Western slope Coloradans. Where are you?

[fiberart57]

Hello! Hello!
I'm in Palisade, a 'peachy' community about six miles from Grand Junction. I've live in town so I only have six girls, a flock of different breeds; a BO, SS, Australorp, Andalusian, NHR and and EE. I've only had them since May 3 when I started raising them as chicks.

Beautiful pictures, Julie A. I agree, Western Colorado is different. Originally from Tucson, AZ, I used to live in the San Luis Valley but am now in warmer climes.

Mary

 

[camillebug]

Hey Mary, we are about an hour and 10 minutes from Palasades. We make the trip to Bikki's every year for peaches and other goodies.
Glad to hear from other western slopers with the chicken bug. I'll post a picture of the cookie tin water heater we built. It has a 15 watt light bulb and so far it's keeping up but we haven't had any really cold weather yet. It will be easy enough to up the wattage if necessary.

 

[ruralmom]

Hi Mary, I visit palisade often for the produce. Nothing beats a Colorado peaches and pears. I scored a dog bowl heater in Rifle walmart so I did not have to do the tin heater. You can say I am 'builder challenged' and would be better off trying not to build something. I did make the PVC feeder using the 3 inch pipe with holes cut out. Really reduces the waste of the feed. Winter is upon us and the girls are still doing well laying. I have 16 Comet, Black Star and RIR pullets that should start laying right away. Also added white millet and black sunflowers into my feed mix and boy the girls are happy. I hatched out two SLW and what nice hens they are. Very mellow, quiet girls. I also hatched out a brown leghorn, what a beautiful bird with her white cheeks but small stature. Looking forward to spring and a new group of babies.

 

[camillebug]

bump

 

[fiberart57]

After last year's relatively mild winter, I was not prepared for this cold. It's bitter here, -4 degrees on Thursday morning. It was a heat wave today, 19 degrees, but we have more snow coming. I just thought I'd get some chickens.

I've been fighting to keep the waterers clear of ice. I have one of the 3 1/2 gallon heated one that won't stay unfrozen in this kind of cold. I ended up with a dog watering bowl for the outside and I'm considering making a cookie tin heater for inside although they seem to not need water inside the house.

How's the cold in Gypsum, camillebug? How's others in the Western Slope coping with the cold?

Mary

 

[Gunnygranny]

I'm a bit slow at getting going here -- So HI everyone on the Western Slope
We live just outside of Gunnison. And yes its cold here!!! But this winter has been pretty good. We have 7 ladies that bless us with eggs everyday. We got started last spring and by late Aug/early Sept they started laying. We started with a "tractor" and soon realized that just wasn't going to work as well as we had hoped -- so we built the ladies their very own tai mahal of coops. Warm and cozy. It started off with as an overhang on a shed out back --so we insulated it, put windows/glass door and a pet door that now goes into a good size run (which use to be the tractor). All last summer and fall they ran around the yard and loved to dig in our compost pile. We would lock them up very safe and sound at night. They haven't been out much this winter. A couple of them don't seem to mind the snow, but for the most part -- they hang out in their coop. Even with the pet door open if it is below 0 they won't go out. We are looking forward to adding a few more this spring (yes it will come sooner or later!! LOL).

Rita

2 RIR(bottom of the heap) 2 NHR (middle group) and 3 BR (who rule the roost!!!!)