Colorado

[suncatcher]

Quote: Interesting.... I read an article the other day about our high altitude eggs being more porous, and you know what they are! I candled a few of mine and they look like eggs the guy in TN and KY said don't bother trying to hatch them. I think part of the reason for the low hatch rate on shipped eggs here at our altitude is the lack of oxygen to the developing chick on these less porous shelled eggs that were laid at lower altitudes, these eggs are perfect for lower altitude hatching. I am sure the humidity has some to do with it, but not all. Just my two cents worth!

I know Pozees, I am so looking forward to being able to buy chicks, quality chicks, right here in Colorado!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Interesting....  I read an article the other day about our high altitude eggs being more porous, and you know what they are! I candled a few of mine and they look like eggs the guy in TN and KY said don't bother trying to hatch them.  I think part of the reason for the low hatch rate on shipped eggs here at our altitude is the lack of oxygen to the developing chick on these less porous shelled eggs that were laid at lower altitudes, these eggs are perfect for lower altitude hatching.  I am sure the humidity has some to do with it, but not all.  Just my two cents worth! 

I know Pozees, I am so looking forward to being able to buy chicks, quality chicks, right here in Colorado! 

That actually fairly close to the research I found. Basically it said when hatching lower altitude eggs you need to up the humidity and ventilation IOT help the egg absorb oxygen. They just can't get as much oxygen up here as they need. :/

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Exactly, the article I read said to keep both vents open. Have you tried it with both open?

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Exactly, the article I read said to keep both vents open. Have you tried it with both open?
Actually said both or all vents open. Yes, makes sense you would have to up the humidity also.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Exactly, the article I read said to keep both vents open.  Have you tried it with both open? 

Yep, both vents open and humidity kept in the 50s. I have been targeting 55%.

 

[jgurshtein]

Hey guys, I'm finally getting the supplies for building my coop and I was wondering if anybody caulks joins/holes in their coop? My concern is that the chicks will peck at the caulking and eventually eat/erode it away. Should I even bother?

 

[Pozees]

Hey guys, I'm finally getting the supplies for building my coop and I was wondering if anybody caulks joins/holes in their coop? My concern is that the chicks will peck at the caulking and eventually eat/erode it away. Should I even bother?

It kind of depends on where they are and how big. If they are near the top of the coop I wouldn't bother, it will just aid ventilation. If they are near the bottom where they won't be covered by bedding and can cause a draft, and you can't put a nesting box or some other interior coop structure to cover, then caulk, and paint over the caulk to match the rest of the interior of the coop, if you are painting it (I did, makes for easier cleaning), or cover with a little scrap of wood or something. They will peck at almost anything that sticks up or out, but pecking at wood won't hurt them.

This is a very general answer from someone who does NOT build things on a regular basis (as you likely noted based on my shed story LOL). Just my approach. If you prefer filling gaps near the top of the coop, as long as you otherwise have adequate ventilation, go for it, just paint over/cover if you will place roosts or boxes in such a way that they can reach it to peck at it.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Hey guys, I'm finally getting the supplies for building my coop and I was wondering if anybody caulks joins/holes in their coop?  My concern is that the chicks will peck at the caulking and eventually eat/erode it away.  Should I even bother?

We caulked everything, no pecking. I just ran my finger over the caulk to make it not bubble out and get it into the cracks really well. They don't even notice it.

 

[Ashdoes]

Hey guys, I'm finally getting the supplies for building my coop and I was wondering if anybody caulks joins/holes in their coop?  My concern is that the chicks will peck at the caulking and eventually eat/erode it away.  Should I even bother?

We caulked everything, no pecking. I just ran my finger over the caulk to make it not bubble out and get it into the cracks really well. They don't even notice it.

Same here. Haven't had any pecking, and I caulked quite a bit around the lower edges.

 

[Dnetschke]

Got the Coop to about 80% this weekend!

All that's left is finishing up the bottom, painting, wiring lights, & Chicken wiring.