California - Northern

[zooweemama]

Jeff your set up is AWEsome! Thanks for sharing your pictures!!

 

[Meg2000000]

Hey megan,

I may be interested in a few of your basques if you hatch more than expected or wanted via Ron. my flock pretty much was decimated by my critter break in a month or so ago. It looks like I'm down to two roos and a pullet. I am getting some replacement chicks from GFF from another issue tomorrow and she may have sent some basques in the order, not sure yet. but let me know if you are planning on keeping all your chicks or if they are spoken for elsewhere. Thanks!

I'll definitely let you know! Johnny and I are trying to figure out how many we can keep. We're trying to locate someone who will rent us some land for the chickens. I'd like to have my layers at home and my breeders close by on a seperate property. We have a good sized yard but are only allowed 12 chickens on the property. Hopefully we can find something and get it all set up.

So here are the pics of the watering system I was supposed to put up yesterday.

I ran the pipes at two different levels just because I had so many young birds, but eventually I'll just cut and splice together all at one height. The good thing is it's super easy to modify.

Lots of ways to run into the coop, but I started in the middle and am building outwards, so I just ran the water through the coop and created and extra roost inside the coop. Also put a couple nipples inside since I have a wire floor. Eventually this will be split into two coops/runs hence the double door. Since the eggs are coming I need to get on that!


I am amazed how high these guys can reach when i think they can't. I have blocks on a platform under some waterers in this pen just in case but they don't use them. they just streeeeetch


off the hose just runs into a bucket with a float valve in it



i love the coloring on this SFH, not sure if it shows well in the picture but very cool blue lacing pattern



Hope that helps visualize! I'll post some coop under contstruction pictures next.

The aboce pictures are of your Basque roo's right? They're so cute! I also LOVE the blue coming through on your SFH. I'm sure it's even prettier in person!

Quote:

this is one of the started coops which shows the interworkings a bit. We started with a four sided coop design BEFORE I moved here. Then, realized I needed way more ventilation and even built roosts outside the coop in the enclosed run which is where many chickens sleep at night. I ended up venting the original coop on two sides and then built all the remaining with wire tops that will have plywood "hatches" that I can fold down in the winter when it gets cool. Otherwise, all summer I have been leaving everything open.




can see the bigger picture here. in the end there will be 10 coops/runs although while I am still growing out so many chickens I will likely just have six of the smaller runs which are 4'x20' and then keep two bigger pens 8'x20' for grow outs and culls, which only leaves with me six breeding pens to work with. TRAGIC! Hence part B which is already in the works....



Thanks to all you fellow crazy BYC chicken people, I installed a mister yesterday!



My one year old having fun with the chickens. Some of the bigger roos look as big as him. I'm still getting used to all this non-hatchery stock growing out HUGE!



I have essentially doors on both ends so I can close up our vent the whole 10 coops when need be


Another bigger picture view. That Oak tree is the chickens saving grace in this heat. They are shaded all but a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening

WOW!! That looks awesome! What a great setup.. and lots of room! How many chickens do you have?

 

[Meg2000000]

I have a BO that's been sitting on "nothing" for so long she is skin and bones. I brought her some boiled egg to the nestbox yesterday and she gobbled it down.

Deb

Aww Deb, poor little thing! I hope she snaps out of it for you soon.

 

[Meg2000000]

The SG Dorking Corwin that is in my Avatar even has me tuck him in at night.

Ron

That's so sweet! I hope Chema isn't too loud or he will be in a puppy crate too!

 

[Meg2000000]

I'm so excited...I'm going to the state fair today. You can probably find me in Building #6-LOL!

You are probably wondering if a little kid hi-jacked my BYC page, but it's me, Cali! I love going to fairs. At least once a year I like to drag my "little kid" (he's 11) around the animal exhibits and see if HE can keep up with me! Have a great day everyone. Maybe I'll have some pictures to post tonight.

Have so much fun Cali! You're lucky your 11 year old will even go with you! The 12 year old I nanny for has to be dragged by his feet to go ANYWHERE! lol

 

[zooweemama]

I get to meet Ron tomorrow and pick up my EEs from him! I am dorkily very excited to get a couple EEs! We have already decided they will be pet layers. So far we have only named 3 chickens and they are all cockerels. hehe

 

[zooweemama]

Looks like I need to raise the feeder and cover the top lol.


Excuse my typos. Sent from my iPhone.

 

[zooweemama]

Oh oh and I have a questions. I have a BO that is feathering very very slowly compared to her other same aged flock mates. I call her Turkey because her neck is just about bald. No wounds or anything. I think they are almost 6 weeks old. The rest are feathering pretty good. But she almost reminds of a Naked Neck! Should I mark her somehow for not breeding in the future? Slow feathering (compared to their hatch mates) is not good for a high quality heritage stock right?

 

[zooweemama]

Ordered the Mega Fountain. Woot!
http://shop.chickenfountain.com/

 

[Meg2000000]

I get to meet Ron tomorrow and pick up my EEs from him! I am dorkily very excited to get a couple EEs! We have already decided they will be pet layers. So far we have only named 3 chickens and they are all cockerels. hehe

Yay! Congrats! Post pics