Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[therapydoglady]

Check out http://udderlyez.com/goat_milkers.php to make milking easier.

Thank you for this! My mother in law's milk barn is still all intact with an electric milking machine, sinks, hot and cold running water, drains in the floors & a refrigerator and a stove! she has two of the EZ Milkers too. The video was very informative, so maybe if I can't get the hang of the milkers, I can use those! You have been such a wealth of information. Thank you! Brie

 

[normanack]

. . . . You still have to have an inlet source to feed any high vents. those gable vents might just do the job if you can open up the soffit on the side opposite the run,,,,just sayin'

Soffit question. When you say to open up the soffit, how do you block raccoons from getting in? I've read they can fit through a 4-inch space. Sorry for sounding so stupid, but, well, I am.

 

[unkadan]

Soffit question. When you say to open up the soffit, how do you block raccoons from getting in? I've read they can fit through a 4-inch space. Sorry for sounding so stupid, but, well, I am.

valid question,,,
and the answer is hardware cloth, depending on how the builder put things together you might have to remove blockers between the rafters, not usually there on sheds but ya never know

 

[galefrances]

You Tube. Haven't looked, but I'd guess there is a half dozen videos of how to. Some will be good and others a mess, if history shows us anything. I cannot think of anything more simple to do, really.
Tomorrow and Friday, I'll be up on our roof cutting in a new chimney for our new woodstove. Same principle. There's lots of videos on that too. Some are absolutely laughable, frankly, as DIYers sometimes are incredibly inept and sloppy, but always good for a chuckle.

Oh I've learned alot of things from You Tube. ( you're right about being good for a chuckle) But, when I discussed your suggestions with my husband....he was very clear that I would have to call someone because he wasn't cutting into any roof. He is a wonderful man and it's times like this that I have to stay focused on that. I came from a family of men who could do anything. And I have to bite my tongue with my husband. Not so much because he doesn't know how, but because he refuses to try. BTW I really like the design of your coop. And I envy all that space! Mine is 8x10 and it really shrunk once we put everything in, including the 12 pullets.

 

[galefrances]

I'm guessing you're in the NY snowbelt, just a reminder that when roof vents are covered they don't work. You might do some checking with roofers/builders in that area and get some suggestions. You still have to have an inlet source to feed any high vents. those gable vents might just do the job if you can open up the soffit on the side opposite the run,,,,just sayin'

Good guess We're about 30 miles outside of Buffalo. I can open the soffit opposite the run....IF I can convince my husband that the coop won't fill with snow. Quite frankly, I still can't see how it could. The soffit is only about 3-4 in. wide and the snow would have to blow up and under. I guess depending on the direction of the wind it could, but I'm thinking that would be an insignificant amount. Although when we get lake effect snow = blizzard, then maybe. But, thanks for the advice. I'll check into that. I have to call someone with roofing experience anyway.

 

[bruceh]

@brie - i am very happy to hear of the family doms coming back to your family. your mother-in-law watches over the family. she wanted to see if you could care for them. another bird which is very sweet natured ( tolerates being held and very social ) is the wellsummer.or also called the kellogs cereal bird.
they are very good for kids. benefits beside being friendly , they are good layers of a brown colored with dark spots egg.. the roosters are beautiful . these birds can be shown also. ( just added 4 to my flock not for showing)

another chicken i would look into is the marans pretty birds lay ok. the black copper and blue copper variety lay a very dark chocolate colored egg.
the coo coo marans lay better in fact good but the egg is not as dark.
not sure if marans can be shown.

i personally know that these two birds eggs command a premium around here.
the reason i suggest these birds is it keeps the interest of the children up. what kid would not want find a chocolate egg or a interesting spotted egg.
i am thinking of the kids at this point. good birds and better reward for work.

ok al, walt and bee and others i don't handle my chickens unless it is slaughter time ,physical time. or an injury that needs tending to. just trying to think of this in the aspect of children.

p.s i do love the wellies.

 

[galefrances]

Do you have a photo of the interior with the chickens in residence? (Just curious to see

) It's very similar to the shed we used and I always like to see other folks' hen houses..

No, I haven't taken any of the interior with the chickens in. But I've been meaning to do just that, especially since the pullets have really grown. I might have time tomorrow.

 

[4theKids]

New to chickens but I built houses for 10years put vented soffit and roof vents or ridge vents it will draw the hot air up and out.

 

[unkadan]

New to chickens but I built houses for 10years put vented soffit and roof vents or ridge vents it will draw the hot air up and out.

50 yrs in the construction trades in NE WI where 2' of snow on a roof isn't uncommon in winter, no ridge vent or roof vent works in those conditions. If you look at Fred's picture you'll see there are no vents that can get covered.

Do some math and make sure your "intake" (open soffit) at least matches the area of your gable end vents it's the moisture we are trying to remove in winter, heavy moist air needs to move up and out

 

[Leahs Mom]

50 yrs in the construction trades in NE WI where 2' of snow on a roof isn't uncommon in winter, no ridge vent or roof vent works in those conditions. If you look at Fred's picture you'll see there are no vents that can get covered.

Do some math and make sure your "intake" (open soffit) at least matches the area of your gable end vents it's the moisture we are trying to remove in winter, heavy moist air needs to move up and out

Could you comment on the "soffit intake" area a bit more. I'm also going to be adding some venting on my similar "shed hen house". and am thinking that cutting some venting in the overhang would make sense and maybe enlarging the gable vents as well. Here's a couple of photos:

The hen house is 12ft w x 8 ft with a 2 ft. overhang. Here's a photo of the overhang IT FACES NORTH. ...would it make sense to cut vents under here? How large would you go?




Note 1 roof vent and 2 SMALL gable vents on east & west sides. Think the gable vents should be larger?



Northern Indiana...we USUALLY have a good amount of snow... you're saying the roof vent will clog and not work???