Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Been reading... okay- going to do 17 inch wide nest boxes- just read other turkey threads that said turkeys can fit into chicken boxes, but that they end up breaking eggs because it's too tight of a fit. Some one stop me if I'm wrong... I hope the chickens won't be upset that it's a big box..???? Going to put in 4 boxes for 11 hens. Is this right? This would mean I am bringing the box in from the sides a bit. OR... I could add two more boxes and have 6 boxes with this width. WHY am I so indecisive?!?!! ARGH!!!!

 

[ChooksChick]

I'd do a 20" by 20" cube. That is enough room for a turkey, and since the chickens will ALL want to share the same nest no matter how many you give them, they'll be able to pile on top of one another...and they will.

I have 6 nest boxes for 30+ hens and they are all double-sized, because I have 3 in the favorite one at a time with girls in line, legs crossed, cussing up a storm.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
THANK YOU!! so glad to have an answer. Okay, going to make the nests extra large and not worry about it. So you have 6 boxes for 30+ hens! Wow!! But that helps me since I will only have 11 hens and am worried about only having 4 or 5 boxes. whew. Okay, I'm going to stop obsessing. (yeah... right) Then the turkey could get in any of the boxes and be fine.

 

[ChooksChick]

Save yourself some floor space and just make 3. That way you'll still have 2 when someone goes broody. That's all you really need, because they really do space it our over the course of the day. I have double-deckers with the poop board on top, and the rest of the area under the board is for the pop door path, the water heat base, and hanging water in the summer (Less poop in water when under board).

My girls' favorite nest box OF ALL TIME is an oversized covered cat box. They think it's the most luxurious and special accommodation ever!! Fill with hay or shaving and stand back: everyone will have to examine it pronto!!!

Quote:
THANK YOU!! so glad to have an answer. Okay, going to make the nests extra large and not worry about it. So you have 6 boxes for 30+ hens! Wow!! But that helps me since I will only have 11 hens and am worried about only having 4 or 5 boxes. whew. Okay, I'm going to stop obsessing. (yeah... right) Then the turkey could get in any of the boxes and be fine.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
THANK YOU!! so glad to have an answer. Okay, going to make the nests extra large and not worry about it. So you have 6 boxes for 30+ hens! Wow!! But that helps me since I will only have 11 hens and am worried about only having 4 or 5 boxes. whew. Okay, I'm going to stop obsessing. (yeah... right) Then the turkey could get in any of the boxes and be fine.


The boxes won't take up any floor space- they will be hanging on the outside. I'm planning on putting the water under the poop boards like you all have been discussing. I think that is a great idea! Plus, it uses otherwise wasted space under there. I'm all about that. It's cooling down... almost ready to work!

 

[tazcat70]

Yes save yourself some work. Make double sized ones....they always want the same nest. My father made me a really nice one, 2 on the bottom with 2 more on the top. A 4-plex. Anyway, they will sometimes use one of the bottom ones, but they prefer the covered kitty litter box.

.

 

[ChooksChick]

Had my brother in law call me today to tell me a customer came in his violin shop today and asked if he knew anyone who would want a gorgeous Silver Laced Wyandotte roo. Apparently the huge rooster murals on his violin shop walls make people think he has chickens (he doesn't...yet!).

So...anyone a taker on this roo for grabs? I have contact info.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Renee, the rooster sounds really pretty! Funny that your brother has chicken pictures in his shop, and he doesn't have any.... yet. I can tell you've been working on him. I ordered all pullets for my 10 that are coming... but I am secretly hoping that one of the 6 polish will be a roo. Seems that most people tend to get one when they order over 5. I wonder if the hatchery just tries to slide one in now and then, or if it's an honest mistake? My DH will have a cow if we wind up with a roo, but too bad.

I nearly got the nest box wall done. In fact, I would have last night but my DH came out and stopped me. He said that wall was getting too heavy and he helped me drag it over to the coop base and we laid it on top. I guess I can finish the box when it's standing upright. DH was right- that wall was INSANELY heavy! The other walls won't be anywhere near that heavy since they won't have framing coming off of them like that. I got the second wall framed out last night- I just need to add in the studs and frame for the pop door and a vent door I am planning on that side.

Question: I've seen a lot of people put in those vents that you find in the overhang of your house roof- the vents that already have the screen on the back of them and kind of look like a Return vent in the wall- but more narrow. Apparently, they never close them off, but put them up high near the peak of the roof. Is this a good idea? Should I put one of those up there? For our winters.. just wondering if that will let in too much cold air. But if I put it on the South side... would that be okay?

 

[chicken danz]

It's supposed to be 107 here today. I noticed up north it is at least 10 degrees cooler. My birds are out checking out water all ready. I guess I should get out and fill the pans after I drink another cup of coffee.
I had a gruesome discovery last night. I had a beautiful cochin rooster who became unresponsive. When I examined him the flies had laid maggots in his rectum. They were eating him from the inside out! I did everything I could and removed maggots for over 2 hours but he was too far gone and passed away. This just made me sick. I have so many birds it is hard to examine every one of them each day. But please check your birds. I think it must be this weather. I had a puppy with a sore on his side and found a maggot in it as well a few weeks ago. I removed it. Washed it out with peroxide, shaved the area around it and called the vet. Luckily that was all it took and he didn't require antibiotics.
I think it is this heat. The flies will lay anywhere they can. Supposedly they won't lay in live tissue but if they are seeking out places like birds' rectums it is getting epidemic. I use some fly control bait but have to be so careful with it because the chickens will eat it if they can get to it. The flies seem to be seeking damp or wet areas to lay. Maybe the dry conditions have something to do with that as well.
Anyway be sure to check your birds well. This was extremely heart breaking. Thank goodness I have a few of his offspring so I will still have a roo for the hens.

 

[chicken danz]

Quote:
You don't want a chicken house to be air tight even in winter. It builds up ammonia and too much humidity that can be deadly to the birds. One thing I used other than my little vent doors is a closeable heat vent like you would use on the floor or wall. I found a fairly large one that was plastic and has the same closure as the metal floor vents. It was cheaper and works great. You can close it down but not so tight that it makes everything air tight. The higher the vent the more heat will be vented out. If you are putting in a self made vent door you don't need another vent. I never close my vents except when the temps get down in the teens. And then they won't be air tight.