Can someone help me identify this?

[sonoralinda]

This is just a guess, pigeons?

 

[Balloonjuice]

We went to Del Rio last year, I really loved travelling through Texas countryside. Flew in to San Antonio and drove from San Antonio to Del Rio. Loved the Wide o p e n views! I was really glad though for the small towns that dotted the drive!

I understand about property being neglected for years before purchasing. We did the same here in NW Ohio! And getting coops done, It's always something! But it is fun! Usually!

The nice thing about neglected property is that we got it really "on the cheap" (or "on the cheep" in the case of the coops). There are 18 "nesting" boxes (or potential boxes) in the main coop with additional roosting space, wooden roosts, "ladders," etc. We finally have that bldg pretty well cleaned up, but would not move chicks into it. It is for pullets and older. There is also a small entrance behind the nesting boxes where one can easily access the eggs (should there be any). Six of the nesting boxes need to have the hardware cloth replaced along the bottom. Or alternatively, I could get by with just 12 nesting boxes.

And regarding the "wide open spaces," I've heard someone say that traveling through that part of Texas "I saw more windmills and less water, more cows and less milk; and I saw farther and I saw less than I ever saw."

 

[chickwhispers]

Yes on the cheep! Although we got this place just before the housing bubble burst. So it was no longer a bargain but cost us more than it was worth in the long run. Every time we turn around there's more added to the "list". But the location is nice. In the country, but on a not too awful busy highway. It sets along side a Creek and there are state conservation areas nearby and plenty of woods around the area. Also 3 miles from a small State park/ lake. Two days ago 5 young wild turkeys walked across our pond and played in our yard. But the older I get the less I like our cold temps and this year the cold is especially nasty. But I do like having 4 seasons. Afraid of snakes, fire ants, Africanized bees, and scropions!
Other than those things I wouldn't mind being a winter resident of Texas!

 

[Balloonjuice]

C'mon down Chickwhispers. We love our winter Texans. And we do have 4 seasons -- sometimes all in the same day.

I've been stung by a scorpion and I can assure you it is painful. But it is no more lethal than a bee sting. Fire ants are a real problem and there is thus far no really "natural" way to combat them. We have far fewer venomous snakes than Australia.

You probably would not care much for our brown recluse spiders either. They are not aggressive (as the name implies), but they are quite nasty.

I got confused for just a moment as I read about turkeys walking on water. Then I remembered -- it's cold up there!

 

[chickwhispers]

Yikes forgot to add spiders to the list! I think a dead spider is a good spider! I don't believe they are doing their fair share of insect control as evidenced by the numbers of box elder bugs, Asian lady beetles and mosquitoes around here! I would love to travel and visit Texas again! I asked DSO if he had to go to Texas again this year, but they're done with that job . There is SOO much to see and do there! They're just a little farther apart than in Ohio. And you're right we don't have special turkeys just frozen water!

 

[Balloonjuice]

After the help I received here, some reading I did, and a further examination of these items, they are indeed brooders. So, I'm adding to the list of things to do this week. Any comments on the following would be welcome:

1. Clean the brooding room and the brooders and disinfect. Any suggestions on a disinfectant or insecticide?

2. Have electrician run power to the coop and the brooder room. The brooders each contain a heat lamp, a regular incandescent bulb, and a red incandescent bulb (so the chicks can play at night?). The heat lamps appear to be controlled by a thermostat. There is another thermometer located in the room outside the brooders themselves.

3. I have examined the hardware cloth and it seems sufficient for Red Sex Link chicks (1/4" galvanized). As these are home-made it will be a matter of measuring them to determine how many chicks I can have in each one.

What have I forgotten to include?

Thanks for all the help. This is a great website.

 

[chickwhispers]

There are some at TSC. supposed to be good. I don't remember the name though. It supposed to be by the animal insecticides and medications. Ours didn't have it. I just use a 10% bleach solution. Be careful though it's still strong for breathing. Just be sure to rinse and let it dry thoroughly. The chlorine will evaporate. Some people use a peroxide solution. I'm not sure what the percentage is. You could do a search on here for peroxide cleaner or similar.

Just a note, on the brooders, Chicks grow 2x faster than we expect!

The red light is because white light makes them peck at each other more, and the red light doesn't.

 

[chickwhispers]

Ballonjuice...You don't by any chance fly hot air balloons do you?

 

[Balloonjuice]

Ballonjuice...You don't by any chance fly hot air balloons do you

Ha! You're on the right track. I was a preacher before I retired.

 

[chickwhispers]

That's awesome! That doesn't mean you are full of hot air though!

I used to be ground crew member for a team of special shapes balloons. Good times except for getting up at 3:30 - 4 am for early morning flights! LOL