Recent content by Spikeandbean

  1. Spikeandbean

    Comment by 'Spikeandbean' in article 'Stuck egg! Collapsed egg hanging from vent! Prolapse! Oh my! What to do!'

    I just want to thank you for this article. One of my girls appears egg bound, and my epsom salt soaks and crushed tums haven't done the trick. She's not eating much right now, so I'm having little luck hiding calcium in foods. I'm picking up the calcium citrate size/type you recommended, and I'm...
  2. Spikeandbean

    When to move chicks to coop

    Are they making any day trips outside? How does their current garage/brooder temp compare with the outside temps? Do you still have a heat lamp on them? If I were you, I'd be acclimating them right now to those outside temperatures. Give them some time outside each day, start removing the heat...
  3. Spikeandbean

    Chicken Run/shed/coop idea

    For rain/wind protection, it definitely depends on how you orient it. I was just thinking about your space concerns & how brutal the summers can get. Up in Chico, we're in triple digits for days in a row, and it doesn't cool off below the 70s (or even 80s) at night. If I were building, I'd...
  4. Spikeandbean

    Chicken Run/shed/coop idea

    Have you considered an open air coop? Something with a wall of hardware cloth? Since your space is tight (and your climate mild) you could skip the extra space under your current coop design, and think about enclosing a few walls on the run, instead. You'd need to make the whole thing...
  5. Spikeandbean

    New to chicks. Am I doing it right?

    I should think that would be fine, as long as it's secured (unless you have a cat jumping up there or something). I remember being shocked by how early mine were trying to fly!
  6. Spikeandbean

    New to chicks. Am I doing it right?

    They will be flying out in no time, so you might want to consider aerial coverage... Congrats on your chicks! So exciting!
  7. Spikeandbean

    Post office sucks

    Oh wow, thank goodness she called! There are some wonderful, well-meaning postal workers out there, for sure.
  8. Spikeandbean

    What size of rocks do I need?

    I'm not sure what the minimum would be - hopefully someone else can weigh in! Personally, I'd go pretty big - 3+ in. cobbles? - if I really wanted to keep them out of it. I've seen people using pea gravel in runs before, so I'm guessing that would be tempting fate.
  9. Spikeandbean

    What size of rocks do I need?

    Is the idea that you want to keep the chickens out of certain yard areas (they DO love mulch!), so you're trying to figure out a material that's less attractive (to them)? If so, I'm wondering if you could give them their own area, instead. Maybe fence off a chicken-only area for them?
  10. Spikeandbean

    Help me convert this dog run!

    I'll echo this ^^. I'm up in Chico, and our North Valley summers make a typical 4-sided coop less necessary. A loafing shed or "open air" coop would be perfect, if you're planning to replace the metal shed anyway. So I wonder if you'd be better off sinking your money into the fencing and roofing...
  11. Spikeandbean

    How to fix Resin shed overheating problems

    I have trees and patio umbrellas. I'm putting up a triangle sail this year, though, so we can have our umbrellas back! I originally bought a pop-up canopy to use, but the trees are a little low and the fence a little close... If you have the height and room, though, I think a canopy would be...
  12. Spikeandbean

    How to fix Resin shed overheating problems

    I'll second (or third?) the shade recommendation. I have a plastic coop, too, (omlet) and deep shade helps keep it to a reasonable temp in the summer. I've also heard of people using attic fans, etc. to help move hot air out, so maybe something like that...?
  13. Spikeandbean

    enclosing a "free range" space

    You've got a lot of good advice here, so I'll just add that I have the Omlet fencing - and while I find it convenient to use, it would not keep out dogs. (I do not have an issue with them flying over it, although they technically could.)
  14. Spikeandbean

    Comment by 'Spikeandbean' in article 'My Backyard 'Omlet' Palace'

    Cool to meet another Omlet owner here!
  15. Spikeandbean

    Need coup buying advice

    I don't know, as I don't have one. I've seen some amazing mods on here, though, so perhaps ask around... I'm certain it depends on 1) your climate, 2) how/where you ventilate it, 3) how the walls are constructed (double-walled with an air barrier would be good for example - like a cooler), and...
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