Colorado

[Chesterchook]

The coop is slow going.... dh is dealing with a major bout of depression( very unusual for him), making motivation tricky. My RA is flaring up so bad, I have limited mobility. But we've made progress on the egg boxes!

Slow progress is still progress! My building skills are slow going also, we opted for bucket boxes like the ones in the second post here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/42379/bucket-nesting-boxes

 

[Mtn Margie]

Yeah - there is a reason Ashdoes' tagline is, "The coop and run are never done" LOL - with chickens there are always temporary modifications, make-do fixes, and last minute, "Doh!" - I am getting ready to try and fabricate a coop for the Egyptian Fayoumis so I can move them outside, they are in the new coop and they just need more room and their own area. They mature so fast. With 10 of them in the pen with maybe 6 Cuckoo Marans pullets, they are definitely ruling the roost, and one of the cockerels has decided it is fun to fly out of their pen and into the one next door where the Silkie chicks are. Going to try a frame of 2x4s and walls of a stack of cedar fence pickets. Bob says I'm a girl and no way I can do it myself. He might be right, but I'm going to try!

A few years ago, I made hardware cloth panels about 4 ft long and fastened wood to each cut end to hide the pokey wires. They have been invaluable in my various configurations. And they can hang up out of the way until needed.

 

[Pozees]

A few years ago, I made hardware cloth panels about 4 ft long and fastened wood to each cut end to hide the pokey wires. They have been invaluable in my various configurations. And they can hang up out of the way until needed.

So you have wood sandwiching the ends then? I was thinking that would be how I would fashion the run. Did you use 2x2s? I want them to have a structure to roost in, and in a couple of months lay in (these are fast maturing birds). It is likely I will start getting eggs in July, which means the courting will commence in probably June, and the boys are already scrapping with one another establishing pecking order. Fayoumis are known for tolerating heat well, foraging well, and maturing very early - one boy at least is already doing a juvenile crow, and the pullets are commonly laying by the time they are 4-4 1/2 months of age. There is much to admire about this breed. I would like to select for egg size, which may mean bird size, and for also being able to tolerate cold. I haven't yet decided whether it means I will need to cross something else in. For the time being I want to work with them without doing that. I could always cross in Leghorns for egg size, Sussex for cold tolerance, RIR for either/both of those things, and needless to say any would alter the appearance of the offspring. To what extent it is hard to say.

 

[Chesterchook]

For anyone looking for someone to process chickens:
http://simlafoods.com/poultry

 

[Chesterchook]

So you have wood sandwiching the ends then? I was thinking that would be how I would fashion the run. Did you use 2x2s? I want them to have a structure to roost in, and in a couple of months lay in (these are fast maturing birds). It is likely I will start getting eggs in July, which means the courting will commence in probably June, and the boys are already scrapping with one another establishing pecking order. Fayoumis are known for tolerating heat well, foraging well, and maturing very early - one boy at least is already doing a juvenile crow, and the pullets are commonly laying by the time they are 4-4 1/2 months of age. There is much to admire about this breed. I would like to select for egg size, which may mean bird size, and for also being able to tolerate cold. I haven't yet decided whether it means I will need to cross something else in. For the time being I want to work with them without doing that. I could always cross in Leghorns for egg size, Sussex for cold tolerance, RIR for either/both of those things, and needless to say any would alter the appearance of the offspring. To what extent it is hard to say.

One of ours is making a little croak too, little guy seems pretty full of himself lol

 

[Pozees]

One of ours is making a little croak too, little guy seems pretty full of himself lol

It is the funniest sound, isn't it? LOL Probably a good thing they are small.

 

[Minchi]

It is so difficult to keep up with this forum, between food poisoning and looking at houses I have not been on for three days and there has been well over 200 post. Oh and on that getting sick from the chickens comments, I have never gotten sick from my girls but I have had food poisoning from a restaurant twice since I got them. So as far as I am concerned restaurants are far more dangerous.

 

[DeerFangRanch]

Agree that restaurants are more dangerous. Only takes one employee to not being careful.

 

[kaylaC6500]

Sniff... Just moved my babies out to the coop/run. Sad day. I liked having them in the house with us!

I was the same exact way. I loved to hear their bird sounds, it was just so nice. The house is just too quite without them.

 

[jaylyne8]

anyone know a good place for getting egg carton?

I LIVE CLOSE TO THE RECYCLE CENTER AND GET TONS FOR FREE I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE CLOSE TO ONE AROUND YOUR AREA BBUT IT DOESN'T HURT TO CHECK..