Lauralou--IOU! (Many PICS)

Late last summer, you shared with me the idea of, and many pictures of, the 'chicken apartment complex'!

Now it is my turn. I have waiting all this time to repay your generosity of picture taking that Sunday morning of last summer.

But what you will see here is 'Duckie Apartment Complex'

Enjoy

This is what I see out of the back porch of my 'cell' here in the monastery:



This chaotic jumble is currently 2304 sq. ft. (48' x 48'). Free range is out of the question here. The above pic is looking SE. This one is looking NE from the SW corner



These are the two northern coops. The subdivisions in the pens are no more. These were up when my Campbells were in 'training'.


This is the northeastern coop. The weather louver is now painted. These pictures are from Mid-May............

We have 14 K Campbells. The 8 really skittish ones live in this coop/pen.



This is the northeastern coop. At the time this picture was taken, the 6 relatively calm Campbells were living in this coop/pen. But now I have 6 six-plus week old muscovies living in here (Thank you Birch Run Farm)



And here (yawn) are the two northern coops from the west. Again, the subvisions in each pen are now gone, leaving each 576 sq. ft. pen open wide for the birds.........



Now we are looking at the south west coop (from one of the northern pens). I remember last year, when you sent me all those pics, you apologized for taking so long and said, "You've probably already finished that other coop you were working on by now!"

Well, Lauralou, NO I didn't--and this is it. It is 6 x 3 and was up on a deck (like yours) when I had chickens. This is coop is the coop to which our "calm" Campbells were relocated.



And this is the other south coop. The south eastern one. I built this one and the other gray one in Feb/March this year. I LOVE those 2 foot overhangs front and back!!!

This coop is actually empty now. I keep feed/feeders in here.



This is the nesting coop I built along with the other gray ones in Spring. It is designed esp. for a muscovy hen (or for a naughty drake, should need arise) One of my hens--happily to me--laid many eggs in there. Then she was killed by the USPS--long story..........So I guess my nesting coop got the seal of approval from the muscovy hens!.

This little box is tucked away in the south west corner of the whole complex (unused now). It is 3 x 3, and sits in the pen of the calm K Campbells until...............



And last year, you concluded your series of pics with a 'just for fun' picture of little Shadow, who had laid her first egg that Sunday morning! I do hope she is still well, the pretty girl.

So here is one just for fun picture. Not much, I realize, but I like the pose of the 10 wk old (calm) Campbell hen.



And finally, a last one just for fun. The alpha drake of the south west (calm) group. Actually two drakes in there. Notice the green appearing in his head plumage as he begins getting his lovely nuptial plumage. When the sun hits it, it is very lovely, like streaks of emerald.



Ducks are so cute, always smiling! JMO, but I think they are cuter than any other kind of poultry

Thank you, Lauralou! I have owed you for a year almost. Hope you have enjoyed.

AND HOORAY FOR YOUR LITTLE MUSCOVY DUCKLING SALE. GOOD NEWS!

I should also add that this setup is about to change, as we are going to soon add an 18 x 28 structure for ALL the birds (26 in all) to live/sleep in. The other five coops will be for breeding, quarantine, naughty birds, etc.................

I will post more pics when our Moo-tel (from ClearSpan) is installed

That is just beautiful! I wish I could have a run that large. If you dont mind I think Im going to steal your idea on the coop. The window that lifts up. I live in Tx so it gets really hot here. I think that would be a great way to give more ventilation, but if it were to rain I could always close it. Great job!

Wow! Very, very nice!

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NO you don't need to close it if it rains, just have to lower it somewhat. It keeps out the rain even when open--unless you are in a tornado or something!

I can tell you it is one of the happiest features of this system.

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Well even better than. From the pictures it looks like you cut one big hole and then put a 2x4(?) in the middle and added the long board at the bottom. Is that correct?

That is simply awesome! I love everything that you have done. And I am so pleased that I was helpful in my own little way.

What sort of netting are you using on the top? I have my duckpens covered with "bird netting" and yours looks much sturdier.

And yes, I said duckpens. I do keep my ducks penned. I had this fabulously gorgeous drake, and he got hit by a car. Which is so totally unlikely out here in the boonies, yet it happened. So I had to rethink my freerange mentality. My new fabulously gorgeous drake, brother to the first one, is safely penned with his lady friends. He has his own door between the pens, so he can visit everyone.

This is kinda crazy, because I was just thinking about you. I was thinking that I wanted to send you a PM and ask you a genetics question. You are very knowledgeable!

And thanks for the congrats on my duckie sale. I actually ended up selling the broody chicken that hatched them along with them, so they wouldn't have to leave their momma. I'm overrun with broody chickens, so I could afford to "share the wealth"!

Shadow is doing great! I had forgotten about sending her pic to you, and that she had laid her first egg that day. How fun that you remembered! She has grown big spurs, which is a hoot, because she's the sweetest chicken ever.

Anyway, you are so welcome! I am delighted to have contributed. And also delighted to hear that you are expanding to a big building. The current setup will be perfect for breeding, hatching, quarantining... You can never have too many coops!

That is absolutely wonderful. I like it. excellent job

Wowza! That complex is simply amazing. And your drake looks like a male version of Ming Mei.

Lauralou:

It is 2" x 2" mesh TopRite netting purchased through Cutler's supply.

It is supposed to last 5 - 10 years. It is UV stabilized.

I thought hawk protection especially. But hawks really aren't gonna be too much of a problem with a non-bantam sized bird (esp. a full grown Muscovy); so it is sort of overkill.

I am also a 'wing-clipper', so I sort of don't need to worry about them flying out.

I sort of wish I hadn't bought it; but at least I can use it for now, and the baby muscovies can run around without having to worry about getting eaten by a hawk.

If I ever get it again, I think it would be better to get a smaller piece and just use it over one part of the whole--for like a baby area, etc........

peace and blessings to all

Wow, looks like a lot of work went into all of that! It must be duck heaven.