California - Northern

[caychris]

Lost 2 Pita girls last night not sure what happened. Dont think it was the heat unless it was just cumulative and something gave out. Looked fine the day before. I had been getting soft shells then egg production went down so laying issues might have claimed one or both.

The ants are looking for any liquid these days and were all over them so I didnt try to send them in. Everyone else seems happy and healthy.

 

[ronott1]

Lost 2 Pita girls last night not sure what happened. Dont think it was the heat unless it was just cumulative and something gave out. Looked fine the day before. I had been getting soft shells then egg production went down so laying issues might have claimed one or both.

The ants are looking for any liquid these days and were all over them so I didnt try to send them in. Everyone else seems happy and healthy.

Are you going to send one to CAHFS for necropsy?

 

[caychris]

Are you going to send one to CAHFS for necropsy?

They were covered in ants last night so I just took them out and buried them. If I had caught them earlier maybe but no one was home yesterday evening before I caught them. At first I had thought that the one was just dust bathing.

 

[Stephine]

Oh, that's reassuring! Thank you!
I will take pictures today - I will have to change out their brooder floor... They have ripped up the heavy plastic in places and ricehulls are spilling out.... Coop STILL isn't done for at least another week - argh!



Like h2oratt posted, it is normal for them to pant at 80. They will start spreading their wings when it is a bit hotter.

The breeds you have will be fine in the heat you get in Sonoma County especially with the mist system, shade and plenty of water to drink.

Post pictures!

 

[ronott1]

Oh, that's reassuring! Thank you!
I will take pictures today - I will have to change out their brooder floor... They have ripped up the heavy plastic in places and ricehulls are spilling out.... Coop STILL isn't done for at least another week - argh!

I used a roll of the plastic that goes under laminate flooring. It holds up a lot better than plastic sheeting.

 

[h2oratt]

I used a roll of the plastic that goes under laminate flooring. It holds up a lot better than plastic sheeting.

There is a product they use under showers when they build a shower. Called shower liner, very thick vinyl. Not cheap but works well for my whelping box.

 

[h2oratt]

Here is the ://www.homedepot.com/p/5-ft-x-6-ft-PVC-Shower-Pan-Liner-Kit-41620/100344211

 

[ronott1]

Here is the

/www.homedepot.com/p/5-ft-x-6-ft-PVC-Shower-Pan-Liner-Kit-41620/100344211

Great tip!

 

[caychris]

Great tip!

I just lined my coop floor and brooder boxes with peal and stick floor tiles. I want to say 47 or so cents a square foot tile easy to cut and apply. Hang 20 oz coke bottle nipple waterers in the brooder boxes. and place a catch trough underneath in case they leak

Feed a wet mash to everyone and cuts down on feed waste. Improves their water consumption too. As chicks I use the probiotic water to make the mash. Seems to work great.

Bought a shop vac just for cleaning out the brooder boxes next design will allow me to sweep into a container.

When I eventually upscale my operation I'm going to add a incoop brooder area to allow the chicks to be raised and integrated to the flock easier. Ill use detachable nest boxes so I can move broody nest and all to a broody isolation cage.

 

[ronott1]

I just lined my coop floor and brooder boxes with peal and stick floor tiles. I want to say 47 or so cents a square foot tile easy to cut and apply. Hang 20 oz coke bottle nipple waterers in the brooder boxes. and place a catch trough underneath in case they leak

Feed a wet mash to everyone and cuts down on feed waste. Improves their water consumption too. As chicks I use the probiotic water to make the mash. Seems to work great.

Bought a shop vac just for cleaning out the brooder boxes next design will allow me to sweep into a container.

When I eventually upscale my operation I'm going to add a incoop brooder area to allow the chicks to be raised and integrated to the flock easier. Ill use detachable nest boxes so I can move broody nest and all to a broody isolation cage.

Great tips Chris!