What did you do with your flock today?

[TropicalBabies]

Weather update:

We've been getting hammered with ice pellets (not sleet, not rain, not snow....pellets) since yesterday at about 4pm. Woke up to so much ice piled up on the front porch that we couldnt open the front door without shoveling. Hard to do when the ice tries to form a solid block.

The reds weren't in the greatest of shape this morning, but I didnt see any blue wattles or combs. They just were NOT thrilled when I opened the coop door and they saw what was outside. I had to force them to come out so I could get them all to the enclosed run (about half of them I had to pick up and carry over because the ice was just miserable). I got them to eat and drink and then got most of them to agree to go into the little's coop. The other 6 are in the wrapped dog crate I had set up weeks ago for the new buffs. One red got overlooked and left in the coop alone for just 10-15 minutes. I found her when I went to clean out the poop. In just those few minutes alone, her comb had already turned mostly blue. I took her to the little's coop and put her in a nesting box where she snuggled down right away into the bedding. Checked on her a little later and she was still there and her comb looked a LOT better.

Everyone now has access to food and water (that I have to boil and take out there every hour because it keeps freezing)...and hopefully the warmth from more chickens huddled together will keep them all from freezing. The guineas went into the little's coop last night and havent come out even to drink, but I do hear them chirping in there, so I think they're snug. I'm afraid to open the human door to check on them all again because they usually all panic and rush out the chicken opening into the enclosure. Not that any of them wanted to even budge from the coop after I opened their little place so they could get out to the run. I want them to stay where it's dry and at least warmER if not actually warm. A few chickens have ventured out a bit, but I'm confining them to the enclosed run and the one coop until tomorrow.

Dogs and goats/sheep didnt seem bothered by the cold this morning. They're all under the barn until sundown, when they'll go back to the other shelter like last night.

I had to throw on a blanket just to read that. Brrrrrr. I had no idea Arkansas had such cold weather. You must send me photos (from the safety of your warm home) out the window.. of a window lol, it sounds vicious outside. I bet you are learning a TON about animal husbandry this winter. Would love to hear your thoughts, hindsight about your experiences. ♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

Thanks guys. I was just sort of shocked at how quickly she went from fine to gone This winter has been quite heartbreaking and super hard on my daughter. She’s just such a soft soul…she told me she doesn’t know if she should bond with anymore chickens because she’s bad luck and they will die :-( ugh. She asked me to share this picture with my “chicken friends”

View attachment 2982019

On a less sad note, Puff is starting to be a good little rooster boy. Elinor and Coco were carrying on about laying today and everyone came to the coop to participate. Coco clearly felt Elinor needed a nest box friend…and Puff wanted to sympathize

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And Puff felt he needed to be there with them…so he went next door to the other box
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And Coco decided maybe he was lonely…View attachment 2982023

Chicken antics are the best part about owning chickens

I'm really sorry to hear your daughter has taken that on. She is a beauty inside and out. The only good thing about your experiences is the learning and that is priceless. Unfortunately I think, well, at least my chicken keeping has been a learning curve. The sacrifices of one saved another. I think with your extreme prolapse (?) That you were quick on your feet and in the solution. I don't think I would have been as calm as you... I don't know, I have never had anything close to that happen and touch wood, hope to never. It sounds just horrific. I am so sorry for your loss.

On your flip side. Your chickens are wonderful and beautiful and comical and a joy to see.

 

[629864]

I had to throw on a blanket just to read that. Brrrrrr. I had no idea Arkansas had such cold weather. You must send me photos (from the safety of your warm home) out the window.. of a window lol, it sounds vicious outside.

This is after shoveling the front porch twice....well, shoveling enough to at least open the door. Lotta good it did.

I bet you are learning a TON about animal husbandry this winter. Would love to hear your thoughts, hind sight about your experiences. ♡

My first bit of learned wisdom that I'd share with anyone thinking of starting a flock, buying goats, acquiring a milk cow, whatever...is that no matter how prepared you THINK you are, you aren't. So prepare more. Prepare so that you think you're being ridiculous. Because you'll probably find later that your ridiculousness was also not quite enough, but those extra efforts will make life a whole lot easier for all involved.

Like putting in the hot wire. I thought it was overkill. "These are 120-160 pound adult dogs. They won't jump a 4.5 foot fence. We just need to make sure they can't dig under the fence." Yup. See where that got me? Put up fencing PRIOR to acquiring livestock and/or dogs. And put it 18 inches higher than you think you'll need.

Or how about this gem: "We have two huge coops and a covered run. That will be enough for the nights and during the day they can free-range." Shoulda thought a LOT more about cruddy weather and where the chickens will get shelter. Sure, Arkansas is only supposed to get snow once every few years. But that hasnt turned out to be true since we moved here. Last year we got 11 inches of snow one month after moving here. And that snow didn't melt for weeks. And even if you "only" get one ice storm per year, those are some pretty miserable days to try to help everyone survive through. Hindsight tells me we should have gotten a covered run set up between the two coops before ever getting our first chicken. It wouldnt have needed to be wide or fancy...just a covered space where they could get from one coop to the other without getting soaked or frostbitten. Hindsight also helps see where the previous owbers of the property went wrong. These coops should have been MUCH closer together. You could still house birds separately, but you'd allow yourself to have at least one shared run for the occasional horrible weather. Also the reds' coop doesnt have proper ventilation. Well, it DID, but the previous owners plugged up the vents at the top of the walls. I've created a work around, so it's livable for the ladies, but in summer I'll be removing those plugs so the coop vents properly.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning everyone sure hope this find all well..
Rest of the day gone moving the money to the house account. Your Daughter is is wise beyond her years.

 

[TropicalBabies]

This is after shoveling the front porch twice....well, shoveling enough to at least open the door. Lotta good it did.

View attachment 2982229


My first bit of learned wisdom that I'd share with anyone thinking of starting a flock, buying goats, acquiring a milk cow, whatever...is that no matter how prepared you THINK you are, you aren't. So prepare more. Prepare so that you think you're being ridiculous. Because you'll probably find later that your ridiculousness was also not quite enough, but those extra efforts will make life a whole lot easier for all involved.

Like putting in the hot wire. I thought it was overkill. "These are 120-160 pound adult dogs. They won't jump a 4.5 foot fence. We just need to make sure they can't dig under the fence." Yup. See where that got me? Put up fencing PRIOR to acquiring livestock and/or dogs. And put it 18 inches higher than you think you'll need.

Or how about this gem: "We have two huge coops and a covered run. That will be enough for the nights and during the day they can free-range." Shoulda thought a LOT more about cruddy weather and where the chickens will get shelter. Sure, Arkansas is only supposed to get snow once every few years. But that hasnt turned out to be true since we moved here. Last year we got 11 inches of snow one month after moving here. And that snow didn't melt for weeks. And even if you "only" get one ice storm per year, those are some pretty miserable days to try to help everyone survive through. Hindsight tells me we should have gotten a covered run set up between the two coops before ever getting our first chicken. It wouldnt have needed to be wide or fancy...just a covered space where they could get from one coop to the other without getting soaked or frostbitten. Hindsight also helps see where the previous owbers of the property went wrong. These coops should have been MUCH closer together. You could still house birds separately, but you'd allow yourself to have at least one shared run for the occasional horrible weather. Also the reds' coop doesnt have proper ventilation. Well, it DID, but the previous owners plugged up the vents at the top of the walls. I've created a work around, so it's livable for the ladies, but in summer I'll be removing those plugs so the coop vents properly.

K. That is a really pretty picture- that, I know it is easy for me to say right?
Well, I think you sound pretty normal for any climate and you have had no losses cept the stupid guinea. Just one popsicle chicken with a blue comb (touch wood) I think you should give yourself a lot of credit ♡♡♡ I'm blinking impressed!
Shoots, I live in a pretty favorable climate and lost so many to heat and cocci my first 2 years oh, and my stupid little dog was the worst. So disappointed in myself for not catching onto that way sooner.
Well, when spring springs I'm sure you will be raring to go and ofcourse there will be new lessons.
My pal who took the 3 kittens is freaking out like it is difficult to adopt 3 fully vaxxed, fixed, clean kittens... in a big fairly empty, solid home lol. Good to be us ♡♡♡

 

[TropicalBabies]

Caught my young patient mating one of the young rsl's and she was pretty ok with it. They seem to really prefer him over his brother. Well, glad he is feeling pretty good.

 

[629864]

K. That is a really pretty picture- that, I know it is easy for me to say right?
Well, I think you sound pretty normal for any climate and you have had no losses cept the stupid guinea. Just one popsicle chicken with a blue comb (touch wood) I think you should give yourself a lot of credit ♡♡♡ I'm blinking impressed!
Shoots, I live in a pretty favorable climate and lost so many to heat and cocci my first 2 years oh, and my stupid little dog was the worst. So disappointed in myself for not catching onto that way sooner.
Well, when spring springs I'm sure you will be raring to go and ofcourse there will be new lessons.
My pal who took the 3 kittens is freaking out like it is difficult to adopt 3 fully vaxxed, fixed, clean kittens... in a big fairly empty, solid home lol. Good to be us ♡♡♡View attachment 2982332

Thanks Trop. I lost a lot of chickens and guineas to the dogs and coyotes at first. We started with 26 guineas and all but 3 are gone. Mostly to coyotes. The reds...well, I think being ex bats they just didnt have the street smarts to avoid the dogs and coyotes. Started with 23. Now we've had a steady 16 since September. None try to go over the fence where the dogs are. And only the one crazy girl goes out too far.

But I still feel just AWFUL about the weather. Not that I can control the actual weather, but not being set up properly so they can all stretch their legs and eat and drink freely...it's not nice. They all got out here and there today, but about 1/3 of them just arent smart enough to go back into the coop when they get cold. One red hunkered down alone in a milk crate in the run instead of going in. When i made her go in, she was mad about it....blue comb and all.

However, all 37 birds (34 chickens and 3 guineas) are all in the little's coop tonight. That coop has two 10-ft roosting bars and more room to maneuver on the coop floor since the bars are 4 ft high. Plus there are 6 nesting boxes. The top of the walls are vented properly too, so it never stinks in there when I open the coop in the mornings. It's so cold and the shared body heat is so necessary that there hasnt been a bit of squabbling..the boys havent even chased each other. Just a lot of snuggling.

 

[Jenessa_096]

I cleaned the coop today, changed the waters, and brought in a new feed bag to fill my feed buckets. I’m doing a lot more for my bunnies today, because my bunny cottontail got neutered. He is eating and recovering well!

 

[kurby22]

This is after shoveling the front porch twice....well, shoveling enough to at least open the door. Lotta good it did.

View attachment 2982229


My first bit of learned wisdom that I'd share with anyone thinking of starting a flock, buying goats, acquiring a milk cow, whatever...is that no matter how prepared you THINK you are, you aren't. So prepare more. Prepare so that you think you're being ridiculous. Because you'll probably find later that your ridiculousness was also not quite enough, but those extra efforts will make life a whole lot easier for all involved.

Like putting in the hot wire. I thought it was overkill. "These are 120-160 pound adult dogs. They won't jump a 4.5 foot fence. We just need to make sure they can't dig under the fence." Yup. See where that got me? Put up fencing PRIOR to acquiring livestock and/or dogs. And put it 18 inches higher than you think you'll need.

Or how about this gem: "We have two huge coops and a covered run. That will be enough for the nights and during the day they can free-range." Shoulda thought a LOT more about cruddy weather and where the chickens will get shelter. Sure, Arkansas is only supposed to get snow once every few years. But that hasnt turned out to be true since we moved here. Last year we got 11 inches of snow one month after moving here. And that snow didn't melt for weeks. And even if you "only" get one ice storm per year, those are some pretty miserable days to try to help everyone survive through. Hindsight tells me we should have gotten a covered run set up between the two coops before ever getting our first chicken. It wouldnt have needed to be wide or fancy...just a covered space where they could get from one coop to the other without getting soaked or frostbitten. Hindsight also helps see where the previous owbers of the property went wrong. These coops should have been MUCH closer together. You could still house birds separately, but you'd allow yourself to have at least one shared run for the occasional horrible weather. Also the reds' coop doesnt have proper ventilation. Well, it DID, but the previous owners plugged up the vents at the top of the walls. I've created a work around, so it's livable for the ladies, but in summer I'll be removing those plugs so the coop vents properly.

I love hearing about the things you are learning!! My plan when I retire is to have a couple of goats, maybe a mini cow and a LOT more chickens...so share away!! I won't be retiring to the snow, but weather planning is weather planning! So I will try to soak it all in!

I have to agree with @TropicalBabies that your snow looks so pretty!! I am sure that worrying about all your babies makes it far less pretty though.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Oops @TropicalBabies spoke too soon...doesn't sound like they were at all happy afterwards!! Yikes!! Very mad kitties! Hopefully today has been better for all of you!

I haven't had much chance to catch up on threads, but today ended up being a sad day and wanted to vent. I went out yesterday to check egg boxes and noticed fresh blood in the shavings...and looked around at the chickens and found my daughter's very favorite chicken she named after herself...with a very significant amount of her insides hanging out and she was straining and bleeding. I brought her inside and gave her an epsom soak, wiped it with witch hazel, sprayed it with Vetrycin, and tried to push it all back inside her and then felt around a bit for evidence of an egg...she immediately pushed and strained and out came her insides again. I tried holding it all in place with a disposable face mask, and then gave her a epsom soak again this morning. I was letting her rest while in meetings and she was gone by the time the meetings were over. My daughter is just going to be devastated and I am dreading her coming home from school. I'm most concerned with the fact that this only leaves 6 standard sized hens that are laying and can handle the boy attention. The big boys don't seem to have much interest in the bantams, even though they aren't super tiny. Maybe it will get better when they get closer to POL, but so far its the big girls getting ALL the attention.

SO, it's probably not the best solution, but I'm thinking the best way to soften the blow is to see if we get a chance at an Aria Jr. baby by hatching a few of our eggs. It just so happens that Miss Betty has decided to go broody again...so I gave her about 5 eggs that are the most fresh and we will see if anything happens...I'm not sure that Aria Jr had laid any fertile eggs yet, so may be a bit of a let down, but fluffy chicks always help, right? So fingers crossed we have some luck and Betty provides a proper broody incubator...figured it wouldn't hurt anything to try.

RIP Aria Jr. we will always love you.

Oh nooooooo, I’m so sorry Kurby.