bouldercroft Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 These blooming chickens are costing me a fortune and much much time.... I just moved them to their winter home - with the backed up to the basement door for easy access on those cold snowy mornings. We've made an extra insulating layer of home insulating foam board (to be wrapped in black plastic tonight so it can absorb more heat) I've fenced in some of my 1 acre fence-less plot to keep the girls within some boundaries - my house back onto acres of conservation land aka. coyote/bear/fisher cat land. My hubby has installed a hosepipe connection in the basement so I can wash out the poop trays (it's now too cold to have a hose outside) And do I have ANY !eggbrown! yet?? no chance....but their obsession with rearranging the straw is a good sign - right??? I was hoping for a thanksgiving egg but I think I'll hold out for 3 hens a laying on the 3rd day of christmas Anyway - it was so lovely to see them out and about this weekend free-ranging in the herb border. Here are some pictures.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/51464436@N06/5198524322/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/51464436@N06/5198524302/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 lovley pics - and sounds as if you live somewhere amazing too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted November 22, 2010 Author Share Posted November 22, 2010 lovley pics - and sounds as if you live somewhere amazing too! thanks - I live about 20 miles outside of Boston, USA it's a lovely place to be but the winters are pretty brutal... but last night the girls (and the insulation) kept the inside of the eglu @ 5.c while it was a chilly -2c outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 Lovely pics, those girls are going to stay warm. I think you have a bit longer to wait yet for those eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 Gorgeous girls, they are going to have such a snug winter . The light levels really affect my girls no matter how old they are. It was amazing last winter.............total egg drought..............and then..............one week after the darkest day, they all started off laying again . The wonders of nature , amazing. Enjoy your girls xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 Love the insulation, did you just buy a big board and cut to size, we are s'pose to be due snow here at end of week and I've got two 23week orps so might pinch your idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted November 23, 2010 Author Share Posted November 23, 2010 Love the insulation, did you just buy a big board and cut to size, we are s'pose to be due snow here at end of week and I've got two 23week orps so might pinch your idea Yep - I got a large board and cut the pieces to size and then taped them up with strong tape. It's not too snug either so they still get some air flow through the vents.... They seem happy and warm in there too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted November 24, 2010 Share Posted November 24, 2010 Josie is so pretty, Bouldercroft! do you have any problems mixing big a little chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted November 25, 2010 Author Share Posted November 25, 2010 Josie is so pretty, Bouldercroft! do you have any problems mixing big a little chickens? I got them all at the same time from a chicken swap/meet - they all met each other at the same time and Josie (named after Napoleons wife due to her Napoleon complex - who knew that such a little bird would have such an attitude) established top pecking order in a few hours - but then a few weeks later Tikka took over as top hen....so funny to see chicken politics in action they all get on great and are surprisingly collaborative - they even let poor little Josie sleep between them in the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
