Consolidated Kansas

[rvroman]

My box is completely dry-- I just checked it again today. But I don't have a lid on top-- I didn't want to deal with trying to figure out how to keep water out of it. I have seen a lot of people use a rubber inner tube to help seal up the top where the hinges are. I think you could also maybe caulk around it?? I'm not sure. But I don't think a wet nest is a good idea. For one, I'd think it would rot out pretty quick at that rate. If you check out the Coop section-- other people have used your type of design with the lift up top and they had water issues, but they figured out really ingenious ways to solve it! Might want to start there. If you can't find anything, tomorrow I may help you dig up a couple of solutions. They are buried in the coop design pictures. I'm sure you can figure out a great way to keep the water out.

Do yours open from the outside? I am still building and was planning on having a lid that opens on top, but if you have a better way before I build I would love to know it!

 

[pikeman94]

Having less fat in my diet is not a bad thing. I eat fairly low fat now, but even less would be better.

I can't wait for this **** pain to be gone. It has been 3 months with it. At first it was an attack every so often. Then, it became a few times a week. Now, it just hurts all the time. So, out it is coming.

Pikeman, if you're having Gallbladder trouble, get it out, you will feel so much better after you do. I had problems for years & put off doing anything about it until finally I couldn't take it any more. When I went in the Dr. asked me why I waited so long to do it & I said I don't know. My DH & I have both had ours out, his common bile duct was almost plugged with stones & mine was just angry & inflamed. We can't handle a lot of fat now without the gallbladder, but we couldn't handle it the way it was either. We both were having gallbladder attacks & a lot of pain. Just get it done! The way they do them these days it's in & out surgery the same day & you have a few days of being sore & that's it, nothing like they used to be.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Well, so far so good, but I don't want to jinx it. We let quackers out of the kennel and she started off by just stretching and running and non stop quacking. Took a long bath in the pond (Ducky went with her, but the other two are still ignoring the pond other than drinking). She ate peas and all sorts of stuff right next to Goose, and so far no nipping or chasing. I was out there for over an hour (in the rain). Came inside and keep peeking out. So far we might be ok, but it's only been a couple hours.

The chicks were funny when it started to pour. They had all decided to finally venture out into the outer pen on their own for the first time. Nestled up and was taking a nap near the grass bush thing and the skies let loose. They started running in circles and acting as all hell had broke loose. I herded them into the inner coop and they all ran into the duck house where they stayed until the rain had let up a little. It was hilarious cuz the ducks were all enjoying and playing in the rain, beaks up trying to drink the drops, and here are the chickens acting like something evil was coming to get them!

Guess everyone has to have the first time for rain.

I'm glad it going well so far! Hopefully it's problem solved for now! Funny chicks! My chickens were not loving the rain yesterday, but they did enjoy tracking around in the puddles for a while.

Thanks for the input on the eggs, everyone. I ended up tossing two; the clear one and the one with the blood ring (there was nothing good looking in there anyway) The other 12 have quite a bit of movement and veining, so I will leave them alone for awhile now.

Someone was talking about thermometers and hygrometers...I know it's not fancy, but I was able to get them fairly inexpensive at Petco the other day. They are for reptiles, but they seem to be working really well in the 'bator. You can get just a therm or just an hygrometer for about $5 and a combo for about $11.

Any comments or input appreciated. I've learned/am learning so much from this group ^_^

Sounds like you're going to have a good hatch! I have been talking non-stop about thermometers, hygro's. I did look at the Petco (or was it Petsmart...) and theirs were not digital, and they were all 'manual' or whatever you call it. What bothers me about that, is that they weren't the nice kind that is tested-- they just have a piece of paper in there to tell you where the needle landed. And what if the piece of paper moved?? By like a smidge and you're off by 2 degrees? I checked the ones at Walmart that had the paper stuck inside the glass and NONE of them were reading the same-- it all depended on where the paper was inside them. So with my issues, that bothered me. I did buy a mercury therm-- but it's printed on there and supposed to have a better accuracy. Trust me, I have issues... This whole thing is definitely a head ache for me!

One two and three look like cochins to me. The top chick looks like a silver laced cochin to me. Of course it is hard to judge size by pictures. The fryer looks like a New Hamp or RIR to me. That one banty looks like it could be a female duck winged pheonix.
I met Rob today (in the rain). What a wild trip. Nice to meet you. I stopped 2 places on the way home looking for meds for the pullets and couldn't find what I wanted. I checked in on the others and they seem to be fine. I'll recheck in the morning when I have more light.

Very neat that you got to meet Rob! Sorry you couldn't find what you were looking for. I hate driving around and not finding things.

I live on the western end of known civilization next to a farm. I am off of K-10.

Olathe's Animal control laws say nothing about chickens. So as far as I know they are ok. Plus, all of my surround neighbors like them and like the eggs too! The family that owns the farm are obviously okay with the hens as I got some from them They have told me if it every becomes a problem I could move my ark over the fence into their pasture next to my house. However, I know of other people that have backyard chickens in Olathe. If it is a problem, I would work to get that changed as long as I had some help.

Where are you located?

GREAT attitude!!! I think if Olathe doesn't allow them, people should band together and get that changed! I bet it's not a matter of the city itself, but more of an HOA thing. If you live in a neighborhood that have specific HOA rules, that is where you really get screwed over. It's the same way in Wichita. They allow chickens, but if you happen to live in a neighborhood IN Wichita that does not allow them... well, then you picked the wrong neighborhood/house to move into. But of course, doesn't mean it can't be changed.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Do yours open from the outside? I am still building and was planning on having a lid that opens on top, but if you have a better way before I build I would love to know it!

It does open from the outside, it's great! But after spending several months on the Coop building board, I quickly realized the designs of the exterior nest boxes were divided into two designs and people fought over which one was the best. I looked at them both-- read the good and the bad. If you build a lid on top, you'll be dealing with a heavy lid to lift, and water leakage. Instead, I went the other route and have "drop down" doors that won't leak... BUT if you get nesting material in the opening, you have to brush it out before the doors shut down well. It's not a big deal for me to brush out the chips and shut the door.

These pictures were taken while I was building... and i have a good picture of how I framed it up, too....

This is how I framed it up-- it was really easy!!

 

[Kansaseq]

I used to be up in Stanley,but moved down to Lacygne 8 years ago. I could keep elephants down here and no one would care!

 

[patricia]

Danz, I am sorry to hear about your mother. I have only been coming on from time to time. I just saw your post.

 

[sharol]

My hoop has a similar system as yours for the nest boxes. I put thin boards on the inside around the opening so that it wouldn't leak after the first rain. I just used some lathe board we had laying around and screwed it to the inside of the box to form a block to close the door against -- they extend about an inch from the edge of the opening. I tried to catch it in pictures but it just doesn't show up. It is similar to the frame that an ordinary door closes against. If I had been using it this winter, I would have put some of the stick on insulation strips around the edge to tighten it up.

These pictures were taken while I was building... and i have a good picture of how I framed it up, too....

This is how I framed it up-- it was really easy!!

 

[chicken danz]

David you can easily fix your leak problem. Go the the Lowes, Home Depot or wherever and buy a piece of drip edge made for roofs. Put that on your lid or on the surface right below the edge, whichever works in your case, and it will channel the water away from the opening. Very simple and inexpensive fix. If you aren't familiar with it it would be back in the galvanized metal trims and comes in maybe 8 foot or 10 foot long pieces.
Rob, how is the pullet doing today. I got to thinking how a shipped bird will get a cold. I am just wondering if it was the stress of moving them last week that got her ill. I am really concerned about the other birds but not sure I have time right now to remedy it.
I have learned that my Mom's lungs are too full of the fibrous material and they can no longer do the exchange to get oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, so that causes a lot of pain. They will increase the morphine as she worsens. I hate understanding how this is affecting her. Please pray for a miracle.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

David you can easily fix your leak problem. Go the the Lowes, Home Depot or wherever and buy a piece of drip edge made for roofs. Put that on your lid or on the surface right below the edge, whichever works in your case, and it will channel the water away from the opening. Very simple and inexpensive fix. If you aren't familiar with it it would be back in the galvanized metal trims and comes in maybe 8 foot or 10 foot long pieces.
Rob, how is the pullet doing today. I got to thinking how a shipped bird will get a cold. I am just wondering if it was the stress of moving them last week that got her ill. I am really concerned about the other birds but not sure I have time right now to remedy it.
I have learned that my Mom's lungs are too full of the fibrous material and they can no longer do the exchange to get oxygen in and carbon dioxide out, so that causes a lot of pain. They will increase the morphine as she worsens. I hate understanding how this is affecting her. Please pray for a miracle.

Danz, I didn't check the boards before PM'ing you -- so sorry about your mom. Praying for your miracle.

I also PM'd about the SSX but just for other's info, these birds do seem to have really touchy systems. I've only lost 3 of 60 but they've been higher maintenance than the Red Stars, Buff Orps, EE'ers, and New Hamps. The Aloha people have experienced much the same, they are used in the breeding program in AZ. Their birds have the sneezing right now due to season change and I've had some of that myself. They stressed just over moving them from the brooder to their larger area. I don't have any sneezers right now but am going to watch them closely. Vet Rx is great for sneezy SSX, although, I've never had one with severe sneezing or discharge. They usually respond well to any treatments. Probiotics has been helpful for diarrhea after they've had one too many mealworm treats. Hope everything turns out okay. Let me know how it goes.

 

[Hawkeye95]

My hoop has a similar system as yours for the nest boxes. I put thin boards on the inside around the opening so that it wouldn't leak after the first rain. I just used some lathe board we had laying around and screwed it to the inside of the box to form a block to close the door against -- they extend about an inch from the edge of the opening. I tried to catch it in pictures but it just doesn't show up. It is similar to the frame that an ordinary door closes against. If I had been using it this winter, I would have put some of the stick on insulation strips around the edge to tighten it up.

Hmm... it doesn't show up on the pictures I posted-- that would be another picture to take of my nest box doors. But after I got the doors on, I then went back in and framed up the inside of the boxes so that the doors rest on it and don't fall inward. I used 1/2 inch wood to frame up the inside of the boxes and screwed them in.

But I didn't put them in to keep it from leaking. Just the design itself keeps it from leaking on it's own. I also put a bit of a lip on the roof over it to help the rain water stream out from the doors.