put out fresh fruit. Not a big fan on vegs. but if I put banana's, mellon, or berries out there. She eats more the the rest. They have food all day long and fresh water. I don't know, I know Brian has 3 from the same hatch, and he said that his are all extremely small too, not going either. But I'm sure they weren't Bantams. Just so very odd.

As for the babies over night. I opened up the coop this morning, the Sussex flew right out, and the babies all just sat there staring out the door. Only my brave NN/SG has adventured out in the last 2 hours. I might have to bring them in tonight, because I think someone might come get my last 6 Bantam chicks that I was for sure re-homing. So that leaves my 3-3 week olds with the tiny 6 week old Sussex Outside, not sure if that is enough chick pile. But it is nice not having them in the house.

My husband asked this morning if I can finally clean up the brooder area, and move it out. I just said, well I guess if the babies seem okay. So weird to think of moving it outside, its had chicks off and on in there since March. And I want an Incubator. But I know there is no way I can keep all those chicks. hahaha. Might just have to use a Silkie next spring for fun.

The sussex are slow to grow and slow to lay but they are so pretty, Enjoy them

 

[RedIII]

Had a bit of a day in the preserve. I had a hawk buzz my chickens, and when I went outside to check on them, everyone was hiding in the bushes. I saw the hawk fly off over some neighbors' houses. Then, later, I was sitting on the back porch and heard a desperate-sounding commotion on the North side of the house. I ran over there in time to see two of my hens (one of them broody) come running toward me. My brother says he looked out the window there and saw a dark bird flying away, and he thinks it was a magpie. The best we can figure is that the magpie tried to grab one of the broody's chicks, and she laid into it.

So.......I let both of my Icee roos out of the garage and locked up at least one broody with small babies. I figure that with three roos, a cockerel, and a territorial turkey hen out there, they should be able to keep any more predator birds away for the rest of the day.

On a totally unrelated note, our peach trees have exploded with produce this year. I didn't realize how bad it was until I walked out there and saw them covered in fruit. One tree had a couple of branches break

I feel bad. I may try to put up some peaches tomorrow, since I'm not planning on doing much else. Between the cough/whatever my body is dealing with, and the medication I'm taking, I don't feel up to going anywhere for long.

So if anyone local wants peaches.............just give me a holler.

 

[sillycmoy]

So one of my EE's has been in the box all morning long. She is hilarious, she is in there growling at herself, I can hear her all the way in the house, of course I have my windows open. Its hilarious the noise she is making down there. And no one has dared go in the coop, she is by far my top hen. The RIR and the NN are just pacing up and down the door, they need to go in and lay, but she won't let them in. hahaha. She keeping taking straw out of the other boxes, and throwing them over her shoulder. Its so funny to watch. I'm praying for a nice Blue egg, but I'm sure both my EEs will lay green eggs. I might have to shoot for a real blue egger next year.

 

[Cynthia12]

silly, can't wait to hear what color you get. Some are real funny to watch, or, listen too. My leghorn really announces..before...she lays. Then, when she's done, she just hops off. Once in a while she will walk all over the yard and tell us about it, but most of her noise comes before she even gets into a nest box, especially if another hen is in a box..she wants that whole dang coop to herself! I've only seen her egg in one other nest box a couple of times, she has her favorite, and if someone else is in it, she cusses them out until they are done. Oh brother!

 

[Desert Springs]

Hi all

,

Lil, Cal Ranch has a huge metal chicken you can put near your fence, by the problem neighbor~~




Now, I'm overly tired due to still working on my runs and coops (and probably overly sensitive 'cause I take my little hatchery business so seriously and can't afford to miss a minute) but just a little rant and clarification

, 'cause this has me burning mad.

Casa and Red, you know how I blew off the Grey Bird Farms incident, so you know how fair I am!!!

Just read earlier in this thread that some pullets I had supplied (sold) had to leave their new home because they had 'huge issues'. They were claimed to be ill upon arriving at their new home, although didn't show any signs when leaving me or when I went to pick them up, as confirmed by the new owner, who agreed they didn't show any symptoms, anymore (he had them for about 4 days). They still have shown no negative signs. Upon return arrival here, because they had already left my place, these pullets went into the cull pen, for processing. Just recently, a compassionate friend became interested in them, sitting in the cull pen, waiting for death. She was so disturbed by the story, she took them to the vet for testing and found them to be free of any illness. They now reside at her home. My new, financially fragile hatchery didn't make a penny off them; in fact it cost about $40 in feed to hold them (two were much older), and gas..so I lost $116. I'm disabled because of an injury and am on social security. My entire hatchery receives NO help, financially or otherwise, so this really, really hurt!!!

Only because I was so concerned, and shocked that those pullets had shown any signs of illness, I drove round trip 4 hours (cost of gas since my husband's economical vehicle was busy and he DOES NOT help with my hatchery in any way, and mine is an old gas hog... $76). I refunded the full price, and picked them up. I'm a very busy person, as those who know me can attest, plus have been ill from exhaustion.

For Red and Casa... this was another case of Grey Bird Farms all over again!!! (After I arrived, new owner claimed he didn't like the way one certain pullet carried her tail. In her defense, she'd been kept in a brooder, on hold, waiting for buyer to be ready for her. Her tail was higher than the brooder ceiling, if she held it up, so she probably learned not to do so. Really don't know. As people act different maybe chickens can too).

I've learned a lot over this situation, and have changed many hatchery plans, what I offer, and how I handle certain dealings. I enjoy my repeat buyers who have come across the state to purchase my birds, placed custom hatching orders for those who are willing to wait for their chicks, and educate those who are new in the industry. I keep track of each one sold, who the buyer is and their phone numbers. I have called each and every one and checked on all birds.... none have shown illness!!!

I guarantee my birds and replace anything!!! I even have a cockerel replacement plan in effect. They won't ever come back here, but are instead sent to our other property. Only one refund has been given, and that's because I offered it.

Just had to clarify the 'huge issues' comment.

Sorry to 'go off' but I'm a very fair person and don't think it was reciprocated!!!

 

[Sphinx]

Red, I heard about the pumpkin as a natural dewormer, and I love the idea, but a lot of people say that it doesn't work. I have been feeding my chickens zucchini and squash all summer, and I wonder if they're related? I think that chicken looks like a hen. I agree with Cynthia- he needs a new lawyer.

I had to prop up a couple of my peach tree's branches this year because it was so covered in fruit. But, the poor tree is only a couple years old, so it only gave me a couple dozen peaches. I peel and freeze mine too, which is nice for smoothies.

Madchicken, that quail coop is really nice!

Birdman, sorry your girls aren't getting along as well. That's frustrating, isn't it?

Silly, I've only raised one speckled sussex. She was raised with BLRW hatched the same time, and she matched pace with them for a long time. She ended up a bit smaller, but for the longest time, they were the same size.

Desert, be very careful not to allow yourself to be taken advantage of. I would never expect someone to drive to pick up a bird I wasn't happy with. That whole situation you described smells funny. Also, while you're hatching out birds from show quality stock, not all chicks will be show quality. People have to understand that. I wouldn't offer refunds because they didn't like how a bird looked. I don't think I'd take any birds back- that is how you'll have illness introduced to your flock, which would be terrible for you.

I've noticed my egg production is down a bit. I think a few of my chickens are moulting, which definitely doesn't help.

Cynthia, here's the rooster booster: http://roosterboosterproducts.com/products.php They have a bunch of stuff, but it's the dewormer I'd use.

 

[Cynthia12]

You guys are gonna get sick of me but I just gitta show this off. Ka-chow!

I g
Bet you would never guess it's for a 3 year old named Colt.

CRAZY GOOD JOB! I know, I'm behind the times here..but this is something else! Had to say something.