Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

OK, I misunderstood IVY, but it was still a funny story! I'm sure you're glad it wasn't you! It hasn't been so bad out today here as yesterday at least. You could get out without being blown away & getting wet. It was still cold, but the sun was out.

chicken danz, sorry to hear about your hen. That sounds like a 'possum to me, that's just how I found my guineas, at least the ones that were left. I can't leave anything out at night here, there are just too many things around here that like chicken dinner. That's why I'm out there every night shutting the run door & counting heads before I shut everything up tight. The automatic pop door is wonderful, it sure is nice to know the chickens are all safe in their coop at night. I haven't figured out yet what I'll do when I build my new coop because it will have 3 doors if I get to build it like I want to. I can't afford to pay $200 a door for 3 of them like I did the first one.

 

[chicken danz]

If it were me I would look at the way your pop door is designed and build my own. You could put it on one of those cheap light and dark sensor timers that would adjust on it's own to the changing times. If the door is light weight it seems it wouldn't take much of a motor to operate one. I've never seen one up close and personal or I'm sure I'd figure out how to build one. I just never shut the door on the houses because they all have secure covered pens so they are as safe with the door open as closed. I just haven't been shutting the pens because the dogs keep every thing so secure.
I go the brooder cleaned out and then had to take another shower. I couldn't breath with all that chick dust up my nose. I still have to dump all the shavings and stuff I shoveled out but that can wait until tomorrow. I got new shavings down and moved some birds to different pens. I still have the new babies in the house that were just hatched. I'll move them tomorrow once the dust gets settled out there.

 

[rittert3]

I'm sorry to hear about your hen danz. Typically I have a (if I kill it, I use it) additude toward critters but possums are one of my few exceptions. I do agree it sound like that was your killer. I'm so thankful for my trusty .22 and when I get birds again I'm sure it will get more use. I think it has amost killed as many possums as pop cans, lol, nasty critters are always messing up my coon sets and the fur buyers won't even take them anymore.

 

[Ivywoods]

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I tried to tell my sister it would have been easier to catch that possum with a .22 than it was with that dog catcher noose. I really don't like those nasty, stinky, ugly creatures.

 

[keckels]

I heard there is a chicken swap/auction in Manhattan this weekend. Does anyone know if this is right, or any details? I can't find anything online or otherwise about it.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Danz, so sorry about your hen! I don't know enough what predators eat/kill like so I would have no clue what got ahold of her. I didn't know a opossum would eat a chicken. I thought they just ate eggs! Shows how much I know. I'd say you're doing pretty good if you only have two that sit outside to roost instead of going in with as many birds as you have. Sounds like for the most part they know what to do. I bet as it gets colder, they will want to go in! Maybe that problem will take care of itself?

Trish, have you seen the "Add a Motor" kit? You basically make your own pop door out of any material you want. It just has to be an inside guillotine style door that runs on a rail of some kind. The motor is $99 and you add that to the top and you have an automatic door! https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=66725-wichita-cabin-coop Scroll down a bit on this coop page and it will show a FABULOUS example of how they built their pop door. That is exactly the set up you need to put your "Add a Motor" on. I've seen people over and over build a pop door just like this one and then put the motor on top- because it's the cheapest way of going about it. I'm going to use wood rails just like in the link I showed you, but instead of a wood door, I'm using a plexiglass piece that will run up and down. I've heard from others that it works better because it won't warp and hold in moisture and get stuck in the rails.


Keckles,

hello! I have no idea about the swap meet, maybe someone else will!

I hope its going to be as warm as they say! I have a lot of work to get done today! I'd like to finish the doors and finish the inside today.

 

[chicken danz]

There is a swap meet the first Sunday of every month. I am going to assume that they are still having them, although this might be the last one of the year. You can call the TSC in Manhattan and they could tell you if it is going on or not. That is where they have them.

 

[chicken danz]

Had DH hold one of the polish with the big chick that hatched yesterday for size comparison. I am still amazed at the size of that chick.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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OMG!! That is hilarious! That baby looks like a fluffy bear compared to the little polish! ha! But I LOVE big and fluffy! cute, cute, CUTE!!

Sigh. Doing laundry and waiting for it to warm up so I can work.

 

[checoukan]

You would have roared with laughter watching the whole situation, man that was a chore, and I did not want that possum to get away.

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