Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

This giant wimp is still trying to convince herself to get out there and get things done. You know, in years past people never had enclosed buildings for poultry other than brooders. My birds are out running any way most of the time. I leave the vents open all winter on the houses so it's not like they get much heat and I have the one group that can go in the old garage but choose to roost out under the carport part.
The straw should work just fine, Josie
My original plans were to build a 48 foot long building but DH decided to put up half of that and then build the other half later. I don't see the other half ever happening but I do like what we have.
I still have to build another shelter for the Sebbies. DH and I discussed that yesterday and he thinks he can do it with metal and the temp shelter we have now. I would like to build something nicer but it's not in the budget or time restraints right now. As long as I get the north and west wind blocked to some extent I guess that will work.
If I weren't so lazy I'd drive over and help you, Josie. I am lazy.... but seriously if you really need the help I would do it anyway.

 

[mommahen10]

Sapphire, I hope you find something that works quickly.

Danz, can you imagine how stupid I would have felt when he showed up and said Yeah, you wired these 2 wires wrong. It really would have hurt to pay for that too, I knew it had to be down to something simple but it was so !@#$%$#%!@#$ simple I just kept looking right over it. I've spent so much time on that, staring at it, and staring more. Similar to that whole thing just running around with the measuring tape. I'm so relieved and it's cozy and warm in here. The incubator has been running empty on 60% humidity, now it's already in the 40%. I think we will have a little party, we can roast some marshmallows in the fire place. Our fireplace doesn't work well for heat, it only heats the livingroom but it's still fun to use it during the day.

I went out to check all of my chicks/chickens. The 6 weekers were mostly in their house with the light, I gave them another light outside so they don't have to be cold to get their food. The 2 weekers (EEs) were not huddled in their lighted box, they have all solid wood sides except for the front which is wire, I covered the whole thing loosely with a tarp and gave them a second light as well. The ones that are approaching 3 months, they were all in their house which is like a big dog house with a light(not heat lamp), but they came out to see what I had for them. They have straw in there too. I'm a little worried about them but they have nice feathers so they should be fine. I tried to get them off of the light but they seemed to not be able to figure out where to go, that's why I switched to a regular bulb just to help them see where to go. My roosters in the grow out pen, I thought they must be freezing but it just turned out that my child who did chores this morning forgot to let them out, he felt so bad when I told him and he went out give them some treats. They came right out to eat when I let them out. I checked on the layers and they're fine but hanging out away from the wind. The pigs were having fun though, they didn't seem to care at all. I went into my brooder room, there aren't any chicks in there but I was pleased that it felt comfortable in there. It seems so cold out but whenever I got out of the wind it didn't feel nearly so bad.

Danz, it's funny that you linked those clamps. I asked my ds to find me a couple of those to make sure the tarp stayed in place over my 2 weekers, they work great even in the wind.

Josie, I like Danz idea to use carpet. It would be thick and provide insulation. I've put just a board in before and also newspaper with wood shavings. I would definitely do a tarp, it looks kinda sloppish but that's really okay. I really think wind break in this weather is the biggest thing we can do. I'm sorry you have to get out in this cold though. Hot chocolate may be in order when you get back in.

 

[mommahen10]

Josie, I'm not liking the idea of you being on the ladder too much. My oldest dd is pg too and I would be having a cow for her to climb. How about getting those clamps that Danz was talking about and just going around it for now? Can you throw the tarp over? I hope you can wait for your dh to help. I think the mower can wait for him though. Be safe Josie.

Yeah, who needs a repairman who stands me up anyway!! Woo Hoo, I'm so happy it's done.

My little chick that I mentioned that was walking funny, it died this morning. Before my dd went out to bury it she noticed that it's breast bone was completely exposed, it wasn't cut or bleeding, it had to have just developed that way.

 

[checoukan]

mommahen, sorry you lost the chick. It is hard too lose those cute little buggers.
Well the cold front finally hit here about 10:30 this morning. Long enough that I was able to get all my chores done at 70 degrees!!

I just had a short sleeve shirt on. The wind picked up and it started to rain/drizzle, temp started to drop. I think it is at least 20 degrees cooler now.

Anyway someone was asking about what they used for heat, we have an outdoor wood stove. We have been using it for about 7 years now. Our winter heat bills, which we are total electric on the house usually run around 100$. That is for over 2000 square feet of house. Always nice and warm, and we also heat our water with the wood stove, and just use the water heater, as a storage tank for the hot water. WE just love this stove, would not use anything else.

 

[JosieChick]

Oh no worries, I will get my butt in gear and go out here in a few. It shouldn't be that bad I just need to find my winter coat and put on a few more layers. I really like your metal three sided shelters and like the idea of building covered runs off of them.

This giant wimp is still trying to convince herself to get out there and get things done. You know, in years past people never had enclosed buildings for poultry other than brooders. My birds are out running any way most of the time. I leave the vents open all winter on the houses so it's not like they get much heat and I have the one group that can go in the old garage but choose to roost out under the carport part.
The straw should work just fine, Josie
My original plans were to build a 48 foot long building but DH decided to put up half of that and then build the other half later. I don't see the other half ever happening but I do like what we have.
I still have to build another shelter for the Sebbies. DH and I discussed that yesterday and he thinks he can do it with metal and the temp shelter we have now. I would like to build something nicer but it's not in the budget or time restraints right now. As long as I get the north and west wind blocked to some extent I guess that will work.
If I weren't so lazy I'd drive over and help you, Josie. I am lazy.... but seriously if you really need the help I would do it anyway.

Hahaha! Mother hens!!! I didn't even think about having an issue with the ladder. It is unfortunately very, very tall and I am afraid if I covered only the bottom half it wouldn't actually shelter the area they roost on. I promise I will be very careful. I will use the short black ladder that is very sturdy. I drive the mower around all the time to do my chores. Is there something dangerous I don't know about? It is quite handy because I don't have to haul heavy bags of feed around, I just haul them around to each pen and fill my feeders from the back of the mower lawn cart. Sorry about your little chick. Sometimes they just aren't meant to live.

Josie, I'm not liking the idea of you being on the ladder too much. My oldest dd is pg too and I would be having a cow for her to climb. How about getting those clamps that Danz was talking about and just going around it for now? Can you throw the tarp over? I hope you can wait for your dh to help. I think the mower can wait for him though. Be safe Josie.

Yeah, who needs a repairman who stands me up anyway!! Woo Hoo, I'm so happy it's done.

My little chick that I mentioned that was walking funny, it died this morning. Before my dd went out to bury it she noticed that it's breast bone was completely exposed, it wasn't cut or bleeding, it had to have just developed that way.

Arrggghhhhhh! I was sitting here talking to DH about the pea chick cage and I look out the window and see a flash of brown go by. At first I thought it was a squirrel and so I got up and looked again and no, it was a coyote just on the other side of our neighbors barb wire fence!!!!! So I tell DH I gotta go and run outside, rustle Molly from a nap and head back there. Of course I had just let the geese out of their pens and the darn thing is right on the other side of our back fence line so I yelled at it and Molly took off after it and it ran away. It was HUGE! At first I thought it had to be someones husky that was loose. It didn't even look like a coyote. I wonder if it wasn't a dog/coyote hybrid because it was enormous, at least 55-60 pounds and bold. It didn't even run away for a minute. Must get guns this weekend. We have been procrastinating and even if we had a gun I never would have had a clear shot because our neighbors house is right up the hill but at least if it comes back and I do get a clear shot we can dispatch it. I hate lone coyotes that hunt during the day. Wish Lucie could be out there, she would have been all over him. If nothing else that dog is an awesome coyote dog, she HATES them with a passion. I am fascinated by the pyrs hatred for coyotes, it is just innate. It is like they have profiles in their brains of predators and when they see them they are on it.

 

[Trish44]

Brrrrrrrr. It is so cold out. Of course it rained the whole time I was out taking care of birds and filling the horse tank and now it has stopped raining. But it is so cold and raw out right now. And of course today was the day I was going to go out and get everything covered in plastic and batten down the hatches for colder weather. I have awesome timing. My poor pea chicks look like popsicles out there. I don't know what to do with their cage other than cover it with a tarp and hope that is enough. Danz, do they need more than three sided protection at this age? I don't want them to freeze to death out there. The other hiccup is the bottom is open wire but there isn't much I can do about that without building a tray of some sort....

Josie, how old are your peachicks now? I was thinking yours were about the same age as mine or are they younger? I just have a huge tarp over the hoop coop where mine & the guineas are & I put plastic over the back & sides. I don't have anything on the front because I don't want there to be moisture in there. I haven't put anything on the fronts of any of my pens for that reason. I hope I don't regret it later, but for now I'm going to see how it goes. I just think with 3 sides covered they should be OK. I use cable ties for hooking everything on, even the plastic in the places I could use them, other places I just had to use duct tape. That reminds me, I have to go out there today & reinforce a few places that I thought didn't have enough. I ran out of the roll I had & had to go buy another one.

It's so cold & windy here today, BRRR! I went out & let the chickens out of the main run & coop & they're not even thrilled about coming out. Some of them came out & ran back in pretty soon after coming out there. So I guess they'll be hanging out in the run today. I don't blame them, I really don't want to be out there too much either, but I have to go back out after while & empty out the truck. I have a whole truck load of cattails in there.

 

[HEChicken]

Last night I dreamed about the wiring in the furnace specifically 2 wires that were wrong but I didn't know what and I spent a lot of time trying to figure that out this morning. Guess what???? That's exactly what was wrong with the wiring, just those 2 wires and I had to figure out where they went. Now it's working and works fine with all settings. YAY!!! Heat just in time.

Way to go!!!

Arrggghhhhhh! I was sitting here talking to DH about the pea chick cage and I look out the window and see a flash of brown go by. At first I thought it was a squirrel and so I got up and looked again and no, it was a coyote just on the other side of our neighbors barb wire fence!!!!! So I tell DH I gotta go and run outside, rustle Molly from a nap and head back there. Of course I had just let the geese out of their pens and the darn thing is right on the other side of our back fence line so I yelled at it and Molly took off after it and it ran away. It was HUGE! At first I thought it had to be someones husky that was loose. It didn't even look like a coyote. I wonder if it wasn't a dog/coyote hybrid because it was enormous, at least 55-60 pounds and bold. It didn't even run away for a minute. Must get guns this weekend. We have been procrastinating and even if we had a gun I never would have had a clear shot because our neighbors house is right up the hill but at least if it comes back and I do get a clear shot we can dispatch it. I hate lone coyotes that hunt during the day. Wish Lucie could be out there, she would have been all over him. If nothing else that dog is an awesome coyote dog, she HATES them with a passion. I am fascinated by the pyrs hatred for coyotes, it is just innate. It is like they have profiles in their brains of predators and when they see them they are on it.

Wow - so glad you were on that, and that Molly was able to chase it off. How is Lucie doing by the way - haven't heard an update for a few days...

It's so cold & windy here today, BRRR! I went out & let the chickens out of the main run & coop & they're not even thrilled about coming out. Some of them came out & ran back in pretty soon after coming out there. So I guess they'll be hanging out in the run today. I don't blame them, I really don't want to be out there too much either, but I have to go back out after while & empty out the truck. I have a whole truck load of cattails in there.

Such a change from yesterday. I'm most concerned about my silkies but every time I go out to check on them and see if they want to go in, they look happy as can be.

 

[mommahen10]

No, there's nothing dangerous about driving a mower. I was thinking about you having to move the crib and push the mower in. My kids always push the mower in, now that I think about it, why don't they drive it in? Duh. The ladder is scary though. Let us know when you're done. I once stood on the very top of a ladder very pg, you know, the top says not a step. I was bracing by holding onto the ceiling which wasn't all that much to hold on to. It's just not worth it at all if you think about it, it all can wait, it's not worth the risk to you and baby. I have an awesome step ladder now, it has a handle and it's not like a ladder, more like steps. It's not super high but I can do everything I need to in the house with it and it's officially 'my ladder'.

checoukan, your stove sounds cool. Do you have a link?

 

[lizzyGSR]

checoukan, your stove sounds cool.

Couldn't resist.

 

[JosieChick]

Way to go!!!

Wow - so glad you were on that, and that Molly was able to chase it off. How is Lucie doing by the way - haven't heard an update for a few days...

Such a change from yesterday. I'm most concerned about my silkies but every time I go out to check on them and see if they want to go in, they look happy as can be.

She is doing well. I can hardly contain her outside on a leash and she keeps trying to jump from the back of the car!! I am terrified she is going to jump out and damage one of her plates in her leg. She really wants to run around like a wild woman but she is on leash walking and strict cage rest for at least 6 more weeks! After her 8 week post op radiographs they "might" release her for longer leash walks. Not a fun time for an eight week old pup but I keep telling her its better than being dead!


So in my avoidance to go back outside I have started to read about cloth diapers, now there is a can of worms!!! I really like the idea of all in ones so DH can't avoid diaper duty because its too hard!!!