Montana

[paintedChix]

Hi Montana Chick Peeps!!

I've only read since Post # 3581, so I may not have "met" every one yet. Is there anyone up in the Shelby, Toole county area? Have some ?s.

Long story short - My mom & step-dad had 20 acres just south of the Marias river. Step-dad passed in 2003; mom passed in 2016. Sister stayed on property since I had my life/farm/family in NC. Now our oldest daughter, SIL & 2 grands are looking at moving up to Shelby to take over the place...

She has helped me with my chickens since she moved into our home/property here last year. She has a flock of FBCM (& blues). If/when (some family discord, of course) they go up, at least part of her flock will go with her. I'm thinking I'll keep a group here, too (MAYBE?). We separated out 3 breeding groups, that while they originated from different lines, all came from one breeder. One of the groups has two CLBs with them as well.

So I/we have questions regarding building a coop up there. I have LOADS of pics of the property - many taken as early as this morning. We'd want to know where the best place to set up a permanent coop would be and especially when first starting out, if a simple hoop coop made from CP, HC & tarp/plastic would work. Probably a permanent one - set/held by t-posts rather than one on a wood base that could become a "kite". These are easy for all of us to build, can easily build a front and rear that are either solid, or wire or whatever needed. I'm used to having "open air" type CP coops here in NC - w/ the heat/humidity that works for us. The hurricane winds, 2 hours from the coast, have only been hard on some of the less expensive tarps we've used...

Do we check into Toole county offices for taxes & requirements? Are there specific vaccines or vet checks they would need to undergo in order to come up to MT? We are not NPIP qualified here in NC yet, though that is a goal. IF they come up this fall - what do we need to watch for? Is it already too late this season for them to come up there? They are about a year & 1/2 old. We'll bring enough feed w/ them to switch to local feeds... I've only transported horses and ponies across state lines in the past.

She may or may not want a mentor, ( @Bantambird ???) to go on with her flock. At this point, I'm thinking she's just wanting to continue with eggs, not really into the breeding. Who knows - that may change? I know that when I come up to either help them move up this fall (still?) or go up to visit with my sister and go over things, I'd like to visit you - depending of course on the corona protocols in your area. Maybe, if you have slightly older chicks available, I'd be able to bring some down to NC? Can trasport, but day old chicks might be hard to keep warm...The blue(silver) Marans and a different line of CLBs then I currently have.

So need ideas of location of the coop possibly for this winter; which types of coops would work in the area. anyone know of forecast models for this winter to come??? Crystal balls anyone?

I spent 2 - 1/2 yrs helping mom & step-dad put place together and get started. We left for Ft Bragg NC and were chased by the storm of Apr 1997. spent 5 LONG days in a new Super 8 Hotel in Lewisberg, MT. Watched as we drove southward and electric/power company trucks from our area of NC came North to help out - MT, ND, SD & MN w/ all those downed power poles. I'm seriously hoping that this "visit/move" doesn't precipitate something similar!!

Edit to add - I'm Paula

 

[Bantambird]

Hi Montana Chick Peeps!!

I've only read since Post # 3581, so I may not have "met" every one yet. Is there anyone up in the Shelby, Toole county area? Have some ?s.

Long story short - My mom & step-dad had 20 acres just south of the Marias river. Step-dad passed in 2003; mom passed in 2016. Sister stayed on property since I had my life/farm/family in NC. Now our oldest daughter, SIL & 2 grands are looking at moving up to Shelby to take over the place...

She has helped me with my chickens since she moved into our home/property here last year. She has a flock of FBCM (& blues). If/when (some family discord, of course) they go up, at least part of her flock will go with her. I'm thinking I'll keep a group here, too (MAYBE?). We separated out 3 breeding groups, that while they originated from different lines, all came from one breeder. One of the groups has two CLBs with them as well.

So I/we have questions regarding building a coop up there. I have LOADS of pics of the property - many taken as early as this morning. We'd want to know where the best place to set up a permanent coop would be and especially when first starting out, if a simple hoop coop made from CP, HC & tarp/plastic would work. Probably a permanent one - set/held by t-posts rather than one on a wood base that could become a "kite". These are easy for all of us to build, can easily build a front and rear that are either solid, or wire or whatever needed. I'm used to having "open air" type CP coops here in NC - w/ the heat/humidity that works for us. The hurricane winds, 2 hours from the coast, have only been hard on some of the less expensive tarps we've used...

Do we check into Toole county offices for taxes & requirements? Are there specific vaccines or vet checks they would need to undergo in order to come up to MT? We are not NPIP qualified here in NC yet, though that is a goal. IF they come up this fall - what do we need to watch for? Is it already too late this season for them to come up there? They are about a year & 1/2 old. We'll bring enough feed w/ them to switch to local feeds... I've only transported horses and ponies across state lines in the past.

She may or may not want a mentor, ( @Bantambird ???) to go on with her flock. At this point, I'm thinking she's just wanting to continue with eggs, not really into the breeding. Who knows - that may change? I know that when I come up to either help them move up this fall (still?) or go up to visit with my sister and go over things, I'd like to visit you - depending of course on the corona protocols in your area. Maybe, if you have slightly older chicks available, I'd be able to bring some down to NC? Can trasport, but day old chicks might be hard to keep warm...The blue(silver) Marans and a different line of CLBs then I currently have.

So need ideas of location of the coop possibly for this winter; which types of coops would work in the area. anyone know of forecast models for this winter to come??? Crystal balls anyone?

I spent 2 - 1/2 yrs helping mom & step-dad put place together and get started. We left for Ft Bragg NC and were chased by the storm of Apr 1997. spent 5 LONG days in a new Super 8 Hotel in Lewisberg, MT. Watched as we drove southward and electric/power company trucks from our area of NC came North to help out - MT, ND, SD & MN w/ all those downed power poles. I'm seriously hoping that this "visit/move" doesn't precipitate something similar!!

Edit to add - I'm Paula

I am never opposed to having folks come visit! As to orientation, I like to face everything south if possible, big south facing windows help in winter with the limited light. I know that here near Billings, storms and winds typically blow in from the west or the north, so doors and openings should open to the east or be located on the east or south side when possible. Have small windows or vents opposite your main windows, be they south or southeast... Both work. Here we don't have the oppressive humidity, but cross ventilation is still important. A good overhang on your south facing windows allows it to be cool in summer while getti g lots of winter light due to the angle of the sun in winter. You would be well versed in predators being from the Carolinas, so we have plenty here too, hardware cloth is your friend if you are out in the sticks. Cove out wire at least 6 inches to deter diggers like skunks and coyotes and use good latches to foil raccoons. There are fewer opossums here, but depending on where you are there are lots of mustelids that can prey on poultry in the night ( and a few, like Badgers and wolverines, could potentially prey on them during the day) if you are in bear country, and there are grizzly areas, grizzlies require electric fence to keep them out of a chicken house. Not much stops a grizzly if he's decided he wants to go somewhere, but they don't really like electric fence so that helps. Had a few friends learn about bears and poultry fencing. I might think of more ideas, but I'd definitely look at where the prevailing winds come through in your area. You will definitely want southern windows for passive solar in winter.

 

[Bantambird]

NPIP isn't a big deal here like it is in other places, they only just managed to set up electronic processing for me. I was using old fashioned carbon paper forms and mailing them to the respective state veterinary offices until this year. There are less than 20 NPIP licenced poultry peeps in the state of Montana. ( I'm only lucky that my mom happens to be a veterinarian who also happen to have maybe taken some NPIP testing classes 20 years ago so was still considered qualified to do testing for me so there's that.... Otherwise it may be a chore to find a state certified tester.......)

 

[paintedChix]

Hi Bantambird! Thank you for replying. After my previous long posts, I was dealing with the property from afar AND battening down for the Hurricane that we didn't see much of (for once,LOL, thankfully).

So, I put in for off from work from 8/24 to 9/24 and the end date can be extended into October or ?? Since the kids aren't moving up this late in the season, we are looking for contacts in the area - ie - for repairs to the house, sheds, electric, barn - that neither myself nor the family that helped my parents for so many years can do. It's been 23 years since I've lived there and I didn't live on the property... I lived in Cut Bank and in Shelby for 2 & 3/4 years while helping my parents on the property. Then we've visited a handful of times (last time was mom's funeral in 2018).

After thinking about it and looking at google maps (sometimes amazing and downright scary, too), the house, tool/ATV/lawn mower storage, propane tank and horse shed all sit in a "valley" on the North side of a long, tall, but gradual slope. I don't know the exact orientation of the house, pretty sure the "front door" faces the east & the back door faces the West. But it's angled a bit and ...? The horse shed, on the west side of the house sits west of the round pen ( 40-60' for training horses). The drive circles around the round pen and in front of the paddock that the shed is in (the shed would need to be rebuilt/repaired as would the paddock & round pen). The propane tank sits between the house & paddock/shed south of the round pen & drive. The openings to the two cisterns sit almost opposite the propane tank between the drive and the round pen... (I have pics - will work on resizing them and attaching them...) Truly NOT sure where a permanent coop/run would go - think it will depend on what our daughter (whose name is Skye) decides on for her flock. Right now, it's a very small number of birds depending on how many she wants to bring up, if she wants breeding groups or just to continue with laying flock(s) only...

Have more to add, but this is it for now.

 

[Mtviking]

Hi Montana Chick Peeps!!

I've only read since Post # 3581, so I may not have "met" every one yet. Is there anyone up in the Shelby, Toole county area? Have some ?s.

Long story short - My mom & step-dad had 20 acres just south of the Marias river. Step-dad passed in 2003; mom passed in 2016. Sister stayed on property since I had my life/farm/family in NC. Now our oldest daughter, SIL & 2 grands are looking at moving up to Shelby to take over the place...

She has helped me with my chickens since she moved into our home/property here last year. She has a flock of FBCM (& blues). If/when (some family discord, of course) they go up, at least part of her flock will go with her. I'm thinking I'll keep a group here, too (MAYBE?). We separated out 3 breeding groups, that while they originated from different lines, all came from one breeder. One of the groups has two CLBs with them as well.

So I/we have questions regarding building a coop up there. I have LOADS of pics of the property - many taken as early as this morning. We'd want to know where the best place to set up a permanent coop would be and especially when first starting out, if a simple hoop coop made from CP, HC & tarp/plastic would work. Probably a permanent one - set/held by t-posts rather than one on a wood base that could become a "kite". These are easy for all of us to build, can easily build a front and rear that are either solid, or wire or whatever needed. I'm used to having "open air" type CP coops here in NC - w/ the heat/humidity that works for us. The hurricane winds, 2 hours from the coast, have only been hard on some of the less expensive tarps we've used...

Do we check into Toole county offices for taxes & requirements? Are there specific vaccines or vet checks they would need to undergo in order to come up to MT? We are not NPIP qualified here in NC yet, though that is a goal. IF they come up this fall - what do we need to watch for? Is it already too late this season for them to come up there? They are about a year & 1/2 old. We'll bring enough feed w/ them to switch to local feeds... I've only transported horses and ponies across state lines in the past.

She may or may not want a mentor, ( @Bantambird ???) to go on with her flock. At this point, I'm thinking she's just wanting to continue with eggs, not really into the breeding. Who knows - that may change? I know that when I come up to either help them move up this fall (still?) or go up to visit with my sister and go over things, I'd like to visit you - depending of course on the corona protocols in your area. Maybe, if you have slightly older chicks available, I'd be able to bring some down to NC? Can trasport, but day old chicks might be hard to keep warm...The blue(silver) Marans and a different line of CLBs then I currently have.

So need ideas of location of the coop possibly for this winter; which types of coops would work in the area. anyone know of forecast models for this winter to come??? Crystal balls anyone?

I spent 2 - 1/2 yrs helping mom & step-dad put place together and get started. We left for Ft Bragg NC and were chased by the storm of Apr 1997. spent 5 LONG days in a new Super 8 Hotel in Lewisberg, MT. Watched as we drove southward and electric/power company trucks from our area of NC came North to help out - MT, ND, SD & MN w/ all those downed power poles. I'm seriously hoping that this "visit/move" doesn't precipitate something similar!!

Edit to add - I'm Paula

It gets cold and windy up there. I would definitely put the chicken door facing west or south west. I agree a south facing window is nice we have the same in our coop. You don’t want any doors facing west or north. I don’t know how well the hoop coops would hold up or how much heat would stay in come winter but I’m sure it would work for a temporary set up. I would build a wood coop when you can, keeps them bigger critters out easier and holds the heat better in the winter. We do the deep litter system in ours which also helps with them staying warm in the cold times. At least that’s the idea lol.

 

[paintedChix]

We'll b leaving to head that direction next weekend. So much i remember & so much i don't...

 

[Mtviking]

I just wanted to share some of my Montana chicks

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Looking to rehome (don't care if you'll eat them) 2 Sumatra cockerels and a Phoenix cockerel (rather he be used for breeding since he's a sweetheart. All three are free, but I have to be met in laurel, MT.

Also have a few Phoenix chicks for sale, pm me for more info on them, but also have to be met in laurel, mt.

I can post pictures of the males if needed, but all three are very nice looking and respectful of people and hens

 

[Chaverah]

Hello, I’m from Livingston! Nice to meet you all! We had chickens for over 20 years and I have missed them for the past 3 years. Will be looking for some in the next month again =). Specifically pullets that are Black Australorp, Cinnamon Queen, Dominique, Java and either a Brahma or Cochin... Any advice is welcome! It will be in a neighborhood, so they need to be on the quiet side and preferably lay 3-5 eggs/week or more. We can have 6 hens, so one more breed that is quiet... but I never paid attention to that in the country!

 

[Chaverah]

I am in SW Montana between Butte and Dillon.

I have 4 standard ladies...BPR, Buff Brahama, Welsummer and Chantecler

Nice to meet you! What is a BPR? Can you describe all of their personalities? I am considering Brahma and Welsummer. =)