Helpful hints for building coops

[NewBoots]

Chicks mixed together all day and it was so much fun to watch them all interacting. The 2 big speckled sussex actually seemed to mother the younger chicks, letting them take tidbits from their beaks without objection. Still putting the littler chicks in a separate brooder at night though and it's a good thing. When I went out to close things down, the big kids had taken over the little kids brooder plate and the little kids were not happy. I was surprised the big kids could even fit under the low plate.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I got the wire on the side with the door!

 

[CapricornFarm]

And I built a wind baffle for the door, because that side of the coop is always where the wind blows.

Just need to put the top on and install it.

 

[jvls1942]

after I die, I want to be reincarnated as a pet on Cappy's farm..
going to put on my carpenter's cap today.
have four trusses to make.
I put an ad on CL to build trusses for small buildings like play houses, chicken coops, etc. No response yet.

......jiminwisc....

 

[aart]

So 4 of 6 eggs set under BioBator are alive and well.
Pretty sure there are 2 Dinners and 2 Sisters...she ain't showing them yet.

 

[jvls1942]

Aart, she ain't showing, but you must have peeked, eh?
I have a theory about set eggs. Instead of candling, someone should try scanning with a thermometer. i can't because I don't hatch eggs anymore. but my theory is that
non-viable eggs have a low temperature and they cool off more when the heat is taken away..
.....jiminwisc......

 

[aart]

Aart, she ain't showing, but you must have peeked, eh?

I tried to peek, but didn't want to delve too far in.
She had already stepped on one and killed it, I think.

Well, I was mistaken.... only 1 Sister and 3 Dinners
Gonna probably be pecking order issues for her when the boys are gone at 14-16 weeks.
She finally brought them off the nest this morning.
Terrible pic, forgot to turn flash off, she was harassing me,
then the camera batteries ran out.

 

[jvls1942]

it was cold all day, I did some work in the shop without lighting a fire. only lasted about an hour.
3'' of snow for sunday morning. WTH ??
......jiminwisc....

 

[CapricornFarm]

it was cold all day, I did some work in the shop without lighting a fire. only lasted about an hour.
3'' of snow for sunday morning. WTH ??
......jiminwisc....

Yeah, Mother's day special! Not what I wanted.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Today it was supposed to rain but it kept not raining ...until I went out. Then it rained. So I went in the shop and built a nest box for the hoop coop that I can access from outside. And painted it. Just need to add the roof and hinges. I want to put a second coat of paint on the outside so I can have it green like the coop.
I also put half a Mule load of soil around the base of the run . Needs more. But shoveling clay type mud is no fun. Going to put some loads of sand in the middle of the run. Luckily the river gives us loads of sand.

I have been selling lots of chicks. Tractor supply gave up on chicks, they couldn't get any . They are totally sold out of chick starter!