Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

David, I was just looking back over the pictures of your coop. Looks like you have a good lip over the nest box. Where exactly is it leaking?

 

[Hawkeye95]

David, I was just looking back over the pictures of your coop. Looks like you have a good lip over the nest box. Where exactly is it leaking?

I'm guessing at the top of the lid-- where the hinges are? That is the most common complaint about that style. That's why I suggested the rubber inner tube cut down and screwed in over the top of the lid and over the hinges. There are pictures of people doing that. I'm going to go hunt those down! LOL

Danz, I'm really sorry about your mom and have prayed for her this morning.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Here is what one guy did to fix his leaky top lid: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/287668/water-leaking-into-nest-boxes
I took a heavy piece of rubber. I work with high voltage so I used what is called an insulated rubber blanket. It is used to cover power lines so a lineman can work in close proximity. Anyway I cut a strip about 6 inches wide and a few inches longer than the nest box lid hinge. I first ran a heavy bead of silicone caulk on the coop outside wall above the hinge. I Then screwed the rubber to the wall so it overlaps the hinge and the nest box lid. I then dressed the rubber piece up by putting a piece of wood trim over it but above the hinge point. Then I again ran a heavy bead of silicone caulk above the wood trim and finished with matching trim paint. The only part of the rubber flap you can see is the part that overlaps the hinge onto the nest box lid. Mine is positively 100% water tight. Hope this helps you.

Here is another one:
Hi we have had some wonderful weather lately in the northwest and I cant seam to get my nest box to stop leaking

What people said about : When i built my coop i had the same problem. Mine was running down the wall and through the piano hinge. I used a piece of rubber roofing i got from a friend. I used a piece of 1/2" plywood Cut 1" and a little longer than nest box so it will hang over some on both sides. Hold the rubber up over the hinge on the wall. Put a bead of caulk on the wall then lay the rubber then the strip of plywood . when you have it where you want it put some screws in it. The rubber should be hanging down over your hinge. I hope this helps i can do the work better than i can explain how to do it . Don't forget to paint the plywood and make sure the screws are not sticking through the inside of the coop.

And here is what someone did to fix their leak:

 

[pikeman94]

She is still sneezy this am. I haven't had a moment to sit and watch her. But if KarenS has seen that in the breed, then this should clear up. She could just be stressing. There is no discharge from her nose. I have both on duramycin just in case. Once they calm down (a week or so) I will move their cage next to Sage's and Paprika's cage. Then, it all goes well there I will begin integrating those 4 together. Once that is done, a couple more weeks, I will move them outside to begin integrating them with the rest of the Spice Girls (again my wife's and daughter's doing).

In the meantime I have to figure out which way to go on the current coop, expand it or build a newer bigger coop. Chicken Math!

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.

 

[pikeman94]

KarenS - The good news is she is still eating and drinking. So, it could just be stress. Their spice names will have to reflect touchy/nervousness.

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]

Well, I'm a bit annoyed, my camera isn't wanting to cooperate with me. I was wanting to take a picture of one of my developing eggs. It's on Day 5. The others are only 3 days in, now. Anyway, this is the best I could do. Sigh. It kept trying to get out of focus and then when I finally got it, the contrast is super hard to see. In person, this "bean" is a lot darker and the veins are very apparent. Anyway, the spot towards the left hand side is growing out spider leg veins all over the egg.

 

[Ivywoods]

IVY, how old are the GQFs you have? I saw one on CL the last few days, but it's a 1202 sportsman & I don't know how many models back that is. I know they don't make the 1200 series any more. They're wanting $250 for it & it comes with 2 chicken egg trays & 2 bantam egg trays & the front door is modified with a clear door. It says it has a turner, but it doesn't say if it's an auto turner or manual. Here's the ad: http://wichita.craigslist.org/grd/2941038520.html. It's also possible one may come up at the Mulvane Swap meet too if I make it there this time. I couldn't make the last one because I went to KC instead. I would like to make this one if I can. Anyway, I sure would like to get my hands on a bigger incubator now before I get my breeder coop built & then when I do have it I will have something to hatch more eggs in.

Right now I have two GQF's, an incubator and a hatcher. My incubator is a newer model, but I really don't know how old. Less than 10 years I would guess. My hatcher is ANCIENT! It is so old no one I knew had even seen one like it. It is red plywood. We questioned whether it was truly a GQF, but it is. It's just old. Even the the trays are partially made out of wood, not like the metal ones they have now. Anyway, my old hatcher is great. Other than the fact that it doesn't have a see-through door, it is my favorite. I love the ole thing and it has worked perfectly from the day I got it.

If you have a chance to buy a GQF with a clear door, turner and trays for $250, go for it. You can still get all the parts for the old GQF's from the GQF website and upgrades if you want to do that. There are several different ways to go with the thermostats on them, but all those can be replaced through the GQF if needed. Once you learn how to set them, they are great. You can always add the auto water system to any of them if you want. Also, you can download the manuals to operate them.

 

[Ivywoods]

Well my new blue slate turkey doesn't gobble. I haven't heard him gobble yet. I haven't seen him strut at all, either. The lady I got him from started watching her remaining blue slates after I told her this one isn't gobbling. To her amazement the ones she has left do not gobble hardly at all, either. It might be a breed characteristic. That royal palm was a constant gobbler and strutter. As soon as my cell phone gets charged back up I'm going to make some phone calls and see about taking a road trip to get a pair of royal palms to replace the ones Iost.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, prayers coming your way for you & your family.

Hawkeye, congrats on the fertile eggs! You probably need to leave them to cook & do their thing now & not stress over them so much. I have learned to not mess with mine much after I get them in there, it's the best thing if you want a good hatch like Danz & IVY have said. I candle mine just once to make sure I have growth since I have limited incubator space, but after I verify it I don't candle them again. I have had eggs hatch like I said that I didn't think would, so they can surprise you. The little things are stronger than you think, they go through quite a bit getting out of those shells. I'm so amazed at how they are so curled up in there & manage to peck their way out!

Oh speaking of eggs I'm so excited, I candled my turkey eggs yesterday because it had been too early before that & they're growing! These are my shipped Royal Palm eggs. I'll be getting a few more next week when I go to Wichita, so I should have plenty Hawkeye & I'm sure there will be a Tom in there for you so Seymour can have a boyfriend. After I see how many hens & toms I have I'm sure I will be selling some because I don't need that many.

Oh Danz & IVY, I ended up pitching most of those eggs I got from my friend. I kept 2 dz I'm going to give to Keena to see if she wants to try them, but the rest I will cook & feed to my pups, so they will get lots of treats, they will be happy. I guess it's not that big of a loss, the eggs were free & it made her cat happy to have his bed back.

 

[Trish44]

IVY, well I guess the incubator sold before I could inquire about it because my emails never got answered & Danz said the ad isn't there any more. Oh well, I'll just have to keep watching.