A sort of personal Chicken Journal

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Thought I'd start a fresh thread to document the raising and life of my chickens and adventures of raising them, to not clutter other threads.

Here are my 3 Ameraucana 7 days old. Just moved to a larger brooder. Having a harder time keeping the temp up now that in this larger container.
Temp wants to stay just under 90F. Does not seem to be a big deal though as their behavior seems normal. They are not huddling in corners away from or under the light.
They are active little girls.

 

[b.hromada]

They are sweet little girls for sure.

Nice idea, of a chicken journal too.

 

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I've begun thinking about what to as far as a coop for my chickens. Been looking at several ideas for building a portable coop/tractor and possibly just buying one.
But it just dawned on me that what is currently my dog's kennel would probably be perfect for a coop. The area is closed off with a gate behind my shed. There is an opening into the shed that leads into a wooden box with a hinged roof for accessibility. Which would serve as the roosting and nesting area. This would most likely be built up larger so the chickens would have more room in the winter months and to allow for heating. During the summer months the chickens would just free range thought my fenced yard, which will bee 6' tall all around.

Any thoughts/ideas? This would save me a bunch of money.

The outdoor enclosed area behind the shed is roughly 13' long by 4.5' wide and 6' tall.
The wooden box inside the shed is roughly 4'x3'x3'.

I know I'd have to block off any areas where predators could get in and probably add a door to the entrance into the box in the shed.

 

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I've been having to change out the chick's water twice a day and that may not be enough.
I will change it out with fresh water before I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning the chicks will have kicked so much sawdust and paper towel pieces into their water it soaks up really fast.
As soon as I fill up new water in the morning they jump quickly over to the water and drink like they havn't been drinking for a while. Even for just 3 chicks, I don't think this smaller mason jar is gonna cut it. I'll probably end up picking up a larger water container from the local feed store today.

 

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Let the little girls outside in the grass for the first time today.
They seemed to enjoy it.

 

[downstownlady]

I had the same trouble with a 1 gallon waterer with my 13 chicks...so I bought these little threaded chicken nipples and they took to it right away...I did take a little time to watch and make sure...but I have it hanging at their neck height and it makes it so much easier to keep the water clean. https://www.teksupply.com/farm/supp...ultry_watering_systems;ts1_hoses_nipples.html I took a drill and drilled a starter hole in the bottom of a clear plastic container (1 of those ziplock's with the screw-on lids that are disposible. ) I then drilled a larger hole the same size as the thread and just screwed it in. It works great and no leaks. Word of caution though, don't hold it while drilling the holes as it will crack...keep the lid on it and place it flat, lid side down and go slow. You can also use big old buckets too... I am going to put another 1 in...but they haven't had a problem sharing yet. I plan on putting in an auto waterer since we are in south east Texas. I hope this help...it has sure saved me a lot of time!!!

 

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Coop taking shape.

 

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getting bigger

 

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So I decided to build them a separate coop instead of the dog run/kennel area.

Getting bigger now.
Coop isn't 100% finished, I was short on supplies and the hardware store was closed today.