California - Northern

[BCollie]

Quote:
Thank you. I am getting a thermometer with it, I will be double checking it against an aquarium thermometer(works like a normal thermometer, just water proof) and checking THAT against another one.
How do you control the humidity level in the incubator? I know you add water, but is that all you do to control humidity? That just doesn't seem like it leaves you much control over it.

 

[PetRock]

OMG............................. Debi I fill like a slouch with the routine I use.....................LOL

I don't do it every day these days but it really just takes me 15 min and the girls love it! I'll start back up with it when my chick population decreases. It is just so much work taking care of multiple groups of chicks in different brooders.

 

[BCollie]

Quote:
I figured as much. I am getting Silver Penciled Rocks, do you know what color their eggs are? I know they're brown, but I'm not sure what shade of brown and that will determine if I need to get a brighter flashlight/candler or not.

 

[Kaylish]

Been really busy with mine too but I went for something elevated so Ill be using DL with catch bins under the roosts. Maybe we can make the move of the chickens by Memorial Day. Just need to roof and paint the coop now and assemble the run. It will be nice to see the buff orps and the dels finally mixed here in June. We had all 10 running in the back yard for a bit and the little ones that are so skittish in the brooder were reluctant to leave my side. So far no serious squabbles when all are able to roam independently. I'm hoping the large run and coop will make integrating easier on everyone. The Dels will be 12 weeks this week.(any day now) and are getting huge by comparison to the orps who are ony 4 weeks behind. (I really need them outside soon)

I was hoping for a Memorial Day move in but lost a weekend with a sick kid and another to just bad luck. Still trying though!

Crele and LF Chocolate? Why hello, my new best friend.

You are making it hard for me to pretend Papa Brooder doesn't exist. If I splurged on that little Brinsea, I could get Cuckoo silkie eggs! And he has Speckled Sussex and Salmon Faverolles hatching eggs, too.

I've been stalking his Facebook page; don't know how much longer I can hold out...

Here's one of them.

-Kathy

That's Great!

Nice design. I also like sand. Easy to clean. You can wet it down during the hot months and not worry about mold. My chickens prefer it. You can always put shavings over the sand. Something you didn't mention, which is very important is to put wire down under the perimeter of the coop. This will prevent predators from digging in. Take about a 4 foot width of wire fencing and place it so that 2 feet is around the outside of the coop and 2 feet is around the inside. I don't use drop boards but like the idea.

I think it depends on the weather in your specific area. The openings on all my shelters and coops face east, because rain and wind never come from the east here. We get horrible cold north winds here, so opening on the north side only work well in the hot months. Rain usually comes from the south here and sun is worst on the west side. Our designs reflect that, so figure out what the weather does in your region. I agree about the ventilation and that one side can be mostly open (hardware cloth covered), except for about 2 feet from the bottom, again to prevent predators.

I did think about the weather quite a bit with the design. Most of the rain and winter wind comes from the North so that wall is solid (also faces our neighbors so for the sake of good will). The slant on the roof runs East to West (east side is high) which should hopefully reflect the late afternoon sun. But since our summer breeze comes from the West (off the Sac river) I have large 4'x2' windows on both E/W walls and will leave the gap between the top of the siding and the roof (the rafters depth) open for venting (vents and windows will be covered with hardware cloth for safety). South side is the people door, egg door, and another 2'x2' window. Run will extend to the east under the walnut tree and I plan on planting some chicken-friendly shrubbery to shade the west.

 

[KristyAnn]

(I put them in a bathroom with old sheets and feed bags on the floor)

I noticed that. I put those all up in my coup and it's brooding boxes and it's so much easier to just wash those down with a hose and sun dry than soap scrub every two or three days and scrape poo every morning. Just wash them feed bags off and soap scrub less often. Great idea.

 

[Kaylish]

First, the front of the coop, the big end, should be facing north because of our weather patterns. The front can be open mostly too. We need a lot of ventilation here which most coop plans do not account for.

Since the coop is on the ground, I would use sand or gravel. The gravel can be raked like a cat box. You might consider a poop board under the roosts since most of the manure will be there as they poop and night. short flat trays can be put on the poop board to collect the poo and then it can go into a compost pile.

You have a great coop so far!

And Thank you also! Will add a poop board for sure!

 

[PetRock]

Some will be 0% and some will be 80%. It is best to not be frustrated with shipped eggs.

Local pickup is always better. There are a lot of locals with amazing breeds on this thread.

Penedesenca
Basque Hens
Cream Legbars
Lots of Orpingtons
Barnies in Cottonwood
Welsummers up by Nevada City

Silkies, AMs.....The list goes on and on.

Ron, Where are Pita Pintas on this list???!!!

 

[chrissyr]

ok, so my Bresse hen is determined to go broody. Broke her up a few weeks ago and she's back at it. my fault probably. Couldn't gather her eggs yesterday, so there's about 8 in there. I don't' mind broodies, but like to keep mine separate. not sure what the other bresse would do about them. So I think I'll take Shantih's advice and use a dog crate.

 

[ronott1]

Ron, Where are Pita Pintas on this list???!!!

Pita Pintas
Arkansas Blues
HRIR
American Bresse
All of @debs_flock s breeds...

Pita Pintas are my current favorite. I have 6 eggs to go into the incubator so far.

I hope they are fertile!

 

[ronott1]

ok, so my Bresse hen is determined to go broody. Broke her up a few weeks ago and she's back at it. my fault probably. Couldn't gather her eggs yesterday, so there's about 8 in there. I don't' mind broodies, but like to keep mine separate. not sure what the other bresse would do about them. So I think I'll take Shantih's advice and use a dog crate.

I put a couple of chicks under a broody Splash Barneveldner. She has been broody for a month now. She did not break last time so I left the chicks in with her over night and today. She was being a gook Mom with them this morning. I hope the lived through the day!