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  1. chriscos

    Best Plucker--advice needed

    If you are handy, build your own for a lot less: WHiz Bang Chicken Plucker: http://whizbangbooks.blogspot.com/2007/12/wb21.html
  2. chriscos

    McMurray Hatchery, drop shipped chicks from Texas?

    Quote: Kinda harsh and off topic, but thanks for the reply
  3. chriscos

    McMurray Hatchery, drop shipped chicks from Texas?

    Quote: I'm pretty sure, that after almost 100 years in business, they have a pretty good idea what the hatch rates are and they plan accordingly. I'm inclined to think that they have some cost savings by subcontracting out to whomever in Texas. And I'm not faulting McMurray for doing it. I...
  4. chriscos

    McMurray Hatchery, drop shipped chicks from Texas?

    I ordered 25 chicks from McMurray. 2 DOA, 3 other died within 8 hours (all BRs, the other breeds I ordered were fine), everyone else is doing great 2 weeks later. This is my first time ordering from a hatchery. I have been getting all my other birds and chicks locally. Now, silly me, I thought...
  5. chriscos

    McMurray Mystery Chick - Who can tell me what it is? Photos Inside!

    The chick is much larger than most of the other chicks I got. I did get 2 NH Red Roo's in the order and this one seems to be about the same size. I have 4 Ameraucana's. Maybe I will keep him and breed some more EE mongrels
  6. chriscos

    McMurray Mystery Chick - Who can tell me what it is? Photos Inside!

    So I placed an order with McMurray hatchery and got the mystery chick. Who can tell me what it is?
  7. chriscos

    ignore - wrong thread! Sorry!

    EDIT: Sorry, posted to the wrong area! Moved to The "What Breed or Gender is This?" Forum Ok, so I placed an order with McMurray and got my Mystery Chick.
  8. chriscos

    When can they free range?

    We keep them in their new coop for 3 - 4 days, starting at 6 weeks - this lets them know where they "live" now. After that we let them out supervised in the late evening, about 30 - 45 minutes before chickens normally go into roost. They usually all go back inside when they are supposed to, but...
  9. chriscos

    Electric fence question

    Ditto what others have said. I have electric poultry netting, probably 10 - 15,000 volts. I've gotten a few shocks from it, but the chickens bump it once and learn pretty quick. No ill effects to the birds.
  10. chriscos

    Help with how to figure materials needed

    Basically add up the surface area for the wall to figure how much sheathing (plywood I assume) you will need. Do the same with the number of studs, top/bottom plates, etc. Can you take a picture of your plans and post them? Or the dimensions and how far apart you plan on putting the studs? Then...
  11. chriscos

    Ondura Roof Panel Question

    I used the inserts, but I didn't use plywood underneath, just purlins spaced across every 24". The panels had no problems this winter with about 4 feet of snow on them. I really like the ondura panels too. I've done two small coops with them (5 x 8 and 4 x 6) and I am going to be building...
  12. chriscos

    Minimum size nests for Barred Rocks

    Mine are happy in 10" wide X 12" deep boxes. Well, I don't know if they are "happy", but they lay eggs in them.
  13. chriscos

    How many chickens can fit comfortable in a 5' by 5' coop?

    How big is the run or do they free range? If in a run is it secured and covered, or do they need to be locked in the coop at night? Do you have multiple days/weeks where the birds won't go out of the coop (heavy winters, etc.)? What kind of birds are they, heavy, bantams? How often will the coop...
  14. chriscos

    Winter runs?

    Look into hoophouses, inexpensive greenhouses covered with 6mil greenhouse plastic. I would not fully enclose it in plastic though since the temps in hoop houses can get very high, even up to 80 degrees in the middle of january when outside temps are in the low teens. You will need to design...
  15. chriscos

    Is this a good incubator?

    1602N has a thermostat: https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=274
  16. chriscos

    How many support posts for raised 8x10 coop?

    It really depends on what you are using for the "beams" ( 2 x 6's?) and how much weight they will be carrying. You probably want at least 4 more, one in the middle of each span. There is a table on this page. It is for decks, which is overkill for a chicken coop. But it will give you an idea...
  17. chriscos

    Should I be cleaning up discarded feathers?

    They are not a problem. Let them be
  18. chriscos

    Wood chips or straw?

    We usually use pine shavings, but this winter I tried straw in the coop and the "deep litter" method. It worked pretty well, but come spring when I had to clean out all that straw.... it was not easy. I've found that the straw does not compost as quickly as the shavings too (which you think...
  19. chriscos

    Buttercups in the chicken run... will it make them sick or worse???

    They will be fine.
  20. chriscos

    $100 coop and run

    In the unlikely event that there is new construction going on in your area, talk to the guys building. A lot of times they have a dumpster there and are throwing all the scrap wood in it. More often than not they are happy to let you pull out a few boards, pieces of plywood.
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