California - Northern

[Hangtown Farms]

Molly/Cheryl, I have the large size eco-glow, but I use it in the middle stage of my brooder from GQF. The top unit is heated and the bottom two are for growouts. This way I have a very warm incubator on top, the gentle heat from the ecoglow in the middle and a grow out on the bottom. The unit resides in our workshop and stays fairly warm anyway.
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=63 It's pricey, but I love it and can easily raise 75-100+ chicks at the same time.

The next stage is they move to a grow out pen in a wooden shed we have. This is the heat lamp I use and I couldn't rave more about it. http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=18266&cat_id=173 I don't constantly have to worry about a fire from a clamp style heat lamp. I sprung for the stand and it is wonderful. http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=83120&cat_id=173 This also was a super buy and I'm so glad I got it.

When they are finished with the indoor shed, they get moved to a pen with a full roof attached to the shed. They basically have three walls and a roof to make the next transition. Next step, out to a coop/run in the "chicken compound". It works for us and you need something to do when you are in the 250-300 bird stage. Not to mention the 100 eggs I have cooking right now and the NYD hatch coming up.

Then I need to get serious about hatching the next generation for my show birds.

Speaking of which, we got home last night from Reno. I'll post some pictures once I get organized, but it was an 800+ bird show. On champion row for selecting best in show, 30ish birds, I had 2 up there

Deb

awsome Deb.
did you see any penedesenca by chance?

 

[ronott1]

The run is done minus the barb wire I will put on in a bit. just tired now. the chickens are kinda starting to venture out but still scared. The hawk is in the next row of trees on the forest line. It will be interesting to see if he lands on it. I do not think he will get in to the run. if so I doubt he is getting out. I am putting barb wire on all the seams where I put the wire together.

Good Job!

Still sorry you had to go to so much trouble.

I'm sorry Jeff.

Last night the rains came dumping down on us and the was flooding the coop. It was an everloving nightmare. We were chilled and soaked to the bone trying to patch it up temporarily to make it through the night. Frankly the coop is just a mess. Even though it is now covered in a zillion tarps. Oh my gosh. The chickens were wet from playing in the rain during the day (is that even normal??). They do not seem to mind rain all that much. The downpour the did get out of though. Is it going to hurt them that they got wet? We managed to eventually keep their area of the coop dry but the chickens look a mess. LOL Like their feathers drying made them look rough. Is this normal? They all act dandy. The rains caught the extra roosters completely off guard and they spent the night under the porch. They stayed very very dry. I was so afraid something would eat them or they would freeze to death. Found them on the front porch this morning crowing their heads off.

Gave all my chickens treats this morning. They earned it. That rain was insane.

We have the plans for our coop finalized. Material list running and heading to the store today to get started. Rain or not. We are getting this going! It's going to be a 10x12 to avoid needing permits. haha! Take that county!

It's a simply lean too style but I am excited to get started!

It rained hard here too last night. Since my coop made it through the winter last year I figured it would this year too. I love it when things actually work.

Have fun with the coop construction!

Sorry you had a bad time with the storm last night. It looks like we will have clear weather for a week so hopefully you will have something more secure and dry soon.

Their feathers will dry out and look fine soon. They need to preen and when possible dust bathe.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

yes my coop is starting to leak to. I need to build/buy some but with trying to move I do not want to place one then have to pick up and move. what a pain.
I am not sure how much rain we have gotten this weekend but would bet a few inches at least up here

 

[waititout]

I'm sorry Jeff.

Last night the rains came dumping down on us and the was flooding the coop. It was an everloving nightmare. We were chilled and soaked to the bone trying to patch it up temporarily to make it through the night. Frankly the coop is just a mess. Even though it is now covered in a zillion tarps. Oh my gosh. The chickens were wet from playing in the rain during the day (is that even normal??). They do not seem to mind rain all that much. The downpour the did get out of though. Is it going to hurt them that they got wet? We managed to eventually keep their area of the coop dry but the chickens look a mess. LOL Like their feathers drying made them look rough. Is this normal? They all act dandy. The rains caught the extra roosters completely off guard and they spent the night under the porch. They stayed very very dry. I was so afraid something would eat them or they would freeze to death. Found them on the front porch this morning crowing their heads off.

Gave all my chickens treats this morning. They earned it. That rain was insane.

We have the plans for our coop finalized. Material list running and heading to the store today to get started. Rain or not. We are getting this going! It's going to be a 10x12 to avoid needing permits. haha! Take that county!

It's a simply lean too style but I am excited to get started!

It was coming down in buckets here too last night. It is obvious now that I must cover the run as well. There is just so much mud! My chickens didn't seem to mind the rain whatsoever. They were free ranging with access to shelter, but chose to stay out in the rain. Except for the silkies...they were hiding under the side of the house, away from the rain. I decided to put them back in their coop so they could stray dry. I have been working all morning fencing in the bottom of their coop so they could play outside under shelter. Feathered feet are no good in the rain/mud! Good luck with your new coop. Wish I had space for that! Thank God for sunny skies today!

 

[waititout]

The run is done minus the barb wire I will put on in a bit. just tired now. the chickens are kinda starting to venture out but still scared. The hawk is in the next row of trees on the forest line. It will be interesting to see if he lands on it. I do not think he will get in to the run. if so I doubt he is getting out. I am putting barb wire on all the seams where I put the wire together.

Wow! If that doesn't keep him out, I don't know what will!

 

[waititout]

I get to keep a couple. I need to find out which breeds I can keep. Did you see the two RhodeBars? One boy and one girl

Oh good! No, I didn't know which were which...let me go back through the threads to find them!

 

[juststruttin]

Clearly I'm finding out that I have to do thing much different in the winter versus the summer months.

I wish I had insulated the shed while the weather was nice..I think that's what I'm going to have to do. I have WAY to many chicks to grow out in the laundry room. Plus my family is already showing signs of being put out by the cute little fluffy butts. At there defense ...chick brooder get smelly

If you google Cake Pops you will find so many ideas. My daughter "Casey Marie" and I spent over an hour last night snuggled in a cheer looking at all the fun ideas.. She is seventeen and is still excited to do Cake Pops with me.... Going to be a wonderful mother daughter thing...

Molly

Yep, they are stinky but is the dander that makes me nervous. By 10 days I already notice dander is getting on things all the way across the room. I try to get em out ASAP, but you are right it is much tougher in the winter. I am going to the hardware store to buy one more roll of insulation and then their........ outta here. I will get pictures today of set up and hope it will help.

I am planning to keep the silkies and the showgirls in the house longer, but 4 chicks compared to 70 is a piece of cake.

 

[debs_flock]

awsome Deb.
did you see any penedesenca by chance?

Nope sorry, and I did look.

Particularily if you consider the make-up of "chick dust".

"Poultry dust is a mixture of bird feed, bedding material (eg wood shavings/shreds or straw), bird droppings, feathers and dander (dead skin), dust mites and storage mites, and micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi (molds) and endotoxins (cell wall components of bacteria)."

Ick

Deb

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Nope sorry, and I did look.


Particularily if you consider the make-up of "chick dust".

"Poultry dust is a mixture of bird feed, bedding material (eg wood shavings/shreds or straw), bird droppings, feathers and dander (dead skin), dust mites and storage mites, and micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi (molds) and endotoxins (cell wall components of bacteria)."

Ick

Deb

Ok thank you..

Does anyone keep Langshan's ? wondering how the roosters are.
I am wanting to keep a larger rooster breed out with the Layers.
I have heard a few people say they will keep the hawks at bay better than most breeds do to there size and the hawk is less likely to attack.

 

[PetRock]

Ok thank you..

Does anyone keep Langshan's ? wondering how the roosters are.
I am wanting to keep a larger rooster breed out with the Layers.
I have heard a few people say they will keep the hawks at bay better than most breeds do to there size and the hawk is less likely to attack.

I have several young Langshan roos out at a friend's farm. We are going to start a breeding program but have several extra roos. They are breeder stock not hatchery stock. The oldest one is around 27-29 weeks old and is a beautiful splash roo. Then I also have several that are 25 weeks old and are all 4 colors: splash, black, blue, white. They seem to be very mild mannered and excellent foragers. They are slow growers so still gaining height and width. Here in town I still have three 20 weeks and under cockerels who have not begun to crow. I have one of each color in this group. Are you interested in them? Here is a pic of the older group from a few weeks ago:





This is the oldest cockerel/roo. My daughter calls him King David. LOL!