Recent content by sluggospud

  1. sluggospud

    How Necessary is a Ramp? Any Alternatives?

    If you plan on keeping your birds through their senior retirement age, you might need to plan for short steps and ramps. I've got one almost 7 years old, and she started sleeping on the floor of the coop because she could no longer jump up to the roost. Until a few months ago, she was still...
  2. sluggospud

    In-line hanging scale for feeder

    I'll try to remember to give an update. The spring is under compression with weight, so I don't think it will be a real problem. I just want to know when I'm down to the last few lbs.
  3. sluggospud

    In-line hanging scale for feeder

    Hi, Not sure if it's a common problem, but I was having trouble keeping track of the feed level in the feeder. The one I have is covered, so it's hard to tell how much is left without going inside the run and lifting the lid. It was harder than I thought it would be to find an affordable...
  4. sluggospud

    How do you store your eggs?

    I store mine unwashed in cartons. The only helpful tidbit to add is that I stapled a plastic sleeve to each carton and have some cardstock with the numbers 1-6. I use this to keep track of which carton is oldest. When the eggs in carton 1 are gone, I take the #1 card and put it in the sleeve of...
  5. sluggospud

    Show me your watering system! (please)

    I put the 5 gallon pail on the outside of the run, and ran a flexible tube to the inside to connect it to a PVC pipe with 3 nipples. I mounted the inside pipe at an angle to give different nipple heights. This picture is when I first installed it 5+ years ago. It has held up. I do need to dump...
  6. sluggospud

    Question about additional feeders when incorporating new chicks

    All three are barred rocks. I know, a bit boring :). The only thing I don't like about getting all the same is that I can't tell them apart. They're a great breed, and I was able to pick out the darkest ones (5.5 weeks old) to minimize chances of getting a roo. After I picked them out, I found...
  7. sluggospud

    Question about additional feeders when incorporating new chicks

    Thanks for the responses. I decided to pull down the wall yesterday. It went as expected. Mostly peaceful, with some several seconds long bursts of frantic chasing. The younger ones do their best to stay away from the older one. Best that I can see she's all show, and hasn't harmed any of the...
  8. sluggospud

    Question about additional feeders when incorporating new chicks

    I think you can see my setup from my articles linked in my profile. I got three new chicks at 5 weeks, and kept them in a separate coop/enclosure for 4 weeks, about 10 feet away from the main structure, but within eyesight. I'm having trouble getting my old chicken (almost 6 years old) to...
  9. sluggospud

    Is it normal for a "retired" hen to make a daily visit to the nest box?

    Well I'll be darned! It's the old girl who's laying. Early Friday I moved my 2.5 year old red sex link to the quarantine enclose because she started acting poorly Wednesday evening (sleeping on the floor of the coop instead of the roost, and lethargic). Surprise, surprise - I got an egg both...
  10. sluggospud

    Building a ramp.

    Here's a couple of current photos. I think it's been 5 years since I've hosed it down. No snow here. For most of the last year my two birds were confined to the sand filled run. Too many hawks. A couple of months ago I extended the run over dirt, so they now how access to better digging. I...
  11. sluggospud

    Building a ramp.

    I used "U" shaped tacks. Hammered them in with the rope pulled taut.
  12. sluggospud

    Building a ramp.

    I used a 2 x 8 board and zig-zigged some rope for traction. 6 years later it's holding up fine. This photo was when it was new.
  13. sluggospud

    Virulent Newcastle's Disease in Los Angeles County CA

    Here's an email that was sent from UC Davis to those who have answered their backyard chicken survey: Hello backyard poultry enthusiasts, The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has identified a case of virulent Newcastle disease in a small flock of backyard exhibition...
  14. sluggospud

    Comment by 'sluggospud' in article 'Coup de Cadieux: Community Garden and Chicken Coop on the Hill'

    Gorgeous! Would love to see the inside. Since you have two enclosures, can you isolate the run if needed?
  15. sluggospud

    Is it normal for a "retired" hen to make a daily visit to the nest box?

    I'm down to 2 hens in my main coop. Since the last molt, I've been getting about 4 eggs per week, and never two in one day. The barred rock is almost 6 years old, and the red sex link is 2.5. My guess is that the eggs are coming from the red sex link, but can't be sure because both of them make...
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