Helpful hints for building coops

[CapricornFarm]

Freezing my arse and fingers trying to make sure all the critters have food and water. Not used to 20° and wind chill!

 

[aart]

Low was -18°F Sunday/Monday morning.
Only 14 this morning same as yesterday afternoon.
Lots of frostbite out there, boys and girls both...
....I knew those CCL combs were gonna be a problem.

 

[jvls1942]

we are at the verge of our first decent snow fall.
4" to 7" predicted by noon on Wednesday.
I put the charger on the tractor. and have a propane torch on stand-by. I have to heat up the transmission housing before I can drive off.
not looking forward to the temp drops after Wednesday.. highs in the minus degrees..
If it is that cold, I just won't plow snow, that's all..
......jiminwisc.......

 

[CapricornFarm]

Went to the neck doctor today, i have three herniated discs.
And i went to Lowes and got a cart load of free wood!

And $37 exterior paint for $9! Score!

 

[NewBoots]

WOOT! I love a good deal!

 

[aart]

Went to the neck doctor today, i have three herniated discs.
And i went to Lowes and got a cart load of free wood!

Hmmmm...those two things don't quite go together?

 

[ChickenDreamer7790]

Make sure when you're building your roosting bars not to make them more than 20 inches off the ground especially if you get a heavier breed of bird because jumping from any higher of a height can result in bumblefoot which is a dreadful thing to have to address. Our first roosting bars were about 3 1/2 feet from the ground and we had about 9 of our flock results in bumble foot. Not fun at all.

 

[Molpet]

Make sure when you're building your roosting bars not to make them more than 20 inches off the ground especially if you get a heavier breed of bird because jumping from any higher of a height can result in bumblefoot which is a dreadful thing to have to address. Our first roosting bars were about 3 1/2 feet from the ground and we had about 9 of our flock results in bumble foot. Not fun at all.

If you have deep litter that cushions them when they jump/fly down.

 

[aart]

If you have deep litter that cushions them when they jump/fly down.

Plus bumble foot is an infected wound....
....a wound can happen anywhere and less likely to be from jumping down from the roost.

 

[jvls1942]

I have had thousands of chickens over my life time. I never had one with bumble foot, impacted crop, egg bound, fleas..
not to say that some did get sick and die,.and some just died without showing symptoms of being sick..
I made a roost with all the boards at the same level. about 24 inches tall.. I hinged it to the wall so I could raise it when I wanted to clean the floor..