OT - My random picture I am sharing with you

Sea2Ski

I just built a new run for my chickens and gave them a new perch.  I think they approve.

Chubbs

Sweet

blasting

From what I can see, I really like where you live.

Do you eat the chickens, or eggs only?

bgebrent

Nice!  Do you deliver fresh eggs?

northGAcock

Love it. That rocks.....

Sea2Ski

@blasting believe it or not, and to make a long story short, 15 years ago I got them as tools.  I used them to eradicate the ticks in my yard. I got eggs as a side benefit. I was single and getting 6-10 eggs a day - that is a lot.  So I gave them away at work. Then people would barter work tasks for them so they would get to the top of the egg list.  About 3 years ago I lost my flock to old age. We decided to rebuild the coop and run area this spring since we missed having the birds on the property.  Now I have 12 very happy and friendly 8 week old pullets. I should be getting a dozen or so eggs a day come August.

So @bgebrent I do not deliver, but anytime you stop by, I will be happy to give you what I have. 

bgebrent

Sea2Ski said:

@blasting believe it or not, and to make a long story short, 15 years ago I got them as tools.  I used them to eradicate the ticks in my yard. I got eggs as a side benefit. I was single and getting 6-10 eggs a day - that is a lot.  So I gave them away at work. Then people would barter work tasks for them so they would get to the top of the egg list.  About 3 years ago I lost my flock to old age. We decided to rebuild the coop and run area this spring since we missed having the birds on the property.  Now I have 12 very happy and friendly 8 week old pullets. I should be getting a dozen or so eggs a day come August.

So @bgebrent I do not deliver, but anytime you stop by, I will be happy to give you what I have. 

I hope one day this happens brother!  Chickens follow directions well!

bud812

Cluck me.

Sea2Ski

bgebrent said:

I hope one day this happens brother!  Chickens follow directions well!

I had a rooster I would put in a cat carrier in the summer and put him in my utility garage, which was basically a basement, so when he crowed it was not as loud.  Nice and cool in there. He was trained to fly to the carrier and climb in it.  Longest distance was about 50 feet.  He was the best.  Super friendly and protected the flock fiercely. His name was "A-La-King". Yes you can train a chicken!  ....but just a tiny bit. 

Sea2Ski

Just watched one of the birds catch, tenderize and eat a frog.  Only got one (bad) picture.



I I think these three guys saw it and are now a bit nervous. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Fresh eggs are one of my very favorites things.

Sea2Ski

I here you @Ozzie_Isaac. I have a 2 egg omelette just about every morning. Next month I should start getting 8-10 eggs a day.  

EggNorth

Very nice.  I grew up on a farm and miss having the animals around.

kl8ton

Can't wait to get more.  Had to sell all 54 chickens for our remodel. 

Nice enclosure.  Does it have a top?  I kept losing chickens to hawks.  My roosters were vigilant but couldn't protect all at once.  

XC242

Those are some pretty content looking chickens...

Botch

My next-door neighbor has about nine, said I'd get the "extra" eggs but hasn't happened.  They're all very curious to watch me mow the lawn.  As long as he never gets a damn rooster, I'm fine with them (along with his 4 yappy terriers and two unusually-large tortoises, six or so rabbits, and a German Shepard police dog).  

Sea2Ski

@kl8ton. Yes it has a top. Lost several to hawks in the past.  When I decided to rebuild, I wanted to make it as realistically predator proof as possible. I Built it this spring.  

The run area is 16x20. It is wrapped in 1"x2" 14 gauge galvanized wire which was black nylon coated. It was stapled to the upright 4x4s, roof and at the base which are 2x10" with 8" buried vertically using about 2000 galvanized 3/4" staples. In certain parts, like a seperate smaller roof covered run that they have access to 24/7 and their favorite dust bath area, the bottom 24" is also wrapped in 1/2" galvanized hardware cloth to keep raccoon hands from grabbing a neck. Doors are double latched.  

As a final layer of precaution, I put a 24" skirt along the base extending away from the run to keep digging predators at bay.  Something would have to know to back up from the bottom, dig down, tunnel 28" and 10" deep to get through.  

With all the birds I have lost to predators, this will work for me unless one of 3 animals want a chicken dinner: mink, weasel or big enough snake. But, I do not think I have any in my immediate area.  At least that I know of.

@Botch when I am home they free range all over. It is funny when I start up the lawnmower. It is like the dinner bell - they all come running like mad and follow behind me as I cut.  They gather up all the moths, spiders, and the occasional frog/toad that did not get out of the way fast enough. Anything injured is consumed.  

They say say chickens are dumb.  They are in some ways, but intelligent in others. And yes, they all have personality.  The one that I think will kill herself is this one.  She is the inquisitive one. She is always looking, investigating, and hopping on everything. I can not help but think she will make a mistake someday. I hope not...

kl8ton

Very impressive!

Cashfan

That is a very nice chicken house!!

A friend of mine has a white chicken, can't remember what kind that is, but he acts more like a dog than chicken. He runs up to cars when they pull in and makes a bunch of noise like a dog would. He has been known to sneak up on people and hit them in the heels like a dog might nip someone. He doesn't have claws so he doesn't hurt anybody, but he catches you off guard when he does it. He gets an attitude from time to time and has to get scolded or locked up. Follows the owner around like just like a dog would. He will crow and cluck a lot when people are over or he is on the phone. 

He is a really unique chicken. He has been able to hide from raccoons and other predators when he is left out at night from time to time. His other chicken buddies were not able to fare so well. He has a good spot that the owner can't even find him and he won't make a sound even when called. Just holds up until daylight.

Pretty neat to see him interact with the cats too. He actually taunts them and bullies them a little bit, its pretty funny.

I never knew chickens could have such personalities. We didn't have very many on the farm when I was growing up.

BikerBob

I once ended up with one sex link pullet. She slept in the dog house with the dog and roamed where ever she wanted. I found probably fifty eggs hidden in the garage one day. They were not all fresh.
Feeding or watering the dog after dark was a scary experience if I forgot and that jet black thing came at me in the air.

Bob