Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[User395221]

we use marine ply for most of our coop floors

Yes, it's a false economy going for standard ply for anything outdoors, it WILL warp, the only question is how quickly.... The marine can be quite heavy if you go for the thicker stuff, but the chook floor doesn't need to support much weight, so the thin stuff is ok, I think it's still heavier than standard, though. One day, I'll design my "perfect" chook house, I'm just sucking up everybody else's designs in the interim.

 

[Teila]

So, we made some progress today.

This is the ‘Chateau’ which backed onto the ‘Ranch’ and where KiKi and Crystal slept. It had to be moved because it was where the new construction is going. It will be a bit tight in the ‘Ranch’ with all 6 of them, but only temporary. They have also temporarily lost some run space but we are home, so I can let them out early.



This is the back of the ‘Ranch’ which you can see in the next picture I have blocked off with wire and shade cloth so they are secure overnight:



The construction to date .. I popped the floor in to show where it goes.

The half floor is 1 x 1m and weighs probably 1.5kg



Edited to Add one more picture .. The Site Inspectors paid a visit

 

[User395221]

Edited to Add one more picture .. The Site Inspectors paid a visit

And approved wholeheartedly, no doubt.

 

[Teila]

And approved wholeheartedly, no doubt.

It is quite funny actually because where they are digging so enthusiastically was part of their existing run but I guess we must have made it more interesting when we dug the deep holes for the poles

The 'Chateau' did pretty well for a kit coop but after three years it is pretty well rooted and probably good for nothing much at all .. for now we just dumped it in the middle of the back garden, out of the way of the construction site .. Dusty is currently in the 'Chateau'

 

[User395221]

Dusty is currently in the 'Chateau'

Oh, there's gotta be some drama, some emotional blackmail. You may be moving them to a bigger, better, brighter, palace, but there's gotta be some "oh woe is me, we are being turned out of our home!!!!"

 

[Teila]

Oh yeah, tell me about it .. I am dreading 6pm bed time .. there will be squabbling and appealing

“But we do not sleep in here!” “Where is our roost?” “We are cramped!” “She is touching me” “We do not like change!”

I already feel bad about them having to all bunk in together .. I know they are just going to make me feel even worse come bed time.

As I said earlier .. I will share, warts and all and this is the first wart ..... We have effectively cut their accommodation and run in half now

We actually did try to construct off their current site but realised it was going to be too tricky to move and also tricky to brace with the poles not solid in the ground etc.

 

[User395221]

I know they are just going to make me feel even worse come bed time.

I just laugh at them when they go into "chook diva" mode.

 

[Teila]

I can sum up bed time in four words ... Thank Goodness for Bourbon .. for me that is, not the girls

 

[Fancychooklady]

Well I decided to give the new hut to the boys in the ' bachelor pen '. Not sure if any of them have gone in tonight but it is a marked improvement on the corrugated iron shelter they were in.
I know , it looks like a face.

 

[Anniebee]

So , it's definitely red mites cause once again today there were hundreds of them on the underside of the lid of the nest box and northern red fowl mites spend their life on their host, rather than hiding out during the day. Being as it only takes 7 days from hatch to adulthood I will have to keep fumigating the coop.

How's this for ' double Dutch ' this link says you can use ivermectin 1% so long as you have an appropriate witholding period but any eggs laid by the birds should never be sold for human consumption .

.

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/mites-lice/index.aspx

Fancy .... this is quite a coincidence. One you will be interested in I think.

Am currently caring for another Golden Retriever ( all white coated ) "Indy" - male, 8 years old, over the Easter time for about a week. A beautiful dog, stirred up well by my Miss Ruby a few times a day.

He has had a small eye condition - similar to conjunctivitis, but much more minor. Owners brought the ointment ( Amacin ) to be used ( if need be ) on one Indy eye.

Box says " Topical treatment of ocular and aural infections in dogs, cats and horses.

Continues with "Not to be used with food producing animals" .... and then >>>>>> ???? "Meat withholding period - ( horses ) - not to be used on horses intended for human consumption" ...

I SWEAR that's what it says. Ye Gods .... so I went looking for where it was made or imported from, thinking - 'gotta be Europe' !!

Nope - made by Jurox P/L Australia - in Australia. ( NSW ) .....

Since when did we begin eating equine flesh here ?????????? Perhaps Amacin is exported to other countries and that accounts for the warning, but I was gob-smacked, I tell ya.

Double Dutch on that one too, methinks. Would have thought that any meat export ( apologies if some of this offends anyone ) .... that had any condition of the eye, ear, nasal or internal situations, would not pass muster. But then - these days, just about anything can happen.

Besides, most meat exports here are carcass exports, so I fail to get the meaning of that warning overall. Maybe it's Jurox co. protecting themselves ????

Blew MY mind.

Cheers ..........