Recent content by jmschristiansen

  1. jmschristiansen

    Deep litter method

    We have been using the deep litter method in a 6 x 7 coop, with 12 - 16 layers, for over a year, in Texas. Today, it hit 91 degrees. The upper half of my east facing wall, and part of the north & south walls, are all chicken wire for ventilation. Every couple months, I add more oak leaves...
  2. jmschristiansen

    Deep litter method

    The deep litter method is the way to go, if you don't want to spend a lot of time on maintenance, etc. We have been using it for about a year now. Cleaned the coop twice, once, just because, and the second time when we moved the coop. I have a friend who bags his leaves (oak trees), and so I...
  3. jmschristiansen

    Egg storage ?

    The countries I lived in (in South America) had their eggs out on the shelves, next to cereal or whatever. I also saw an article on egg storage in an old back issue of Mother Earth News, where they compared different storage methods, and it seems that in a cool dark place, (a pantry) they said...
  4. jmschristiansen

    Homemade Yogurt **Updated** Cheese and Buttermilk

    I have made yogurt for years. Usually I make 2 gallons at a time. After heating, cooling, and inoculating with the starter yogurt, I have always stuck the mason jars in a cooler with warm water. I always make sure that the water does not reach the lids, as I don't want to chance it seeping in...
  5. jmschristiansen

    Dumb Question about exterior siding for the coop

    At our Lowes, the cheapest siding is called "Barn Side", it has a really rustic, high grain texture, comes in 4 x 8 sheets, and is about $16 each.
  6. jmschristiansen

    Can you free range meat birds?

    I ordered 30 Cornish X from Ideal, and they arrived about 5 weeks ago. I put them in a tractor after about 2 weeks, and took away the heat lamp at about 3. I prop the tractor up every morning, so they can run around the yard. They really like getting out. Mine forage fairly well, picking...
  7. jmschristiansen

    Birds of a feather flock together? Adolescents roost with same sex?

    I have two pullets that were injured in a dog attack, one has a damaged wing, the other has a damaged leg, can't run. They hang out together, and for a long time, the other 12 would be up on the roosts, and these two would sleep on the floor together. Lately though, the bad foot one is...
  8. jmschristiansen

    Meat birds are ordered.

    I ordered 30 Cornish X from Ideal, they arrived Feb. 18, and seemed very spry and healthy. After a day or two, we noticed one had a problem walking. We hoped it would get better, but as it gained weight, it just got worse, to the point that it really couldn't move any more. The guy I am...
  9. jmschristiansen

    Eating birds that have been medicated

    I have a friend who is a vet, and he told me that if you are just using regular medicated feed, there is no withdrawal period, because the dosage level is so low. I have the tag from my feed bag in front of me, and it doesn't say anything about a withdrawal period. So, I would bet that at 4...
  10. jmschristiansen

    Cornish x gone down

    Thanks for the help, I will get him taken care of. Yes, we have 28 of these that we plan on eating.
  11. jmschristiansen

    Our coop & tractor... LOTS OF PICTURES, NOT DIAL-UP FRIENDLY, SORRY!!

    Thanks Dawn! I really have enjoyed building this, and now have fun watching the chickens. I will be glad when the Cornish are done though, they make an awful mess. I hope to get some Dorkings eventually. Speckled: It doesn't get too cold, a few nights since the chickens moved in, it was...
  12. jmschristiansen

    Cornish x gone down

    Thanks for the suggestions, d.k. now (three days later) he is still sitting on his bum, eating & drinking. I made up a little "sling" for him, and he sits in that all day, propped up. He doesn't seem to be getting any worse, nor have any of the other 27 come down. So I am hoping it is...
  13. jmschristiansen

    Cornish x gone down

    Thanks for the reply. I just went out and looked at him again, he was still sitting in the same spot. Then the dog ran near to him (outside the fence) and startled him into moving. He moved about 3 - 4 feet (back into the tractor). All the rest are still out running around on the grass, so I...
  14. jmschristiansen

    Cornish x gone down

    I just went out, put my RIR and BR in the coop, and let the Cornish x's out of the tractor (they share a yard, and tend to fight, so they take turns now). One of my Cornish just sat there, in the corner of the tractor, while the other 27 ran out. I picked him up, he doesn't seem to be injured...
  15. jmschristiansen

    Our coop & tractor... LOTS OF PICTURES, NOT DIAL-UP FRIENDLY, SORRY!!

    It looks like the roosts are over the feeder, but they aren't. Just the angle of the photo.
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