Summertime Pretty!
- Thread starter sparrow13
- Start date
morningstar
Cathlete
Those are really pretty chickens, sparrow!
kirsten777
Cathlete
Ask/receive yadda yadda
Betsy and Ruby
The girls relaxing by the back door. They like to peck the door to let me know they are there. Then they settle in and wait for food.
Pearl, my first and favorite.
Sparrow,
I love your garden, it is so beautiful!! Is it difficult to raise chickens? Once I buy a place I would like to start a garden and possibly raise chickens.
Kirsten
sparrow13
Cathlete
Hey Kirsten!
Nah, chickens are easy. Once you get the coop area settled it's pretty much a matter of feeding, watering, and keeping the coop clean, none of which are time consuming. Like any animal they have their wacky moments but all in all, pretty easy. It's fun to see them poking around the yard.
I hope to actually get some chicks in the spring. My current four were passed along to me full grown.
morningstar
Cathlete
Hey Kirsten!
Nah, chickens are easy. Once you get the coop area settled it's pretty much a matter of feeding, watering, and keeping the coop clean, none of which are time consuming. Like any animal they have their wacky moments but all in all, pretty easy. It's fun to see them poking around the yard.
I hope to actually get some chicks in the spring. My current four were passed along to me full grown.
What do you do in the winter? Or do you live in a place that effectively has no winter?
sparrow13
Cathlete
I'm in CT - plenty of winter!
Chickens are more bothered by heat. As long as the coop is draft-free and weather-tight they are fine. Ours is insulated (we have nice big windows on it that are open in the warm weather) and we also use the compost litter method in the winter, which also provides heat. Basically we throw pine shavings thickly over the manure instead of cleaning it out each day and as it breaks down it heats the coop. When it snows the hens hang out in the coop or crawl under it (we have ours raised on stones so they can go under there in any weather).
Chickens are more bothered by heat. As long as the coop is draft-free and weather-tight they are fine. Ours is insulated (we have nice big windows on it that are open in the warm weather) and we also use the compost litter method in the winter, which also provides heat. Basically we throw pine shavings thickly over the manure instead of cleaning it out each day and as it breaks down it heats the coop. When it snows the hens hang out in the coop or crawl under it (we have ours raised on stones so they can go under there in any weather).
sparrow13
Cathlete
Not silly at all! They absolutely do. Betsy is physcially at the head of the pecking order but she's not all that bright so we joke that she's the typical big dumb boss.
Miss Vicky has a bad attitude: she's bitchy and impatient and Betsy's best friend. She sometimes picks on Ruby who is my sweet airhead. We often find Ruby separate from the other hens, just kind of drifting along the yard, looking at flowers and bugs. Pearl is friendly and generally above the coop "gossip" and squabbles. She hangs with everyone, plays no favorites but also won't let the other two pick on Ruby when she's around. She's curious too and loves people. 
sparrow13
Cathlete
Thanks!
I love your house and the beds in the front!! In the second pic, what are the plants/bushes to the right? I like their shape!
mrsmel
Cathlete
The two that look alike are brussell sprout plants, the one that's staked is a tomato plant. There are two islands in our back yard, one is planted with daisies and blackeyed susans, the other with vegetables and herbs.
And thanks! It's a very pretty house, in my opinion.
anne
sparrow13
Cathlete
So far our issues have been minimal which is surprising 'cause we too are loaded with wildlife. The coop is pretty secure and someone is always around when they free-range.
Pearl tangled with a hawk once, briefly, but really that's it for the wild ones. It does happen though, so if it does I'll be bummed but not surprised.
My sis just lost one to a coyote.Honestly my biggest fear is not critters but loose dogs. In June we had a pair come on the property twice and go after my coop/hens. I finally had to call animal control to come pick them up.
I can't recommend backyard chickens enough!! Crazy to think I used to be a city-slicker.
sparrow13
Cathlete
You only need boy parts around if you want fertilized eggs ----> and eventually, chicks. If any fertilized eggs turn up I'll know there's been some chicken hanky-panky going on when I'm not looking.
So far our issues have been minimal which is surprising 'cause we too are loaded with wildlife. The coop is pretty secure and someone is always around when they free-range.
Pearl tangled with a hawk once, briefly, but really that's it for the wild ones. It does happen though, so if it does I'll be bummed but not surprised.
Honestly my biggest fear is not critters but loose dogs. In June we had a pair come on the property twice and go after my coop/hens. I finally had to call animal control to come pick them up.
I can't recommend backyard chickens enough!! Crazy to think I used to be a city-slicker.
Thanks, that's good to know.
I want chickens, not so much for their eggs, but for the pest control they provide! Eggs would be a bonus.
Can you give me a rough idea of the dimensions of your coop. If I were to do this, I would put mine in my vegetable garden to give them additional safety. (Scroll up to pg1 or 2, I attached a couple of pics.)
I was thinking I could get them to free-range in different areas of the property, and herd them back in at night. OR build their coop on wheels, station it outside of the garden area and roll it to different areas on the property at regular intervals.
Oh, one other question - do they make a mess of your vegetable beds?
sparrow13
Cathlete
Janis, let me check with DH on the coop dimensions and get back to you. He actually built it!
As for the garden...chickens will destroy your garden. They are great pest-controllers but to them fresh dirt is the best place to scratch for bugs, and they can make a huge mess. They'll also chow on your seeds. I learned this the hard way! Now everything goes inside the fence. So if you were hoping to use them as pest-control in the actual garden, it probably won't work.
I love the rolling coops! They are really popular right now!
chachi
Cathlete
I love gardening and absolutely love looking at everyones pictures!
Sparrow..your girls are beauties too!
I have an album on my Cathespace of some garden pics. Unfortunately some of my favs wouldn't download.
I was outside Sunday for 8 hours, 4 hours yesterday and about the same today. I got stung on my face today (big welt on my cheek) but I also got quite a few compliments from people walking/driving by about how gorgeous my gardens are..I guess you take the good with the bad right.
Sparrow..your girls are beauties too!
I have an album on my Cathespace of some garden pics. Unfortunately some of my favs wouldn't download.
I was outside Sunday for 8 hours, 4 hours yesterday and about the same today. I got stung on my face today (big welt on my cheek) but I also got quite a few compliments from people walking/driving by about how gorgeous my gardens are..I guess you take the good with the bad right.
ellesan
Cathlete
Summer at Sundance
I just went riding today at Sundance (Utah). Breath-taking views and scenery, amazing weather, company and horses...summer life doesn't get much better than this!
Hmm..that's weird, my pics disappeared and I can't get them to show up again. I created an album under my profile!
I just went riding today at Sundance (Utah). Breath-taking views and scenery, amazing weather, company and horses...summer life doesn't get much better than this!
Hmm..that's weird, my pics disappeared and I can't get them to show up again. I created an album under my profile!
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