California - Northern

[GallusGirl]

Love the coop and the banties so much!

Hi everyone,

I finally broke down and built myself a new coop for my two sebright banties and to expand the flock. Here are some quick pictures I took.





and the two banties





Let me know what you think and any suggestions.

And how do I lift the two PM quota from my account? Thanks.

Steve

 

[OR4-hmom]

These are large fowl BLRW. My splash is a mutant-missing most of her tail, others will have better pics.

 

[chickee]

Thanks Chickee.

Ventilation was one of my thoughts. The screened window is made of welded hardware cloth stapled to the inside of the coop. I keep it closed at night fearing the chickens might be cold...maybe I will keep it open. Also where the coop walls meet the roof joists, there is a three inch gap/opening all around. Maybe I will add additional circular aluminum vents on both sides of the coop. I bought them already from OSH but didn't want it too cold for the chickens.

A flock of banties...hmm let me toss that idea around.

Steve

Thanks Chickee.

Ventilation was one of my thoughts. The screened window is made of welded hardware cloth stapled to the inside of the coop. I keep it closed at night fearing the chickens might be cold...maybe I will keep it open. Also where the coop walls meet the roof joists, there is a three inch gap/opening all around. Maybe I will add additional circular aluminum vents on both sides of the coop. I bought them already from OSH but didn't want it too cold for the chickens.

A flock of banties...hmm let me toss that idea around.

Steve

Chickens tollerate cold very well, it is the heat that kills them. I have a window that stays open on both sides of my coop so the breeze can blow through, plus screened in vents around the top on two sides, and my chickens still get hot in the summer, so I had to put a screen door on the walk in door to add extra ventilation during the summer to keep them cool.

I assumed you wanted more bantams because that is what you have. Generally bantams do better with other bantams, unless they are raised as chicks with large fowl chicks. I keep my bantams separate. The Polish often get their crests picked by other breeds. I have not had that problem yet. Mine are in with my bantam blue laced red Wyandotte bantams.

Besides . . you can fit more bantams into that house than large fowl!

Once you are hooked the numbers go up quickly!

 

[OR4-hmom]

Just my opinion but, bantam eggs are the cutest! You just have to have more of them.

 

[debs_flock]

Hey guys, I'm back with more questions!!

How do I hang my heat lamp over the brooder? We're using a cardboard box that's almost 4x4, with sand as the bedding. Inside is about 1.5 - 2' from the sand, I don't remember the exact height. Something like that. Chicken wire is being used to cover the brooder to keep any chicks from trying to escape!
My ceiling is REALLY tall, it would be a huge pain to hang it form the ceiling. I don't even know if we could reach it with a ladder...
So how do I hang the heat lamp?

If you've just put chicken wire over the brooder, you can just sit the heat lamp on top of the wire until it's time to start raising it.

This garden talk is making me hungry. I've finally been able to plant in my garden this week (after several plant sacrifices and lots of chicken wire). I'm having garden veggie withdrawl's, and I've used up the last of the veggies I canned last year.

From last year's garden

Gorgeous tomatoes and darling daughter!

Beautiful work on the coop Steve!

 

[chickee]

google image doesn't do justice to see the difference between a blue laced red wyandotte and a splash lace red wyandotte...can someone enlighten me?

better yet, post some pictures of the two?

Steve

Splash laced red Wyandotte bantams~



Splash laced red large fowl Wyandottes~




Blue laced red Bantam Wyandottes~






Large fowl Blue Laced Red Wyandottes~




LF Black laced red Wyandottes~





Can you tell I like to take pictures of my chickens?

 

[redriver]

Thanks everyone.

The project took 3 full weekends and now I realize I it was overkill for a flock of 2-4 birds.  The coop is 4'W x 5'L x 5'H.  I wanted to be able to get inside and clean.

Steve

That just means you can get more birds!

 

[lizanne]

Splash laced red Wyandotte bantams~ Blue laced red Bantam Wyandottes~

So pretty!! I can't wait for my BLRW eggs to hatch!!

 

[skeeve101]

Thanks for the images.

@Chickee
Thanks for the information on raising banties and LF as chicks together. I was thinking of introducing LF pullets so they can defend themselves as new members of the flock.

And coincidentally, how do you introduce new birdies to the flock? I remember reading awhile back to just put them into the coop in the middle of the night and when the chickens wake up, it will seem like they magically appeared but don't they need to reestablish the pecking order? Do chickens vote?

Steve

 

[chiqita]

Mario says they vote with their beaks!