Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Yeah, I know.

I've become allergic to building things that will live outside from wood.

It just doesn't seem to last. The frame will surely be steel - the siding with either be heavily insulated steel or lightly insulated wood.

I'll think of something...


Frame it with steel, sides in cage wire (1/2x1, 1x1 or 1x2). Add shade cloth or tarps that can be rolled up as needed for the season & weather.

 

[Mikey D]

Quote:
My biggest concern is that it looks difficult to clean or get recalcitrant chickens out. Do you really want to scrunch yourself into a tiny ball trying to climb inside, then bang your head getting out? Solve those problems, though, and it will be great. I will suggest not using solid metal sides--you don't want to build a solar oven

Agreed on the "recalcitrant chicken retrieval issue and the solar oven thing.

I was thinking of making it have lift up sides or possibly the run section be only 24" high with a lift up top.

I've found the best way of gathering them up is wait until dark and arm sweep them into a bucket!

Now about that solar oven thing...

 

[Mikey D]

Quote:
I know, really!

 

[Mikey D]

I think I am going to pass out and die. I am cleaning the coop super good and it is taking me alot longer to do than I had initially planned. maybe it was the 2 and 4 year old assistants that werent really assisting!!

Don't worry, if you pass out you probably wont die.

Probably...

 

[Mikey D]

YEA!!!!! My first Ameracauna x cochin chicks hatched today, 3 so far and so very cute. One of them has very pudgy feet!!!

Very cool Puffy!

 

[Mikey D]

Quote:
Ideal was 50-50 on my first two GSL's

But 100% on the next two.

 

[Mikey D]

Quote:
I'll bet his crows are very musical: heavy metal.

I don't have a lot of chicken decorations in my house, but I would definitely display this one! very cool. Where did the picture come from?



I got it from ebaumsworld.com (definitely not work or small child safe!)

The tag on the bottom says failblog.org but I've not visited that site.

 

[Memphisjourney2seramas]

Yes, I think the very bottom one might brood-sit since she won't be able to lay her own ) Thanks for the info. So they both look to be productions of some mix. GRRR....those people at the feed store. Even so, I still love my girls.

The dark red one looks like a RIR to me.

 

[Mikey D]

Fuzzybird: I liked your joke, and the pups are super cute. My mom is thinking of getting a standard poodle, but she wants black.

Laree: I hope you find your camera soon. I want to see pics of baby ducks! (and because it sucks to loose a camera)

Mikey: I like the tractor idea, but I don't see any support for the front of the coop and that cross beam in the large door looks like it could be a big headache, literally. How are your chicks' eyes?

Aznewmom: I am sorry to hear about your chick. I have lost two of mine to my dog. Now, the dogs get run of the yard in the morning and early afternoon, and the chickens get the yard the rest of the day until they go in to roost.

Mama Hen Chris: Thank your son for his service for us.

Pastrymama: One of my Ameraucanas is broody. My new coop isn't done yet so I think I'll stick her in a large dog crate and put the other eggs under her...unless you REALLY want them! I only have two that aren't under the Wyandotte broody. She is sitting on three and ate the others.

On another note, I had no idea how noisy broody hens can be when they are off their nest. Wow, both of them just raise a racket. And poop, my gosh, they don't poop on their nest, but hold it until they get out to the yard. I never knew a chicken could poo so much. On that note, I hope everyone's day is going great. I'm off to enjoy the sunshine before it gets too darn hot.

Arizonachicken - good eyes on the crossbeam.

I'm thinking of building it with posts on the corners of the coops that reach the ground.

If I get it galvanized and build it out of tubing, I have to leave pass throughs (holes) in each end of every tube so the zinc can run into and out of each tube. That constraint lends itself to using full length vertical pieces and popping holes in them where the horizontal bars will attach. That will eliminate the cross-beam and provide support for the front corners of the coop.

Thanks for that visual catch!

Princess's eye looks completely normal. I'm thinking of putting her back with the others a day early.

Blinky is slow to heal. Her eye has not bloated in the past few days and she is opening it, but infrequently.

The packing peanut I'm using for a control group (a control group of one

) is not exhibiting any signs of eye malady.

Thanks again!

 

[Mikey D]

Anyone have an extra hovabator egg turner. My motor is not working....

What are the specs on the motor?

I've got a few timing motors kicking around that we could probably get to work.