Western slope Coloradans. Where are you?

[camillebug]

Since western CO is like a different state than Eastern CO and so much prettier I thought I would start a thread so us westerners would have our own thread. To start, where do you get feed other than Murdochs? Do you heat your coops in the winter? We are just outside Gypsum https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploadimg_view.php?view=gallery

 

[camillebug]

I have a gorgeous EE roo that I need to find a home for. Please help!

 

[ruralmom]

I so agree with the difference in front range to the western slope. I grew up in the front range and there is no comparision. I have 20 + laying hens 4 teans and 25 3 month olds. I don't heat my coop and I am at 6800 ft and we have gotten some wicked winters were we are at North of Craig. I buy my laying pellets at the local feed elevator and them mix cracked corn, home grown wheat, oyster shells, DE and white millet together for a feed. I grown alfalfa for them in the summer and alfalfa hay in the winter. All the kitchen scraps and even some boiled up game for the extra protein. Some would say OMG, other say lucky birds. If ever you need pullets let me know. My fav. thing to do is to buy chicks and them raise to pullet and sell. I usually do standard breeds not really into the 'designer' chicken that cannot hold up to our wild weather.

 

[aussieheelr]

Ruralmom-
if you ever get som BC marans pullets let me know! I have a banty cochin and a BO hopping that they will go broody someday allowing me to order some eggs for them to hatch since it's a small fortune to get BCM chicks shipped.

Oh and Western Colorado really is another state. So very different and I wouldn't have it any other way. I spent my High school years on the eastern side and all my family is over there but I just couldn't live the wonderful life I have over there.

 

[camillebug]

Hey aussieheeler and ruralmom, nice to meet ya. aussie, my dad's going to catch Bigfoot tomorrow morning and put him in a cage for the trip to Glenwood. Looking forward to meeting you in person. We would be interested in getting a pullet that he sired next spring. I'm sure that all of his kids will be as beautiful as he is.
ruralmom thanks for the input. We are at about the same elevation as you so your comments would apply to us as well. I think dad and I are going to do a little draft stoppage this weekend in the coop and we are going to use a low watt light to come on earlier than sunrise to keep up egg production. It might work, might not. We feed layer pellets and corn/bird seed scratch so I think they will be able to keep themselves nice and warm through the winter.

 

[Julie_A]

I LOVE western Colorado! Wish I was there now. Our family lives in Montrose.

Here are a few pics from visits...

Talk about a different world... the first visit there was a complete shock. Living in south Alabama, you look around you and within 100 yards, there are pine trees. There, you could see the San Juans, 40 miles away, from my husband's uncle's back window.

Love it!

 

[CCCChickenman]

Hey,
From: Rural north Canon City CO.
We have 7 Buff Orps, 5-RIReds, 3-Bar Rox,w/1 Roo.2 EE's
Born 05/01/09 girls started laying 9/11 (wifes B-Day)Kids are having a blast collecting 5-6 eggs each day.Had 3-double yolks 2-day.
We think everyone but the EE's are laying,the RIR eggs are beautiful large brown, as well as the Buffs & Rox.Looking to add Black Australorp,Favarolles, and Welsummers, if you know of any quality breeders in Southwest CO.?Please give us a heads-up. Or if you know of a quality swap meet? Thanks,

 

[ruralmom]

camillebug if you want BC marans I will raise them for you. You will have to let me know what BC stands for. Aren't they the birds that lay drk brown eggs? Anyways, I will raise whatever anyone wants. I routinely raise RIR and EE pullets for a lady in Steamboat. I hatched and got chicks last spring. Usually raise 50 or 60 pullets a year. The hatching was a flop. And spent a fortune. I was doing the exact same thing this weekend, draft proofing the houses. We get the WY winds were we are and that can sure chill a bird. We do not use lights or heat lamps in the winter. I do deep mulching though, I it does work. Have a new coop with an attached enclosed run that we put clear plastic around for the solar and then they can always go outside in the winter. I have never lost one to the cold. But I do stick with the hardy breed, no silkies or feather footed birds up here.

 

[camillebug]

Hey, welcome to the western CO thread cccchickenman. ruralmom, BC marans are Black Copper marans . Beautiful birds, broody, very dark brown eggs. aussieheeler took bigfoot off our hands this last sunday and we are going to wait till next spring to get more birds. We only have room for one more bird. A BC Maran would be a great addition to our flock. Julie_A, those pics are great! It's just like that outside our windows this time of year. We see it all of the time and it's hard not to take it for granted. So many people never get to see these sights.

 

[camillebug]

Just wanted to give a bump. Camille and I made the cookie tin water heater last weekend and it works great. I have a cooler for our incubator and I have been assembling parts. So far I have 2 fans, some plastic pipe for the egg holder/turner, thermostat from e-bay, light fixture, junction boxes and computer cords. We are using the blue igloo cooler incubator for inspiration.