Colorado

[coloradogal]

 

[wsmith]

Got the gates done!!!!!



And it was COLD! Had to go in the house a couple of times to warm my hands up.

 

[Ashdoes]

Several folks have used fermented feed from the start.  Some have sprinkled dry crumble or millet seed on top to get the chicks started on it but there is no reason I know of not to start them on it.

YAY!  But, I think it was you, I've heard that it might be a bad idea to attempt fermenting the medicated feed?

You can ferment any feed. If you can return the feed that's great, but if it's all you have it'll still ferment and be great for the chicks from day one.

 

[Pozees]

Got the gates done!!!!!



And it was COLD! Had to go in the house a couple of times to warm my hands up.

Wendell, that looks beautiful!

Had to call Guillermo yesterday because the openings his framers made for the doors are 1/2" narrower than the exact width of the door frames. <sigh> He says he is sending a framer down on Saturday or Sunday to fix it. I was very worried because we already have the siding nailed and glued to the frame. He says they will cut the 2x4 studs out and put in new ones, and trim the siding. I'm not a builder, does that sound right? It seemed logical, and he says too small is much easier to fix than too big.

We plan (hope) to get the roof done this weekend, which would make it dried in and ready to start painting the floor and make a final decision on insulation. I had not planned to insulate. Bob feels if I want to maximize energy efficiency when brooding, and offer chickens the most comfort in hot weather, I should insulate, which would mean additional interior walls of probably 1/4" plywood or something along those lines. I see it adding a week or so, a few hundred dollars, and am on the fence as far as the benefits. Opinions welcome.

My layers' coop is insulated because the exterior walls had so many gaps it was like a wind tunnel - it raised the temp about 2 degrees above ambient when it was 15 degrees outside, but that was when the pop door was open and the hens were outside. The girls seem very cozy and comfortable inside, and tonight I got home so late I was collecting eggs after they went to bed, and when I opened the big door to collect it seemed noticeably warmer inside than outside. This shed is not so gap-ridden, and I would love to know whether anyone else has seen benefits from insulating - I am less concerned about cold than heat.

 

[Pozees]

YAY! But, I think it was you, I've heard that it might be a bad idea to attempt fermenting the medicated feed?

I actually have no idea whether fermentation has any effect on the amprollium added to medicated food. Overall, fermentation adds to the nutrient availability of the food, and I don't *think* it would change the way amprollium behaves. Unless it can alter the chemical composition of it, I don't think it would interfere in any way.

 

[Adam7]

Wendell, that looks beautiful! Had to call Guillermo yesterday because the openings his framers made for the doors are 1/2" narrower than the exact width of the door frames. He says he is sending a framer down on Saturday or Sunday to fix it. I was very worried because we already have the siding nailed and glued to the frame. He says they will cut the 2x4 studs out and put in new ones, and trim the siding. I'm not a builder, does that sound right? It seemed logical, and he says too small is much easier to fix than too big. We plan (hope) to get the roof done this weekend, which would make it dried in and ready to start painting the floor and make a final decision on insulation. I had not planned to insulate. Bob feels if I want to maximize energy efficiency when brooding, and offer chickens the most comfort in hot weather, I should insulate, which would mean additional interior walls of probably 1/4" plywood or something along those lines. I see it adding a week or so, a few hundred dollars, and am on the fence as far as the benefits. Opinions welcome. My layers' coop is insulated because the exterior walls had so many gaps it was like a wind tunnel - it raised the temp about 2 degrees above ambient when it was 15 degrees outside, but that was when the pop door was open and the hens were outside. The girls seem very cozy and comfortable inside, and tonight I got home so late I was collecting eggs after they went to bed, and when I opened the big door to collect it seemed noticeably warmer inside than outside. This shed is not so gap-ridden, and I would love to know whether anyone else has seen benefits from insulating - I am less concerned about cold than heat.

Well if he is sending someone to fix it that is great! As far as 'too small is easier to fix then too big' I would have to respectfully disagree. Too big you simply have to shim the door to make it fit(in fact when you frame a door opening you almost always frame it slightly larger then the door). Too small on the other hand.. well, you have to replace the door header and move studs. Not impossible, just takes more time. On the plus side, at least your siding isn't compromised. When I planned my coop build I didn't even think of not insulating. It keeps it much cooler in the summer, much warmer in the winter and cuts down on drafts. The most important location to insulate if you are going for cooler temps in the summer is the attic space. The walls don't exchange much heat. They definitely do, just no where near the volume as the roof does. So what I'm trying to say is if you just want to insulate the walls and not the attic, I wouldn't even bother. You won't see much of a difference. If you do decide to insulate the attic, you need r-30 or greater or else again, you won't see much of a difference.

 

[Ataylor]

Got the gates done!!!!! And it was COLD! Had to go in the house a couple of times to warm my hands up.

This is incredible! Well done sir.

 

[Ataylor]

Just an update I was able to find a home for the black silkie rooster! He's going to telluride to live amount a mix of 26 others. Bitter sweet.

 

[wsmith]

This is incredible! Well done sir.

thx

 

[kmatt87]

Well it is a problem that layers get. But that looks like it's protruding too much to just be from cleaning and that you say it's getting worse....

Maybe someone else will chime in with their thoughts but with my couple that I've dealt with I pushed it back it with some petroleum or A&D ointment.

from what i've found doing a little research....
the treatment seems to be putting a little unmedicated preperation h on the area and pushing it back in. It also seems like you need to do it several times before the vent has normal placement.