Recent content by willr

  1. willr

    Brooding new chicks in the coop...what problems will I face?

    I am also considering starting my chicks in a brooder in the coop and this thread has given me some great ideas. Thanks! However, what concerns should I have about introducing babies to my coop in terms of possible unknown diseases? I have a healthy flock and I assume that new chicks should be...
  2. willr

    How old is too old for eating rooster?

    How about an almost one year old rooster? I know he is "stewable" but any other suggestions? He's gotta go.
  3. willr

    Cost effective - multi use - super poultry compound!

    Thanks! I guess I will figure it out on my own.
  4. willr

    Cost effective - multi use - super poultry compound!

    I thought that post title would get me at least a few responses....
  5. willr

    Livestock guardian dogs

    We got a red heeler last summer who keeps watch on our chickens whenever she is out, chasing off everything and anyone who enters her space. She has treed raccoons, weasels, fisher cats and who knows what else while we weren't watching. In 2014 we lost birds to raccoons, coyotes, and a...
  6. willr

    Cost effective - multi use - super poultry compound!

    I have been raising layer and meat chickens for a few years and I am considering expanding my setup to accommodate additional poultry options like runner ducks and maybe a couple turkeys for eating. I know there are a lot of ways to go about this but I am curious to see if I can get some...
  7. willr

    Pioneer meat birds- the good, the bad and the very, very ugly

    I am curious about processing time. I have 15 Pioneers that are huge! But they are only 9 weeks old. My set up is a tractor for night and a temp electric fenced "pasture" area all day. This is my first experience with meat birds but I have had a great experience with this breed and will...
  8. willr

    Old, empty coop. New birds. How clean?

    Hi! In January, a mink crept into my run through a tiny hole and ended the 6 birds who lived in there. Jerk. Side note; minks/weasels fit through tiny holes! Anyways, it is now April and I have 12 new ladies in the brooder waiting to move into their sweet outdoor apartment! I have scooped out...
  9. willr

    Cookie Tin water heater

    So the cord coming into the can from the plug should be a "3 conductor cord". Two wires go to the socket, the green ground goes to the can? I am clearly not a electrician! I bought a heated dog bowl that I was planning to use but it came with the instructions: "Do not use with extension...
  10. willr

    post your chicken coop pictures here!

    Quote: That was an impressive response Bruce, thanks! You got it, NEK on a ridge with some elevation. I am always amazed how much colder it is here than Burlington or even Morrisville just down the road. I admit -35 is rare but certainly a possibility! I think I have decided not to...
  11. willr

    post your chicken coop pictures here!

    Thanks! I have been working on this thing all summer and I have alterations I hope to make next summer already.... There is a long opening that you can just see in the pic under the front roof eave that is screened. Plus there is actually a gap along the roofing that is about 1' all the way...
  12. willr

    post your chicken coop pictures here!

    Here's my coop! I could use some advice; I live in northern VT, it gets cold here. For sure negative teens, occasionally as low as -35ish. Should I insulate this thing? 6 hens in there, deep litter. The coop is tight but single walled. I could run an extension cord for a lamp but I don't want...
  13. willr

    Weaning off the lamp.

    Thanks guys!
  14. willr

    Weaning off the lamp.

    That's a good idea, thanks. At a certain point, is it okay to just pull the lamp all at once? Once they are fully feathered? A warmish night?
  15. willr

    Weaning off the lamp.

    Hello, I have 4 week chicks. RIR's I think. I moved them out into the coop at week 3 because they were picking on each other and I decided it was because the brooder was too small for them. I moved the heat lamp out with them because I live in Northern VT and we have had some cold nights...
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