Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

I have a friend who is scared of all birds. I was trying to describe my silkies to her, and when she heard the description she commented that maybe she wouldn't hate being around them - unless they still have beaks and claws. I told her about the feathered legs, and then finally said "Really, they're just like a plush toy that moves". She liked that description. Later that day I came home and was a little alarmed that they seemed to be lying way too still. So I called them, and up popped their heads immediately looking in my direction. Then they stood up and literally ran as fast as they could towards me and that's all I could think - "yeah, they're plush toys that come running when you call them". I need to get my friend over here to meet them. If she heard the funny little sounds they make and how soft they feel - how could she possibly be afraid of them???

I've spent the day today building my nest boxes. I kind of winged it as I'm not very good at drawing up plans that work. Plus, I was trying to make them using scrap lumber I have lying around so I wouldn't have to make another trip to the lumber yard. I'm pleased with how they're coming out. Initially I was going to do a long row of them but the lumber I had dictated otherwise. Now what I have is a 6-unit nest box that is two rows of 3 boxes. The top is slanted to prevent them roosting on top of it. The only thing I have yet to do is add the top. I have the lumber for it but it was out in the rain last night and got warped. Right now its lying with two bags of concrete mix on top of it. My hope is that the weight will force it to dry back straight again. DD came out to see my progress and asked why I was making 6 boxes since "they'll all want to lay in one box anyway". I didn't know she'd noticed.

 

[Trish44]

HeChicken, sorry I didn't get the pics taken of the nestbox, I haven't gotten it quite finished & I have felt awful since last night. I just sold my rabbits to a lady from Wichita who wants to raise them for meat & I got a good price for them, so it was worth staying up to meet her. She was so excited to get them & the rabbits actually looked quite comfortable in the crate she brought to take them home in.

Now that I'm done with that I'm going back to lie down until time to go do chores. Then I hope I can feel well enough to go put on the perches on the nest boxes & slap some paint on it, we'll see.

 

[HEChicken]

Oh don't sweat it - I'm just sorry you're feeling so bad. I had a couple of bad days this week but today feel almost back to normal, so I hope whatever you have goes past fast too.

I am just so bad at visualizing things that I found it hard to make a start on the nest boxes but once I got going it kind of fell into place and I think its working out nicely.

Plus, I ordered my automatic door today. The company only ships on Mon/Wed/Fri and since I didn't order until late morning I didn't expect them to ship today. In fact, I sent them an email stating that since it was so late already I didn't expect them to ship today and Monday is fine. Shortly after that I got an email back saying they were able to ship today and later sent me a tracking number. If their door is as good as their customer service, I'll be happy!

 

[prairie]

What company did you order from? I have been thinking of getting one because when we leave on a trip the granddaughters don't have to come down morning and night. I found the chickendoors.com through searches but don't know anything about the automatic doors. We don't have electricity at the chicken house and I am sure hubby won't put it in so I will need a solar unit.

Plus, I ordered my automatic door today. The company only ships on Mon/Wed/Fri and since I didn't order until late morning I didn't expect them to ship today. In fact, I sent them an email stating that since it was so late already I didn't expect them to ship today and Monday is fine. Shortly after that I got an email back saying they were able to ship today and later sent me a tracking number. If their door is as good as their customer service, I'll be happy!

 

[chicken danz]

I worked on the chicken trailer again this afternoon. I got the frames up for all the runs. Maybe this weekend I can carve out enough time to get the chicken wire up and plan how to build my doorways to the runs.
DH is going to Manhattan in the morning and I know he'd like me to go with him. I just don't want to go anywhere and he is getting disgusted. He just doesn't understand how I really need to be available to sell birds on the weekends. I guess we need a date night!
Oh geez! That means I'd have to comb my hair!!!
How does someone develop a fear of birds? Unless maybe they were weaned watching Alfred Hitchcocks Birds movie???
This kid was obviously that way. Scared to death to touch any of them. People are so funny!

 

[Trish44]

Well people can be scared of anything, especially if they're not around it & used to it. My granddaughter is afraid of my chickens, I hope to show her they won't hurt her when she comes here.

I went out & hurried through my chores & made myself put the perches on that nest box set & slap a coat of primer on it. I sure didn't feel like being out there, but I want to get it done as soon as possible so I can get my DH to help me put it up. My chickens will be so thrilled to have a nest box that doesn't fall off the wall for once & there will be enough for them. I don't know why I didn't do that sooner, but I just didn't think I could do it. Now that I have been building a few things I guess I feel a little better about my building abilities. I'm still not up to the level a lot of you are, but then you have been working at it longer than me. My dad was a carpenter & painter, so I always knew how to paint, but he never let me help build anything, girls weren't supposed to do that. We're going tomorrow to buy wood & take my granddaughter to get a new bike because hers got stolen. I hope she takes better care of the new one than she did of the other one. While I'm out though I want to get a pretty color of paint for my nest box. My DH will probably gripe about buying the paint, but too bad.

Prairie, I have an automatic chicken door & I love it. I got mine from Fleming Outdoors & it works great. The one I got is electric because I can run an extension cord from the garage since my coop isn't that far away, but I do know they had a solar option too. I looked at the different options when I was shopping for one & decided I didn't want one that swung out because if there was snow there it wouldn't be able to open or would get stuck. So I opted for one that is a guillotine style that goes up & down. It has worked really well & the only issue I have had is if the electricity goes off I have to reset it, but it's not that big of a deal.

 

[HEChicken]

What company did you order from?

I wound up ordering the Pullet Shut Door form chickendoors.com. Originally I was looking at the Poultry Butler because I liked some of its features but I contacted a couple of people privately who mentioned on the forum that they had purchased one and asked them what they thought and the reviews weren't that good. I had some concerns about the Pullet Shut opening outward but I plan to install it a little higher in the coop than they show in the videos - my girls are used to having to step up to get out anyway - so I think it will be okay. In doing searches on the forum for it, I found nothing but high praise from the people who had ordered and installed one. I hope my experience will be similar to theirs.

 

[prairie]

Trish and HeChicken,

thanks for the info! Hubby just shook his head when I mentioned it but it would be great when we are gone on a trip. The granddaughters or daughter comes and checks feed and water every couple of days but I hate for them to drive abt 10 miles round trip every morn and night.

I will check out the Fleming website too. I kinda would like one that goes up and down rather than opening out too.

thanks again!

 

[sharol]

I got the Fleming door last fall (the one on a timer). I love it. I put it on a UPS (Uninteruptable power supply) because I got to worrying one morning that the electricity would flicker while the timer was engaged and when it came back on the door would close and shut the girls out all day in the rain. The timer it shipped with was a piece of c&^% that didn't work from the start. They were supposed to send me a replacement, but it never came. The door works flawlessly though and was easy to install. It was a real "peace of mind" thing with me when I had to leave before sunrise in the morning to go to school in the dead of winter.

Love the door, replaced the timer with a good one.

Prairie, I have an automatic chicken door & I love it. I got mine from Fleming Outdoors & it works great. The one I got is electric because I can run an extension cord from the garage since my coop isn't that far away, but I do know they had a solar option too. I looked at the different options when I was shopping for one & decided I didn't want one that swung out because if there was snow there it wouldn't be able to open or would get stuck. So I opted for one that is a guillotine style that goes up & down. It has worked really well & the only issue I have had is if the electricity goes off I have to reset it, but it's not that big of a deal.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Good morning all! It is FINALLY raining here. I fell asleep to rain last night, it stopped sometime during the night, and then another storm moved in this morning, and it is raining again.

My ducks are probably wondering what happened to me. I usually carry them 1-by-1 from their duck house to their temporary pen in the yard first thing in the morning. However, I don't feel like taking a cold shower, so I'm gonna wait to let them out 'till the rain stops. I know that they'd probably enjoy the rain, but they're just gonna have to wait!

This is the first time it's rained since we moved into our new house and also since we finished the duck house. We've already found that one of our doors on our house leak (our wood floor got wet

). I'm excited to get out and see how the duck house has fared in the rain.

I have a predicament I could use some opinions on. I am planning on going out of town at the end of next week. I currently have 6 adult ducks, one duckling, and one gosling. My gosling has been wobbly since I got her (see here for more info), and I've been dosing their food and water with Brewer's Yeast for the last couple of days. Last night, I woke up because the gosling was SCREAMING. She was on her back and wasn't able to get up. She was also wet, like she'd been playing in water and/or poop. I have a friend who is willing to take care of my poultry for me, but will likely be harvesting during the time I'm gone. She has offered to put my "Littles" in her chicken house, separated from the chickens. However, I'm worried that it will get too hot in there during the day and too cold at night. I'm also not sure that taking them with me is an option, as I'll be going on a trip with my sister and then heading "back home" to visit my parents and my in-laws. My DH will be going straight to his parents house after he drops me off with my sister. He could technically take care of my Littles for me, but I'm not sure he knows what to look for (except the obvious goose-on-her-back). Also, my sister-in-law has lots of allergies, so I'm not sure that my in-laws would allow my Littles in their house. My friend does have two ducks right now and has had ducks and geese in the past. Do I leave them with her or do I try to take them with me and leave them in my hubby's care for the first couple days of our trip (while I'm with my sister). What would you do?