An excuse to talk chicken with yaw'll . . . flock plans

[ashcons]

Jubilee Orp (speckled sussex x fat booty) lol

I need those. My wife would love them! We have awful luck with orps. Aside from buff Orpington pullets we bought sexed, we've tried for lavender orps a couple times and we're 0/7 on straight run gals in two small batches (3 then 4).

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I need those. My wife would love them! We have awful luck with orps. Aside from buff Orpington pullets we bought sexed, we've tried for lavender orps a couple times and we're 0/7 on straight run gals in two small batches (3 then 4).

That sucks! Go with sexed chicks next time, you still may end up with a cockerel, but the chances are better that you'll get girls.

 

[Iluveggers]

Jubilee Orp (speckled sussex x fat booty) lol

Also gorgeous birds…I love that pattern!

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Take a drive over here to Texas, I've got some Orp chicks for you, lol

I love me some Texas!!!!

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Compromise on the floor, wire means possible broken toes/toenails. Paint the floor with the cement paint...durable and easy to sweep. Or linoleum same easy to sweep.

Dang you peeps are SO smart. It's a wrap; I'll do that!!!!!

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I have two coats of pink exterior on my floor (oops paint) i want to get linoleum or something like you have. I do a mix of straw and wood shavings..I love it..

For the .49 cent square foot price. We got a 12x8 sheet, with enough to do the Brahma coop for only $48. We were going to do the rubberized spray but decided against that so they didn’t peck at it.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

My husband is the same way," I don't want to spend the whole weekend working, hey babe I'm gonna be in the shop doing blah blah blah",

Omg! Right!!! He is always like “man I never have a day off”. Well that’s cause you keep adding stuff and telling ppl you can fix stuff. What do you think? But then I also throw at him, gee I know the feeling. I have 6 kids to take care of 24/7 2 teens and one preteen and a 5&6 yr old and the only boy who’s 2. Ya…I need a day off too

 

[samanthaoverton]

For the .49 cent square foot price. We got a 12x8 sheet, with enough to do the Brahma coop for only $48. We were going to do the rubberized spray but decided against that so they didn’t peck at it.

Hey that price ain't bad.

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Hey that price ain't bad.

Not really. Especially cause the stuff left over I can use for the next coop. The prices on the discounted ones started at $80.

 

[3KillerBs]

I haven't read the whole thread and might or might not get to it before work, but I wanted to make a few quick comments.

I keep reading 16-18 weeks for egg laying to commence.

More like 18-24. Up to 6 months for some late-maturing breeds.

• Brahma (can't decide between light and dark; I read dark may be better re the predation thing; but light may be better relative to heat; ay yi yi, what's a chicken mamma to do). I also am on the fence about roo, pullet or simply one of each and keep it moving.
• Dixie Rainbow - read some really good reviews about the breed.
• Sultan - simply because they look cool. A roo.
• Polish - the whole cool looking thing as well. Kinda don't care whether a pullet or roo. Then again, at that point there would be 16 birds and I am thinking I won't need more than two roos.
• Plymouth Barred Rock - just because I believe them to be a cool backyard bird (from all I have read).

I love Brahmas and they are weirdly heat-tolerant despite everything about them being wrong for the heat. But they are not wonderful layers and mature late.

Don't know about the Dixie Rainbows -- they're a sort of hatchery mutt, which likely means hardiness.

Sultans are lacking in every feature recommended for dealing with heat. Also, if you want to ever hatch chicks, remember that your rooster is half your flock so his characteristics should be chosen with greater care than the hens'.

I've never kept Polish. Some people have them in a mixed flock without issues. Others find that they get bullied.

Barred Rocks are the classic for sure. I've never had one, but millions of owners over 150 years or so can't be too far wrong.

He keeps mentioning wire so poop, etc will go through.

The poop of an adult hen can be up to the size of an egg.

Any wire big enough to let that poop through is big enough for rats, weasels, and snakes to get though.