Recent content by cromschickens

  1. cromschickens

    Free heat in the winter months

    I am told that I would be shocked how much air comes out of the plumbing. My first thought was the same as yours. But I look at it this way the only cost I am out is the paint and my time. I am a very good scrounger, infact I built my coop from scraps, only paid for paint and shingles. So I...
  2. cromschickens

    Free heat in the winter months

    I have seen plans for a solar heater that can be made for a little of nothing. I first saw this heater attached to a garage. The design is simple take a 4X8 sheet of plywood and paint it flat black. Frame the edges of it with 2X6's again painting them flat black. Inside this frame install...
  3. cromschickens

    The Chicken Plucker?

    I have done meatbirds in the past and have both plucked by hand and with a plucker. For me a plucker is the way to go!!!!! Much faster allowing 25 birds to be done it as little as a couple of hours with 2 people. Yes you still have to gut them but they make a nifty tool much like a butt out tool...
  4. cromschickens

    Turkeys and Chickens Together

    I too raise chickens and turkeys together. I raised chickens, 23 of them, from hatchlings and bought 3 turkeys from a very reputable breeder Hill Top Farms from Albia Iowa. The chickens were about 8 weeks old and the turkeys were 4 weeks old when they were introduced. My chickens are Buff...
  5. cromschickens

    Nest box material

    I do have a lip on the front of the nest boxes, it is a 1X4. I think I will let nature take it's course and leave the straw there, as it is free for us. Thanks for all the advice.
  6. cromschickens

    Nest box material

    I have 23 buff orpington's that are set to start laying anyday now. We are very excited and anxiously await our first eggs, problem is the girls empty all the nesting material out of the nest boxes. We are currently using straw but are switching to pine shavings. I have golf balls in the nest...
  7. cromschickens

    Comment by 'cromschickens' in article 'Do It Yourself Chicken Feeder'

    I did something similar, I drilled holes in the side of a 5 gallon bucket near the bottom. Then I put a funnel narrow end up in the bottom of the bucket. The whole bucket sits on a couple of 2x4's in a galvanized pan which sits on a couple of 4x4's to keep woodchips out of it. I too have to give...
  8. cromschickens

    Comment by 'cromschickens' in article 'Chook Nook Coop Build'

    Your coop looks great, much fancier then the one I built. I agree that night time predators shouldn't be an issue because they will be safely sleeping in the coop, as are mine each night. I will get some pictures of our setup on here soon.
  9. cromschickens

    Fencing that works

    Thanks for all the advice everyone. I have been considering covering the run, hawks and owls are real threats around our area. I will work on getting some pics up of what I have. Jeep381 you said to cover the coop in wire, are you meaning electric? Also there is 2 feet of chicken wire around the...
  10. cromschickens

    Fencing that works

    My chickens have been out for a week now and haven't lost any. I have only 2 strands of electric fence, one down low and one above the top of the woven wire fence. So far so good, I will keep posting updates for anyone who may wish to try this type of fencing
  11. cromschickens

    Fencing that works

    I am asking for some opinions/advice about my fencing. I don't have any up yet but will be ready for some very soon and the time is now to buy. I have planned for 4' woven wire fencing with 3 strands of electric fencing just out side of it. One just above the ground, one about midway up and yet...
  12. cromschickens

    Processing chickens in Northern Virginia

    Youtube has some amazing videos. I know that sounds funny but, I had 10 cornish crosses and I had never processed chickens either. The way I did it was to bind their feet together and hang them from a board attached to a tree. I then used tree trimming shears to remove their heads. That worked...
  13. cromschickens

    What Should I Do With a Opossum?

    Take it anywhere where coyotes will be they will eat it rather quickly.
  14. cromschickens

    POLL: Chickens - easier, same or harder then you thought, once you got them?

    It is so much easier then I expected. I even had to hide our chickens until they were big enough to move to the farm. The city we live in doesn't allow chickens in town, so, my wife and I kept our chickens in our kitchen in a baby pool for the first few weeks. Not exactly how I would recommend...
  15. cromschickens

    Is it ok for chicks to have cheese?

    I am fairly new to chickens so, take my words of wisdom for what they are worth. I say if you have been giving them cheese for a while (a week or more) and nothing adverse has happened, I would imagine your ok to do so. I have done a fair amount of research on what our feathered friends can eat...
See more
Back
Top Bottom