Recent content by tmiller42

  1. tmiller42

    Tmiller42s Member Page

    The first time I mentioned raising chickens my wife politely ignored me, probably hoping this was another of my pie-in-the-sky dreams that would never actually get off the ground. But after a couple of good books on the subject, talking to some friends who also raised chickens, and a few...
  2. tmiller42

    for those that use deep litter method...please advise me

    I've been using DL method for about a year and a half. When I first built the coop, I hadn't heard of it and needed to make some modifications in order to hold enough litter inside. It's still not ideal and I can't make the litter as deep as I'd like, but I can generally keep about 4" in place...
  3. tmiller42

    Post here if you DON'T wash clean-looking eggs

    Quote: That may be one of the funniest (and most ridiculous) things I've ever heard. The ignorance of some people regarding food is just unbelievable. I only wash eggs that need it. If a little dirt or poo can be scraped off or rubbed off with a dry scratchie pad, I'll do that first. If...
  4. tmiller42

    Chicken Run Height

    I agree with the others here that access is a must. Either build it tall enough that YOU can comfortably walk around under the roof, or else short enough that you can remove the roof and step into it from the top. I also agree that a roost of some kind seems to be a big deal to the chickens...
  5. tmiller42

    Need feedback (trouble shoot) on my new coop

    Looks great!! I agree with the comment about size though. It depends somewhat on how well the girls get along. Since they'll likely only be in there at night, it's much less of a problem. But if they're high-strung or still sorting out pecking order, that might not be enough space. Where do...
  6. tmiller42

    small and slightly dumb question ...

    I have a fairly small coop and the girls are only in there to sleep. I experimented with keeping both food and water in there for a time, but it was non-stop trouble. The water especially contributed too much to humidity and both were constantly spilling. I now have both outside in a small...
  7. tmiller42

    Broilers & tractors

    I have a square 8X8X2 tractor similar to Salatin's also, but I hung an 8' 2"x2" across it's width for roost. They love it, but I also agree it's not necessary. I just figure a happier chicken is a tastier chicken.
  8. tmiller42

    cold weathers going fast but...

    At the time of the writing, I think he mentioned that 10% loss was considered "acceptable" though they typically did much better than that. I believe his rates have continued to improve, but can't tell you what they typically are now. I can tell you that I've run 2 batches through that curve...
  9. tmiller42

    Chicken pluckers

    How much do the Wizbang plans cost? Anyone want to sell a used set of plans?
  10. tmiller42

    cold weathers going fast but...

    I'm in central Indiana so I suspect our winters may be a little worse than yours. I have a batch of 22 chicks that are now about 4 weeks old and I've had them outside full-time now for a week. Joel Salatin, in his book "Pastured Poultry Profits" provides a great day-by-day temperature chart...
  11. tmiller42

    How large?

    If you're asking about the size of the tractor itself, I wouldn't go less than 3sq ft per bird. 4 or 5 would be better. As long as they're getting new grassy area to forage through every couple of days, they shouldn't go after each other. If you're asking about how much area the tractor needs...
  12. tmiller42

    Hello from Indiana!!!!!!

    Howdy Rob. I'm from Indy area too (out east near McCordsville). Been lurking here for a few months. This is my first post! Have had a small backyard flock since fall and just purchased another 18 fuzzybutts yesterday. Good times!
See more
Back
Top Bottom