Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Thanks, so excited we're nearly done!

Okay... another question! I saw where someone had made a brooder right under the roosts. I'm wanting to put a ladder style roost along with a full bar for roosting up higher. I just want lots of options in case my little herd grows.

If I made a brooder- or sort of an enclosed and screened in area for young birds or birds I need separated for any reason ... has anyone done this? Any advice on this? I was thinking I could even throw in a broody mama with chicks? Then they'd be in the chicken coop, but protected from attacks. ?? This of course, adds a lot more work to my inside design, but figure I'd better do it now if I'm going to do it.

 

[chicken danz]

Here's what I've found works best. If you need to separate an area, buy a roll of heavier plastic netting. They make it in a regular chicken wire style that is 3' wide. Or use regular chicken wire but the plastic is easier to work with. Make a couple panel outlined by 1" X 2"s or 1"x3"s. Pick up some 1 1/2" to 2 " wide L brackets at lowes or where ever. Use screws to attach them to your panels and where they will be mounted. The brackets can be taken down by removing the screws on one side of the bracket and set aside for when you need them.

 

[chicken danz]

Hopefuly this little sketch will help explain.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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OH, that's really smart!!! I like that. I could build a little door into the panel, too so I wouldn't have to take it clear down every time.

Well, I was out in the barn most of the morning/noon time. I fixed it up for Seymore and I found some old welded wire that was kind of light weight, but perfect to nail up on top of the horse stall to keep her from flying out. I think the holes are like 2 by 3? I have about a 5 foot gap left directly above the door that isn't covered. I'm going to stick her out there and see if she stays in. If so, I'll leave it. If not, I do have some of that super heavy welded wire- the kind you use for pigs or whatever, and I didn't want to even try to mess with it! I needed a taller ladder to reach the rafter above it to nail the fencing on, and I didn't want to get out in the pouring rain and drag in our taller ladder that I can barely lift. Sigh. Ah well. There is a break in the rain for the moment, going to go throw Seymore out there. I already set up her food and water earlier. We'll see what she thinks!

 

[checoukan]

Hawkeye, would putting a brooder right under the roosts, would that not make the brooder area messy, or will the brooder have some form of protection from all of the night droppings from the roosting birds?

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[Hawkeye95]

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OH right-- I forgot to say it would have a roof, or double as a poop board. I had no intention of having a poop board, but figured if I slant it at an angle and put vinyl on top, it should be easy to scrape off. I don't know... I'm still thinking about this idea. I need to see how much room I really have, but having a separate little area is appealing in case someone is getting attacked or brooding..

 

[chicken danz]

I make the same kind of basic frame and either cover it with chicken wire or plastic to cover pens. If you do that you might need to run another 1 X along the walls for it to rest on. I don't cover my divisions unless it is a bird that flies or I need to keep another one out.
I went and got feed and mailed some packages. I must be living right. I drove in heavy rain all the the way to the coop, but as soon as I got there it quit raining. I got home and got it all shoveled off the truck just as it started sprinkling again.
Now I'm ready for a warm cup of coffee to get me going again. I really didn't want to deal with feed today but these birds are going nuts eating these days. I may have to downsize to make it through winter.

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

CanChaser, (and everyone else that is interested).

You had some great help from experienced "hatchers". Congratulations on the new duckies and sorry about the one you lost. Here is a page with an explanation of how that network of blood vessels inside the egg works. The more you learn, the better you can make those hard decisions when things don't go exactly right. And please check out the entire website. It is chuck full of great information about hatching duck eggs. It was the main site I had to learn from when I was just starting to hatch eggs. I have helped many, many chicks, ducklings, and goslings out of their shells. Just have to play by the rules of nature.

http://www.minkhollow.ca/mhf/doku.php?id=farm:candling:learn_more:cesarean

 

[chicken danz]

I'm more than willing to help any one out at any time they need advise. Nice basic information and good reading for a new hatcher, although there are hundreds of uncovered subjects there. I'm glad you pointed it out for new hatchers to read.
Sometimes I think you just need to vent your frustration as much as you need assistance.

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

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Yes, that site is set up as a learning tool for students. Learning accurate basic information is what accurate advanced learning is built on. When I was learning to hatch eggs, there was no one else I could ask questions of. I did not know about forums then. Now, I know about forums and know there is tons of misinformation being presented as truth on every forum in existence. Good basic information is one of the ways to sort out the right from wrong information. And how to research to find the correct information.

And, even the most wonderful, experienced, willing to help expert is not always available in those critical few minutes or even hours when a decision has to be made that might save a little ones' life. Knowledge is the key, and the best way to learn it is to start at the bottom, basic level and learn it right. If that site is below your level of knowledge, then skip it for the level you are at. I still go through it from time to time and find things I missed. There is always something new to learn.

And yes, discussions are great and help in so many ways to improve that knowledge.

Thanks to everyone that shares their hard earned knowledge so others can have a better experience with raising poultry or other ventures in life.