California - Northern

[lawatt]

and here's a coop design question for y'all -- i'm thinking of expanding my coop (again, how could i not, after the influence of this thread + chicken math!) -- it currently is an 8x4' henhouse inside an 8x12' run. easiest thing is to add on, so that it might become 8x20' (adding another 8 feet) or some such number. but here's my question: what are the pros and cons of making it one huge space (so that there would be a single flock all mixed together), or two (or three?) separate spaces?

the way i see it, the pro of separate spaces is having the ability to separate a few birds for breeding, or making it easier to introduce new birds to the flock while keeping them separate for a while -- but the pro of a single space is the flock would feel less crowded (i have 12 adults now, and 11 chicks growing up, some of whom will be boys and probably won't stay -- but if i got an incubator, those numbers could, ahem, increase), and then they could all free-range together when i'm home (as they do now) & not have fights?

i guess that's the real question -- if chickens live in separate coops but all free range in the same yard, do they have fights, or do they just stick to their own flock? would i have to free-range them separately?

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: We attached to the water district last year (oh ya, I have an extra $30k sitting around) after having a well. We don't have the mineral build up and the worries that are attached to owning a well, but geez they put a lot of bleach in the water! Anyway, the instruction say either way and I've read here both ways too. This is my third hatch in the Brinsea w/humidity pump and the first time to have this smell. I've read that some have added oxine to the humidity pump. Was trying to get a quick answer but I'll do some searching, they're due tomorrow.

Believe me, I know black mold can effect the chicks anyway...lost 1/2 off the pricy BCMs I bought. Sent the last one to UCD and came back as black mold so I want to get some oxine in there. I'm new to Oxine and haven't had the chance to do the calculations and recalled someone posting the amount they add to the humidity pump. All but one egg had moving chicks, the ones I could see in, and has lost the correct weight as of last night

Did you not like/see my answer a few posts up?

I buy distilled water so I don't get hard water deposits. Anyway, I add 1/4 teas. to the gallon of water. I had read something like 7 drops. 1/4 teas. comes out to around 10 drops (I measured with a syringe). Then I just use that jug of water to fill the humidity pump with a funnel.

Quote: Beautiful healthy looking birds Laura...............................and I wanted to say, good to see you back Molly. People were asking about you.

 

[lawatt]

Did you not like/see my answer a few posts up?

I buy distilled water so I don't get hard water deposits. Anyway, I add 1/4 teas. to the gallon of water. I had read something like 7 drops. 1/4 teas. comes out to around 10 drops (I measured with a syringe). Then I just use that jug of water to fill the humidity pump with a funnel.

Beautiful healthy looking birds Laura...............................and I wanted to say, good to see you back Molly. People were asking about you.

thanks, dixie and ethel are quite a charismatic pair -- and greetings also to Molly! the isbar & two isbar/marans crosses i hatched from your eggs are growing up beautifully -- i'll try to get some updated photos...

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Deb, Hay barn is not selling Nutrena ( just some knockoff brand now I guess ) do you know anywhere else that is selling the all flock Nutrena ?

 

[debs_flock]

Deb, Hay barn is not selling Nutrena ( just some knockoff brand now I guess ) do you know anywhere else that is selling the all flock Nutrena ?

I don't. Rich brought in five bags of the new stuff so people could try it. Of course, we were there and needed food so we bought all five bags. I compared the nutrition labels and they are both pretty close. The new stuff is $3 per bag cheaper. It swaps corn/wheat as the first ingredient, other than that nutrition & ingredients are very close all the way down the line. Except the new feed is higher fat.

The pellets are substantially larger, but still small enough for young birds.

We are trying it. The birds are eating it fine and we'll see how they are doing. We picked up another 15 bags, but then the 20 bags we have is only a 2-3 week supply. So I'll let you know if I see any difference in my birds. Unlikely though in that short time.

DH just told me Coloma Feedstore carries Nutrena, he was discussing it with the shearer when he was here to do our sheep.

I'm sure Hay Barn would still order the Nutrena if it's what everyone wants, he was just trying to save everyone some $$$ I think. We buy half a pallet at a time.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote: We attached to the water district last year (oh ya, I have an extra $30k sitting around) after having a well. We don't have the mineral build up and the worries that are attached to owning a well, but geez they put a lot of bleach in the water! Anyway, the instruction say either way and I've read here both ways too. This is my third hatch in the Brinsea w/humidity pump and the first time to have this smell. I've read that some have added oxine to the humidity pump. Was trying to get a quick answer but I'll do some searching, they're due tomorrow.

Believe me, I know black mold can effect the chicks anyway...lost 1/2 off the pricy BCMs I bought. Sent the last one to UCD and came back as black mold so I want to get some oxine in there. I'm new to Oxine and haven't had the chance to do the calculations and recalled someone posting the amount they add to the humidity pump. All but one egg had moving chicks, the ones I could see in, and has lost the correct weight as of last night

Did you not like/see my answer a few posts up?

I buy distilled water so I don't get hard water deposits. Anyway, I add 1/4 teas. to the gallon of water. I had read something like 7 drops. 1/4 teas. comes out to around 10 drops (I measured with a syringe). Then I just use that jug of water to fill the humidity pump with a funnel.
NO! I missed it! Thank you!!! I've got one pip already this morning and I'd like to get it in!

It's in and now I'm relieved!

 

[capayvalleychick]

and here's a coop design question for y'all -- i'm thinking of expanding my coop (again, how could i not, after the influence of this thread + chicken math!) -- it currently is an 8x4' henhouse inside an 8x12' run. easiest thing is to add on, so that it might become 8x20' (adding another 8 feet) or some such number. but here's my question: what are the pros and cons of making it one huge space (so that there would be a single flock all mixed together), or two (or three?) separate spaces?

the way i see it, the pro of separate spaces is having the ability to separate a few birds for breeding, or making it easier to introduce new birds to the flock while keeping them separate for a while -- but the pro of a single space is the flock would feel less crowded (i have 12 adults now, and 11 chicks growing up, some of whom will be boys and probably won't stay -- but if i got an incubator, those numbers could, ahem, increase), and then they could all free-range together when i'm home (as they do now) & not have fights?

i guess that's the real question -- if chickens live in separate coops but all free range in the same yard, do they have fights, or do they just stick to their own flock? would i have to free-range them separately?

I would vote for separate spaces. Build another coop & run, maybe attach it to the existing one. It's always handy to have a place to separate chickens. What you have sounds small for the amount of chickens that you have, jmo. I would think that they will all get along fine when they free range. Roosters may be the exception. It can be difficult (or impossible) to have multiple roosters, that were not raised together, get along.

 

[ChickNmamma]

and here's a coop design question for y'all -- i'm thinking of expanding my coop (again, how could i not, after the influence of this thread + chicken math!) -- it currently is an 8x4' henhouse inside an 8x12' run. easiest thing is to add on, so that it might become 8x20' (adding another 8 feet) or some such number. but here's my question: what are the pros and cons of making it one huge space (so that there would be a single flock all mixed together), or two (or three?) separate spaces?

the way i see it, the pro of separate spaces is having the ability to separate a few birds for breeding, or making it easier to introduce new birds to the flock while keeping them separate for a while -- but the pro of a single space is the flock would feel less crowded (i have 12 adults now, and 11 chicks growing up, some of whom will be boys and probably won't stay -- but if i got an incubator, those numbers could, ahem, increase), and then they could all free-range together when i'm home (as they do now) & not have fights?

i guess that's the real question -- if chickens live in separate coops but all free range in the same yard, do they have fights, or do they just stick to their own flock? would i have to free-range them separately?

Personally, I would build a separated area. The reason is that I started out with one long run and one big coop. I have been dividing it up because I now want to work on purebred/project birds.

Another reason is that next time you have broodies you can use the separated area to put them in - instead of having more and more eggs collect under them from the laying hens. If you line the smaller pen with the baby chick wire so the chicks can't get into the main pen, and the mommas and chicks can run around together (and the mommas protect their own chicks from other mommas) things will be much less stressful for everybody. If you put the birds that went broody in the smaller coop they will feel comfortable to stay there when (notice not if) they go broody again. Having that pen alongside will allow the integration to go smoothly, once they are big enough to free range together just let them all out.

Right now I have 5 pens. Three pens were made out of that long pen. I let everybody out together to range, and they all go back to the right pens. I can have more roosters, have more choices as to who I put where (growout pen is also bantam pen.. the older birds teach the younger roos manners) and I can switch them around if I want to.

I also have a portable cage I use for my "breeding pens" for the bantams (too small for big ones). I did single pairings (only had pairs) and hatched out purebred chicks to try and get some more females. These are put away when I am finished doing the breeding pens.

The other two pens are for my Silkies - and they share a very small coop in the middle but have long runs on either side of the coop. By doing this I have one coop for two areas - separated in the middle so the birds can keep warm together but not see or bother each other inside. I also divided under the coop into two areas so there is a digging hole area under there - thats the only place the two roosters fence fight - but it is through baby chicken wire so they can't even get their beaks through it.

If I was going to have one layer flock and not care about parentage of the littles and I only wanted one or two roosters - I would still have one big pen and one big coop.

But because my plans changed, thanks to this site and chicken math, I am now going for dividing areas up for less birds per area and more control over who breeds who..

 

[capayvalleychick]

just a note. If you want a incubator check out uniqueincubator.com

my R-com was a bargin they shipped quick and gave me a few quick pointers

My DH is not usually interested in chickens but has mentioned wanting to try incubating eggs. So, I've been looking at options. I was thinking about just getting an inexpensive Hovabator, until I saw those. If you have an rcom, do you need an additional hatcher?

 

[lawatt]

I would vote for separate spaces. Build another coop & run, maybe attach it to the existing one. It's always handy to have a place to separate chickens. What you have sounds small for the amount of chickens that you have, jmo. I would think that they will all get along fine when they free range. Roosters may be the exception. It can be difficult (or impossible) to have multiple roosters, that were not raised together, get along.

i've been trying to figure out how to calculate the "right" amount of space -- right now the henhouse is 32 sq ft (8x4), and the run is 96 sq ft (8x12) -- with 11 girls and one rooster, they don't seem crowded (and they get to free-range whenever possible, over 1.5 acres or so) -- assuming half the chicks are female (not at all clear that they are!), i might end up (for now) with 15 + 1. will this be too small?