Building New Coop/Barn...Phase 5 Great Barn Build, OCCUPIED! 3/6/16

[speckledhen]

Looks great!!

You've got chickies?
In the new barn?

Yes, Wynette is raising her four chicks in pen #6 of the new barn. Ida's in the former bantam coop with her little ones who are just over a week old.

 

[aart]

Quote: Sweet!! Pics?!
I just put my ~week old chicks outside.



Pseudo 'heat plate'.

 

[speckledhen]

Sweet!! Pics?!
I just put my ~week old chicks outside.



Pseudo 'heat plate'.

Never saw a heat plate like that-did you build it? If so, cool! It's like those eco heater things.

I posted pics on the Atlas thread, but here is a taste.

 

[aart]

Sweet pics!

Yep, a DIY of the Brinsea ecoglow.
Details of mine here....https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/862691/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate
Tho I made some changes to it today that are not in that 'article'.

Buncha people are making something similar...it's turned into an infamous 'movement'....called the MHP (Mama Heating Pad)
Huge chat thread....https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

 

[speckledhen]

That's very cool, Anne. Good job! I haven't had to brood chicks in ages, only hatched with broodies but I will probably have to when the Brahmas I want come available in a few weeks.

 

[aart]

Thanks!
It works nice, much nicer than a lamp and cheap to run.
Have only used inside before....am nervous about them being out there, it's gonna get real cold tonite.
But they seemed fine all afternoon despite then 10-15 degree difference between house and coop.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

Well, c'mon! You can see the little Atlas mini-me's. You'd better get with it and move up here so you can have one of 'em. There is still one that I'm going back and forth on the sexing. It feathered slower, more like a male, but then, so did Lizzie. So, if I'm really lucky, I'll have 3/3 out of all six chicks. If not, then I have two pullets, one cockerel to keep and three males to find homes for.

If it were up to me I would be up there next week!!

 

[speckledhen]

Good thing my chickens were all inside the barn today due to high winds. Looked out and saw two very large dogs with collars on romping around the pasture then they were at the livestock fencing, going back and forth, not sure if they were trying to find a way in or what. Called DH who got the shotgun and fired in their direction just over their heads. They pretty much vanished into thin air, couldn't see which way they went due to the lay of the land, but I've never seen them before. Maybe they will be encouraged to do somewhere else. We need to get that pasture fenced when the barn is all done.

Could be some new folks moved in around here and may have to be informed about letting their dogs roam.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Or the high winds blew their gate open and released the dogs. It happened to me last week with the chickens...they had a nice day free ranging without supervision.

 

[speckledhen]

Or the high winds blew their gate open and released the dogs. It happened to me last week with the chickens...they had a nice day free ranging without supervision.

Well, no telling because I don't know these dogs. But, whatever the reason they were out, a dead chicken is a dead chicken and dogs don't get a free pass even the first time. DH drove to get the mail then rode around to see if he saw them on any surrounding streets but never saw them.

We always have high winds around here so all gates need decent latches on them. Bet those chickens scared you to death when you saw them all over the place!