Recent content by jreardon1918

  1. jreardon1918

    Adding chicks

    I do what @DobieLover sugests. My brooder is also in the run. Here is a picture of one of three chick doors. The chicks were in this brooder by day 3 of getting them. There is a MHP in the brooder. I open the chick doors at 4 weeks old. They come out and mingle. By 8 weeks they sleep in...
  2. jreardon1918

    Can I put chicks outside in these temps?

    As stated above, with the MHP, outdoors for even the first few days in very cold weather is a good option. I moved chicks just a few days old outside with an MHP outside the last three broods. Every chick thrived. And integration at 4 weeks was a breeze. Good Luck.
  3. jreardon1918

    Feed waste

    I feed pellets except when they are chicks. I also let the feed run out occaisionally. The girls clean up what little is on the ground. My feeder is also a hanging PVC feeder. The area under it is generally clear of spilled feed. When I fill it, some spills on the ground. The girls usually...
  4. jreardon1918

    First night of 13-14 hour "day" light...

    An update on my lighting. The lights went on this year on 12/26/24. I got my first egg of the year on 1/13/2025. January the girls all seemed to kick in. From Feb1- Feb24 I have gotten 136 eggs from 11 hens. I think the lighting program kick starts them about a month early. I keep track of...
  5. jreardon1918

    Official BYC Poll: Which type of feeder do you use: gravity, treadle, or automatic?

    Here is my home made feeder. This one when full will feed my 11 hens for two days. Ocaisionally I let it run out to let the ladies clean up any waste on the floor of the run. I have a second larger version. The 4" vertical on that one is 4' long. The two when filled last 8 days. I fill the...
  6. jreardon1918

    Double fencing for run?

    My run is just HW cloth. That includes a generous apron. I regularly inspect for signs of digging an pulling. I also inspect the seems. I can see where a double layer would strengthen this defense. In 8 years nothing has penetrated the defense. Caught a weasle investigating. And Fox and...
  7. jreardon1918

    tell me your Coop tips

    I agree. I built a cute 4'x8' coop. I currently have 11 hens and overcrowding is real. Soon, I will cull a couple older girls and consider an expansion or a new coop. A woods style would be my preference.
  8. jreardon1918

    I hate my new waterer

    I do not have the original package. I can see the letters "ware" on them. I see something like them on Amazon. But those include what looks like a nut for the inside of the bucket. The ones I used self seal. I did use tephlon tape to install. The instructions told me to not over tighten. I...
  9. jreardon1918

    Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

    I agree with removing some layers. I use a bit of duck tape to attach the pad to the frame. Then cover it in a pillowcase or towel At the end of the brooding cycle I wash or throw out the pillowcase. As long as the underside of the MHP is warm to your touch and their backs can make contact...
  10. jreardon1918

    Looking for experience with pvc feeder

    The verticle tube has a half mooncut out at the bottom. Then I used a couple bolts, nuts and washers to attach. This is the best picture I could get this moring as the feed was just filled last night. This is not my design. I saw a youtube video years ago showing more details to make it...
  11. jreardon1918

    Official BYC Poll: What’s the most challenging part of chicken keeping for you during winter?

    Buying eggs. The girls are back in full production. Yay. Seriously, the cold is really not a big issue for me and the girls.
  12. jreardon1918

    Is it safe to buy chicks this spring, in the context of avian flu?

    @K0k0shka I see you are in the Boston area. I use Ventura grain in Taunton, MA for feed and other chicken supplies. Their Chick days are just starting up. They keep the chicks in back, you pre order. You can find their process on their website. They are great.
  13. jreardon1918

    First night of 13-14 hour "day" light...

    An update on my lighting program. I started the lights on 12/26. Got my first egg 1/13. My lights currently come on @ 3:20 AM. That adds 2 1/2 hours of light for a total of 14 hours. We are now gaining 3 minutes per day of light. The first egg came 1/13. We are up to 64 as of yesterday...
  14. jreardon1918

    How store coop ONLY boots

    I keep a storage cabinet on the deck. It doubles as seat. It holds old sneakers, boots and some coop stuff.
  15. jreardon1918

    Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

    There is a 2' x 4' brooder in the run. The run is 8' X 12'. The picture attached shows one of the three chick doors that allow the chicks to self integrate. I open those doors at 4 weeks old.
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