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Survival and Preparations Long and short term survival and 'prepping'. |
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#121
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Toyota Guy, I have 2 six month Silkies, a Blue and a White. Both sold to me by Amber Waves as hens because I can't have roosters in my suburban neighborhood but recently, the white one has been crowing like a rooster occasionally. Oh-oh, lol!
Why do you say they are a pain? |
#122
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Yesterday morning we got our 300th egg! (that's 25 dozen eggs in 54 days)
We've been very much enjoying the hens and their abundance of fresh eggs. They have been fun to have around, not a lot of trouble to maintain, and the eggs are awesome. My biggest regret is that I didn't do this a long time ago. I thought about it many times over the years, but just... never got around to it. I highly recommend chickens for anyone who has a few square feet of space to keep them! And yes, fresh eggs make GREAT egg nog. I love all the photos of the fresh chicks & the ducklings, and Hopi's fresh eggs! C'mon all you chicken farmers, post your pics! And all you wannabe chicken farmers... get your coops built, cuz spring is here and it's chick season. Don't be missing out on the fun! |
#123
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this is what it looked like a couple of months ago.
it's almost done had to modify it a little. i will be expanding it to the left under the tree for more room. should work out fine when im done.
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http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php Thank your neighbor and fellow gun owners for passing Prop 63. For that gun control is a winning legislative agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Dj8tdSC1A contact the governor https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php In Memory of Spc Torres May 5th 2006 al-Hillah, Iraq. I will miss you my friend. NRA Life Member. |
#125
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I don't know what your predator situation is like, but just remember that chicken wire keeps chickens in but does NOT keep predators out. A raccoon will rip that chicken wire off of there in a heartbeat. If your yard is predator free already then nevermind... |
#128
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http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php Thank your neighbor and fellow gun owners for passing Prop 63. For that gun control is a winning legislative agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Dj8tdSC1A contact the governor https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php In Memory of Spc Torres May 5th 2006 al-Hillah, Iraq. I will miss you my friend. NRA Life Member. |
#129
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look what we started haha!
good to see more and more people getting chickens. 1 of ours has stopped laying because its molting. the other 2 are still doing about 1 a day. I might get another RIR from my uncle. Sorry to hear some were attacked by animals and the 1 odd one, it happens. Im surprised some of you guys keep track of how many eggs they have laid. All I know is that we havent bought any eggs in almost a year except 2 weeks ago when we ate all the ones we had and were going out of town for the weekend we bought a dozen.
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2 HANDGUNS STOLEN! 1 RECOVERED READ HERE Chickens Want to get into Ham Radio? Click here http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=202581 |
#130
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1 - get an account at a photo hosting site like photobucket. 2 - upload your pics to the hosting site 3 - select the uploaded photo you want to post 4 - copy the direct link code for the photo 5 - click on the icon above that looks like a mountain & sun 6 - paste the direct link code in the line and click OK See below for an example. Chic.... er um turkeys
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#131
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City restrictions?
We ain't got no stinking city restrictions. But you might. So... where do you live? It should be easy enough to look up the rules for your city. More and more cities are allowing small backyard flocks. There's usually a limit, like maybe 6 hens. Many cities don't allow roosters. There's often a minimum setback distance from the coop to your neighbors house.. like 30 or 50 feet maybe. It depends on your local ordinance. But it should be easy enough to find out. |
#132
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go to this site they have forums and lots of info on counties and city regulations and ordinances
www.backyardchickens.com
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http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php Thank your neighbor and fellow gun owners for passing Prop 63. For that gun control is a winning legislative agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Dj8tdSC1A contact the governor https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php In Memory of Spc Torres May 5th 2006 al-Hillah, Iraq. I will miss you my friend. NRA Life Member. |
#133
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Proud NRA member. Calguns Contributor CRPA Member |
#134
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As seen in Driftwood's pictures, I too practice defensive gardening to succeed and coexist with my neighbors, the gophers and the bunnies, not to mention the birds and the squirrels who reap their tax on my fruit. My fruit trees got a cage of chicken wire around the roots when planted to keep the gophers from eating the roots before the trees get a chance to mature, the fruits I decided to share with the birds and the squirrels by wrapping the ones I want with bags made out of fiberglass door screening. Too many for my family to eat all at once anyway. The veggies, a wall of chicken wire to keep them out. Still figuring out how to keep the horned caterpillar from my tomato plants without spray or chemical dust though. Had to resort to systemic insecticide to protect my citrus for this year so that they get a chance to grow precious leaves without destruction from leaf miners that currently infest Orange County, consumable citrus fruits will have to be harvested next year. And Tanglefoot to keep the ants from climbing them. My chickens, mostly bantams, are fully enclosed in 1/4 galvanized wire under my deck with wood shavings and straw as bedding to keep the field mice from eating their food, I had very fat mice several years ago when the coop was not fully enclosed. The chickens "freerange" only for a couple of hours while I'm out in the yard because the hawks are relentless. Ahhh, the joys of keeping in touch with the land, huh?
City restrictions? Well,,,, just don't have roosters I guess. There is an very active 4H Club in the area soooo... I have been harvesting eggs, Toyota guy, but no destroyed eggs so far. Tiny eggs though and much fewer compared to the 8 Rhode Island Reds I had until 5 years ago. Boy they lived a long time before they finally kicked the bucket (like 8 years or so). Kids couldn't stand the thought of eating them so they just died of old age one by one. Last edited by trg-s338; 03-28-2013 at 10:30 PM.. |
#135
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Do you have a picture of your veggie garden with the chicken wire wall?
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Thanks, Emil |
#136
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So you guys realize that we're following a thread on a gun forum, started by a guy that keeps a running total of his eggs by number and weight? Brilliant!
My newest 4 girls are about 3 weeks old now. The original 4 are almost 1 year old, and we have been getting 2 to 4 eggs per day which is plenty for just my wife and I. I went about this coop thing very differently than most, pics and a write up to follow soon. My 3 week old babies are currently living in this box in the master bathtub. [IMG][/IMG]
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When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it. Frederic Bastiat |
#137
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I can't believe how much I love this thread! Im getting some later this year when I retire.
But Bakersfield gets really hot in the summer and will just shade and water do? I heard about freezing water bottle and such?
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TURNING and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. William Butler Yeats 1865-1939 |
#138
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Do your research on heritage chicken breeds, most are very tolerant of hot or cold weather with access to shade and water, its really only the hybrid meat birds that will drop dead in the heat. Certain breeds are more heat tolerant than others though.
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Proud NRA member. Calguns Contributor CRPA Member |
#139
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Quote:
You will want to provide them with a shallow pool to stand in. The water level should be no deeper than their legs so they can stand in it without their body getting wet. The sides should be low so they can step into it. This will help them manage their body heat in the summer.
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#140
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Quote:
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Looking forward to seeing your coop setup! . |
#141
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I will be looking into getting chickens later this month or the first of May. what are the best kind to get. I can have 4 in my city.
__________________
http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php Thank your neighbor and fellow gun owners for passing Prop 63. For that gun control is a winning legislative agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Dj8tdSC1A contact the governor https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php In Memory of Spc Torres May 5th 2006 al-Hillah, Iraq. I will miss you my friend. NRA Life Member. |
#142
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We currently have 7 hens. 4 Americauna, 2 Barred Plymouth Rock, 1 Rhode Island Red. Each of them lays about 6 eggs a week. (this time of year) If I was limited to 4 hens I would probably get 2 Americauna's for the blue eggs and 2 of "something else" that lays brown eggs (so many to choose from) just because I like the look of a carton of mixed blue & brown eggs. |
#143
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I started with Rhode Island Reds cause they are heavy layers, they lay just about an egg a day per hen if they are happy, comfortable & well fed. start here: Quote:
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#144
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Very cool thread! Chickens were a very big part of my growing up. I hated them then as they were a chore for a kid that had better things to do! I wish I could go back 35 years and have the chickens and the 600+ pigs that drove me to join to the Navy. Maybe I will get a few chickens for the back yard, no pig though!
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#145
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http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php Thank your neighbor and fellow gun owners for passing Prop 63. For that gun control is a winning legislative agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Dj8tdSC1A contact the governor https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php In Memory of Spc Torres May 5th 2006 al-Hillah, Iraq. I will miss you my friend. NRA Life Member. |
#146
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My Rhode Island Reds are fairly well behaved but sometimes I get one that does not want to cooperate when it comes to egg collecting time.
I HAD a RIR rooster that grew to be downright onery so I got rid of him. My Barred Rocks are quite calm and well mannered.
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#147
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[IMG][/IMG] Actually, they weren't getting enough attention in the bathtub, now in the living room, we can sit and watch chicken tv. Whose the weird one now?
__________________
When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it. Frederic Bastiat |
#148
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My wife hatches chickens and quails for her kindergarden class to watch and learn and then she brings them home on the weekend so we can keep an eye on them. We also hatches ducks last year and for their exercise we would fill up the bath tub and let them swim around awhile everyday. They are all characters to watch thats for sure.
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#149
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Our cats would love chicken TV (TV dinner !) Post more photos as they grow up! . |
#150
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Jeez... as if the antis didn't already think that gun owners are a bunch of rednecks... now here's another one of you guys admitting to having poultry in your bathtub! But thanks guys for making me not feel so weird just because I diligently record the weights of all the eggs we get. Heh. Poultry in the bathtub... . |
#152
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The babies are 2 Dominique, and 2 New Hampshire Reds.
My outdoor girls are 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Black Australorps. I only just got into this chicken thing last May. I borrowed a friends chicken tractor until I could finish building my first coop. I think chickens are the best bang for the buck as far as having fresh food available right in your own backyard.
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When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it. Frederic Bastiat |
#153
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Saw this on Amazon and made me think of this thread. Free Kindle book on chicken breeds.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JI3M6O |
#154
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did some finishing up today. before I go away for a couple of weeks for the Army.
doubled up the wire on the roof also. but this is what I have finished up today. will be adding sand in there hopefully today. I can take these out if I have to. just have to clean this up later.
__________________
http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php Thank your neighbor and fellow gun owners for passing Prop 63. For that gun control is a winning legislative agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Dj8tdSC1A contact the governor https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php In Memory of Spc Torres May 5th 2006 al-Hillah, Iraq. I will miss you my friend. NRA Life Member. |
#155
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It was getting a little poopy in the hen house so I gave it a quick cleaning this afternoon.
One of the features I added to the coop which has worked out quite well is the pair of "trap doors" in the floor. They make it very easy to sweep the turds & dirty bedding into a bin under the floor and I'm really glad I added them to the plan. I think the setup is pretty self explanatory with a few photos: Gotta get rid f that chicken poop somehow! |
#156
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Does anyone vaccinate their chickens against salmonella? Commercial egg handling is quite different abroad and it seems that consuming under-cooked eggs is very common and safe because the farms inoculate their chickens. The US does not vaccinate chickens for salmonella thus all the warnings to fully cook eggs.
In Japan, the eggs are kept at room temperature at the grocery store and have two dates: One date to indicate until when it's safe to eat raw and the other date is when to consume by. How do you guys store/process your eggs? |
#157
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Mine go right from the nesting boxes to the fridge.
I know not refrigerating eggs is becoming the thing to do, but I don't know why. If my cooked, over easy yolks are a bit runny I don't worry, I never eat raw eggs.
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When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it. Frederic Bastiat |
#158
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i salute your efforts and skills but this will never do. chickens are indiscriminate with their bowels and you will soon tire of constantly cleaning that filthy water on a very regular basis.
better to add a hanging water system where they cant reach and roost and crap in their own water i hear the nipples work well although i haven't tried them |
#159
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I agree with your assessment. These work quit well. You see a 5 gal jug but I now use a 5 gal bucket which is easier to get my hand inside and scrub it out when the algea gets bad.
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#160
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+1 one using the nipples for their water supply. Much easier to maintain. Only issue we had was the height since our chickens are different sizes. We built a frame that we could adjust the level up/down till we could figure out what worked best. Here's a quick video from Youtube showing how they work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HML2RQ0gUCk
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