California - Northern

[ronott1]

The older they get, the more I wonder. Are these two the same breed? I saw a picture on Juststruttins web page of a Creole pene that looks so much like the dark boy here it makes me wonder

EO Basque from Canada(including from Green Fire Farms) were our crossed to crele penedesenca. This has caused all kinds of problems and breeders are working on removing the faults caused by crossing them.

You will see Crele Penedesenca in some Basques.

 

[debs_flock]

The older they get, the more I wonder. Are these two the same breed? I saw a picture on Juststruttins web page of a Creole pene that looks so much like the dark boy here it makes me wonder

I don't recall what you have, but crele really does vary from bird to bird. In my CL, any I get that are dark are the first to go into the freezer (or directly into the oven, they are one of my favorite eating birds). For CL, even the lighter bird would be a little redder than would be desired, with them you want them very light. Anyway, I'd assume that Deann knew what she was sending, although it's possible to get the occasional chick/egg slip through.

At least she looks like this now instead of later, poor girl, it's got to itch.

I have a whole yard full of birds that look like this. When the guy came by to get turkeys the other day, it was almost embarrassing. Good thing I was able to point at the ground to explain why all the birds appeared so flea bitten!

 

[OR4-hmom]

Thanks guys! They are basques, but the darker one is so different from his brothers I just had a feeling he might be something else, to my untrained eye anyway. The eggs came from OK, Deanne didn't have them when I was looking.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: i really liked the Foy's "Electronic Butler" - had two of them, on coops when I lived in West Sacramento. Battery powered (4 AA batteries, if I recall correctly), perfect light-sensor operation which needed no adjustment from the factory setting. Never a problem with either one. Fairly simple installation, though the instructions were not all that clear. Priciest of all the models out there, but as Kelly said, worth every single penny.

When I moved here and needed to get an auto-door for the coop, Foy's was out of stock. (I left coops and the auto-doors behind in West Sac, due to some "issues" with my then-landlady.). Bought an auto door from MyPetChicken and am not very happy with it. It uses electrical power and a separate timer to operate it. Even if the timers didn't keep crapping out, timer operation means you have to keep resetting it as the numbers of daylight hours change. If you have a power outage, the timer gets off-cycle and can open or close when it shouldn't. I am afraid I don't recall the name of that unit.

For the new coop, I considered getting another Foy's Electronic Butler, but now I have geese.... Even if they aren't going to be at the Ranch for some time, I have learned something about geese which precludes any use of a string & pulley because those meddlers will absolutely fuss with ANYTHING onto which they can get their bills. I could easily imagine them destroying the string, which would disable the door.

Just installed an ADOR1 auto-door and LOVE, love, love it! Battery powered and light sensor operated. It has a manual mode as well as an automatic mode, which was really useful for confining the chickens in the coop for three days and nights before putting it back into automatic mode. The bottom edge of the frame is split, or open, so water, shavings, dirt, feathers, etc., do not collect in a track, yet the bottom edge of the door panel is still covered. This means predator paws/claws can't reach under the edge to lift the door panel. Even if they could, the door panel is raised and lowered with a metal sprocket, so there is positive control to lock it in position. Plus, the ADOR1 is the most easily installed. It is also the most reasonably priced complete unit.

I researched the Pullet Shut door, which is one opening like house doors, swinging out sideways, instead of an up and down slider panel. Just imagined chickens perching on it..... some of my birds are like me: pretty hefty.

There are threads in the coop construction forum which detail MAKING auto-doors out of low priced components. I don't have that kind of patience or skill.

But I heartily recommend either the Foy's or the ADOR1 units.



I absolutely love the Foy's doorkeeper (inside mount with light sensor). I do not have electricity in my coops, so this was the only option, as it runs on batteries. (correct Linda - 4 AA batteries) I have 2 of them and have had them for 4 years. We have a lot of predator wildlife around here and I have had no issues in the 4 years. It closes so slowly, that there is no way a chicken will get the door shut on them. The light sensor is also adjustable, which is nice when you have a bright full moon. Mine did open once (when I first got it) on a full moon because the door faces right where the moon shines. Luckily, I heard my rooster crowing and went out to check. I adjusted it and have never had that problem again.

I know someone that had the pullet shut door and replaced them with Foys doors. The pullet shut door was constantly having problems and could not be relied upon to shut every night.

 

[tommysgirl]

Actually it's my NH that are the only ones still laying, but right now it's just all pullet eggs from my new girls I raised this year. I also haven't test hatched any of them, so I don't know if they are fertile. Can't say I've paid attention to the yolk when I've cracked them into a pan, but they are still pretty small.

That's OK don't need any right now. Today is day 21 ish ( I set the eggs in the pm) with BeakFace's current clutch and I don't have any other broodies at the moment so there is lots of time. I was thinking about some nebulous time in the future. It is nice to know they are still laying. while everyone else is doing the cartoon bird thing. My only serious molter has been my Dell, Dotti,e and she looks a mess. Her feathers are growing in now so at least she isn't bald but she looks like she has been shot with darts.

 

[PetRock]

Thank you, Ron, for the info on the RIRs! I wish that mine were here in town so I could go look at them after reading your post!

Thank you for the recommendations on automatic doors, Ladies! I'm going to check into the Foy's and the Ador1. I do not have electricity in the coop so need one that runs on batteries. I am not even going to look at the thread on making your own or even suggest it to my DH. He loves to Mickey Mouse things and I just want it to work without any hitches!

 

[ronott1]

Thank you, Ron, for the info on the RIRs! I wish that mine were here in town so I could go look at them after reading your post!

Thank you for the recommendations on automatic doors, Ladies! I'm going to check into the Foy's and the Ador1. I do not have electricity in the coop so need one that runs on batteries. I am not even going to look at the thread on making your own or even suggest it to my DH. He loves to Mickey Mouse things and I just want it to work without any hitches!

Here is a link to more detailed information: http://bloslspoutlryfarm.tripod.com/id55.html

Print it out and then take it with you to the farm.

 

[PetRock]

Here is a link to more detailed information: http://bloslspoutlryfarm.tripod.com/id55.html

Print it out and then take it with you to the farm.

Printed and bookmarked!!! Thank you!

 

[chicksnthestiks]

 


I absolutely love the Foy's doorkeeper (inside mount with light sensor).  I do not have electricity in my coops, so this was the only option, as it runs on batteries. (correct Linda - 4 AA batteries)  I have 2 of them and have had them for 4 years.  We have a lot of predator wildlife around here and I have had no issues in the 4 years.  It closes so slowly, that there is no way a chicken will get the door shut on them.  The light sensor is also adjustable, which is nice when you have a bright full moon.  Mine did open once (when I first got it) on a full moon because the door faces right where the moon shines.  Luckily, I heard my rooster crowing and went out to check.  I adjusted it and have never had that problem again.

I know someone that had the pullet shut door and replaced them with Foys doors.  The pullet shut door was constantly having problems and could not be relied upon to shut every night.

Thank you for the recommendation, the Foy's and Ador1 did not come up when I searched on the the computer it was only because you and gryeyes mentioned them that I found them. I will need a couple more and will try the Foy's also. I do like they have different size doors and all the positve feedback on them. I have a rooster that likes to lay in the doorway after everyone has gone in, that is why I was looking for one that would go back up upon making contact.

 

[ronott1]

riginally Posted by ronott1

Here is a link to more detailed information: http://bloslspoutlryfarm.tripod.com/id55.html

Print it out and then take it with you to the farm.
O
Printed and bookmarked!!! Thank you!

Your Welcome!

Bob Blosl passed away last Friday Afternoon. He was a great mentor and source of information. The Heritage RIR thread on BYC has a lot of information and is a great resource for explaining why the Standard Bred or Heritage RIRs are nothing like Hatchery or Production Reds.