Recent content by chad s

Hi we currently have 3, 2 year old rhode island reds. We would like to add another 3 or 4 birds to the flock. I would like to find young three or four month old birds and not start with chicks. We have a coup and enclosed outdoor run large enough to handle the additional birds. How do I...

Ok, I am still trying to research some different types of auto waters. I am trying to decide between the cups or nipples. I want to feed the set up from a 15 gallon plastic barrel. I plan on having a couple of drinkers in the run and the coop. I want to use a heater in the barrel for cold...

Ok, I make homemade suet cakes for the wild birds in the winter. Is it ok to feed to the chickens? It's made using lard, oatmeal, thistle, raisens, nuts, and what ever elseI have laying around.

Do you just use a container set on the heat pan or is the pan to heat the reservoir for the cups? Do you still keep the watering to the run area? I was thinking of putting a couple cups in the run and a couple in the coop. The ones in the coop may be keep above freezing with the body heat(time...

Ok, we have 9 RIR 8 week old poop machines. We recently moved them to the coop. My issue now is figuring out a water system. I think a gravity system would work best for us but can not realy hang a 5 gallon bucket in the coop due to space restrictions. I have been reading a lot about the nipples...

Live in central PA. It may sound dumb, but I don't exactly know what the grown size of a RI is. so 10x13 should work?

I have RI reds. How big should I make their door from the coop to the run?

Thanks. yes Ive been thinking about winter watering. Have not decided yet what to do. Leaning towards an electric heat pan under a metal water. I would like to use an automated type water for the non freezing times though. I like the outside feeding/watering for the mess control but was unsure .

Ok, going to be moving the chicks to their coop soon. I am trying to work out a feeding and watering system. I think I got the details worked out but have a couple questions. The coop is about 20" off the ground and fenced in so they have full run under coop. There is also an attached fenced run...

Thanks. We live in the country. Neighbors are about 1/4 mile away and have not had predator problems with their chickens that I know off. They are actually the ones who got us into it by giving us fresh free range eggs. I like the idea of an auto water. Does you'res provide water both in the...

Ok so after reading some other post's I'm going to change my in the floor door design to in the wall. My coop is about 24" off the ground with the underside of the coop being part of the run. My question is, can I just leave the door to the run open all the time? The run will be covered and...

Ok thanks. I'll try 2 or 3 dried meal worms rehydrated and cut up into pieces. Also, they have been jumping/fly up on the water and food feeders. Should I build them a low perch to sit on?

So at a week and a half it is ok to give thenm some treats and a little grit? I would guess if they were running around outside with mom, they would be picking up all kinds of stuff. Just a little worried about giving them something other than medicated feed.

Thanks. Sorry about the dumb questions. I grew up on a farm but we never had chickens. I know very little about their care. Now if it were steers or hogs I would be good. I'msure there will be more questions.

Cooked oats or just raw? How much sand?