The seasons are romping ahead here in Suffolk UK! Daffs done and dusted, tulips fading, leaves opening on the trees, 26C in the shade here today! (it’s not normal… or is it? We haven’t had rain for weeks and none forecast!)
Celia
x
I think there’s been some sort of cosmic worm hole and we’ve switched weather patterns!
We haven’t even had a crocus…..only lost our snow last Wednesday! And over the weekend some neighbors still had some, although in think it’s finally gone.
You’re the next town over. My crocuses (croci?) came up, rotted and disappeared. The scilla bloomed for what seemed like one hour, then melted back into the ground. But my neighbor’s magnolia tree is in bloom!
Congratulations:-) My daffodils are long gone for this year along with my crabapple blossoms. While you’re just moving into Spring, we are about halfway through. Enjoy your season, I daresay you’ve waited long enough.
Where I used to live (2 miles up the road) I had a snowdrift crabapple. Prettiest spring blossoms!
My daffodils all came up but very few actually got flowers. HMMM.
Our forsythia is out along with some weeping willows and magnolias. Just the odd daffodil. It may not be a great year for them. I travelled through Waltham and Wellesley this week and they are a good week ahead of Concord. Micro-climate maybe?
I know sorry this is kind-of off subject, but would you approve of a chicken “ark” for about 4-5 Bantams? Also, that flower is so beautiful it looks fake!!!
Hi Kelly- I’ve recently been asked this at my chicken keeping talks, and I’m happy to answer it here. Arks are basically covered nesting boxes. They are only appropriate for full-time living for hens that are in climates with perfect weather. Or, used seasonally, and moved about a pasture. They are not good permanent housing for hens who will be indoors for long stretches due to rain and snow. Chickens need 4 square feet of indoor floor space per hen. (3 for bantams) They also appreciate head room and roosts. And windows. You would do better with a cute little playhouse/shed.
Thank you for that advice. I’m not sure how chickens her in the midwest survive the summers in those things. The place I buy my feed sells the arks and unfortunately one of the workers at the store told me they have sold quite a few. A local guy makes them for the store. That box doesn’t even have a window and the “roost” is like 6 inches off the floor. It must be like an oven in there on a July evening with temps in the 90’s and humidity to match.
I forgot to mention the heat issue.
ok thank you for your help!!!
Last year I got 4 baby chicks, my first ever. I spent around $400for an ‘ark’ type coop, and built a 4×8 covered erea for it to sit on. They were allowed to free range when we could be around to watch them. It sounded good on paper. I didn’t realize that I would love my girls so much. Adequate wasn’t ok. And when the weather got nasty, really not ok. They now have a lovey 5×7 hen house and a 7×60 ft run with netting over the top. They are safe and comfortable. And it is convient and easy to clean. I just wish I hadn’t waisted all that money!
Interesting that in California it’s still not a good choice. The same can be said for Eglus. so nice that you created a better space for you hens! And better for you! I like to spend time with my chickens and you can’t do that in an ark.
Perhaps the ark could become a fancy rabbit hutch? :)
I saw a coop on youtube that claims that it could hold 3 hens, but it was like 2 square feet, and I was just thinking to my self, PLEASE tell me that is a joke. :(
Not a joke and upsetting on many levels. Not only will the hens have subpar living conditions, but if the new urban chicken keepers use these coops, backyards will smell and hens will be sick and we’ll all be hurt by the backlash.
if I got 4 hens, should i make a nest box for each of them? Or would two of them be ok??? please help!!!
thank you! Also, one more thing, sorry, I hope I’m not bothering you, but, I was just wondering how i could keep my coop warmer in the winter, do you think it would work if i doubled up the wood for the walls?
Don’t worry about it being warmer. Make sure there’s really good ventilation and free of drafts.
Ok thank-you Terry!
HenBlog
I’ve kept a backyard flock for two decades and I’ve spent years researching chicken care and observing hens. I blogged about my life with chickens and what I’ve learned here for ten years. If you’re looking for advice about a specific issue, you’ll likely find the answer in an FAQ or by doing a blog archive search.
The seasons are romping ahead here in Suffolk UK! Daffs done and dusted, tulips fading, leaves opening on the trees, 26C in the shade here today! (it’s not normal… or is it? We haven’t had rain for weeks and none forecast!)
Celia
x
I think there’s been some sort of cosmic worm hole and we’ve switched weather patterns!
We haven’t even had a crocus…..only lost our snow last Wednesday! And over the weekend some neighbors still had some, although in think it’s finally gone.
You’re the next town over. My crocuses (croci?) came up, rotted and disappeared. The scilla bloomed for what seemed like one hour, then melted back into the ground. But my neighbor’s magnolia tree is in bloom!
Congratulations:-) My daffodils are long gone for this year along with my crabapple blossoms. While you’re just moving into Spring, we are about halfway through. Enjoy your season, I daresay you’ve waited long enough.
Where I used to live (2 miles up the road) I had a snowdrift crabapple. Prettiest spring blossoms!
My daffodils all came up but very few actually got flowers. HMMM.
Our forsythia is out along with some weeping willows and magnolias. Just the odd daffodil. It may not be a great year for them. I travelled through Waltham and Wellesley this week and they are a good week ahead of Concord. Micro-climate maybe?
I know sorry this is kind-of off subject, but would you approve of a chicken “ark” for about 4-5 Bantams? Also, that flower is so beautiful it looks fake!!!
Hi Kelly- I’ve recently been asked this at my chicken keeping talks, and I’m happy to answer it here. Arks are basically covered nesting boxes. They are only appropriate for full-time living for hens that are in climates with perfect weather. Or, used seasonally, and moved about a pasture. They are not good permanent housing for hens who will be indoors for long stretches due to rain and snow. Chickens need 4 square feet of indoor floor space per hen. (3 for bantams) They also appreciate head room and roosts. And windows. You would do better with a cute little playhouse/shed.
Thank you for that advice. I’m not sure how chickens her in the midwest survive the summers in those things. The place I buy my feed sells the arks and unfortunately one of the workers at the store told me they have sold quite a few. A local guy makes them for the store. That box doesn’t even have a window and the “roost” is like 6 inches off the floor. It must be like an oven in there on a July evening with temps in the 90’s and humidity to match.
I forgot to mention the heat issue.
ok thank you for your help!!!
Last year I got 4 baby chicks, my first ever. I spent around $400for an ‘ark’ type coop, and built a 4×8 covered erea for it to sit on. They were allowed to free range when we could be around to watch them. It sounded good on paper. I didn’t realize that I would love my girls so much. Adequate wasn’t ok. And when the weather got nasty, really not ok. They now have a lovey 5×7 hen house and a 7×60 ft run with netting over the top. They are safe and comfortable. And it is convient and easy to clean. I just wish I hadn’t waisted all that money!
Interesting that in California it’s still not a good choice. The same can be said for Eglus. so nice that you created a better space for you hens! And better for you! I like to spend time with my chickens and you can’t do that in an ark.
Perhaps the ark could become a fancy rabbit hutch? :)
I saw a coop on youtube that claims that it could hold 3 hens, but it was like 2 square feet, and I was just thinking to my self, PLEASE tell me that is a joke. :(
Not a joke and upsetting on many levels. Not only will the hens have subpar living conditions, but if the new urban chicken keepers use these coops, backyards will smell and hens will be sick and we’ll all be hurt by the backlash.
if I got 4 hens, should i make a nest box for each of them? Or would two of them be ok??? please help!!!
This blog post answers that question.
http://www.hencam.com/henblog/2010/06/nesting-boxes-2/
thank you! Also, one more thing, sorry, I hope I’m not bothering you, but, I was just wondering how i could keep my coop warmer in the winter, do you think it would work if i doubled up the wood for the walls?
Don’t worry about it being warmer. Make sure there’s really good ventilation and free of drafts.
Ok thank-you Terry!