Helpful hints for building coops

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CapricornFarm said:
So yesterday I went to see if any more chicks had hatched under my broody bantam cochin. There , in the nest box was a four foot black snake! Two hens were watching with concern as it had already eaten 3 eggs, or chicks. I grab the snake. Looked for the other hen, she was in the run where he had killed her!!! I was mad for the rest of the day. Now I am putting mesh over the entire outside of the run. This is the second time this has happened in this coop. Last time I put lots of mesh up, but ran out and had other things to do. I never used to hate snakes, since I found them interesting and I know they eat rodents. But I am tired of them stealing eggs and chicks, and killing hens.
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I like snakes too....and I used to like racoons and raptors. But that was before poultry. Anything that gets my birds and is legal to eliminate is gone
 
we don't have poisonous snakes around here. I can tolerate snakes if I know where they are. I won't pick one up if I don't have to. Never had a problem with them and the chickens.
I finally gave up on all birds and animals a couple of years ago. but it took me about 50 years. once in awhile i kind of wish I had an animal, but then I remember how much time they use up.
I won't tie my dogs up, so that causes trouble with one or two neighbors. One in particular.
I don't miss the chickens; frozen water in the winter.
this morning we had really heavy smoke from the forest fire in Minn.over 100 miles away. It was like heavy fog. we could see, smell and taste it.
......jiminwisc....
 
jvls1942 said:
I don't miss the chickens; frozen water in the winter.
this morning we had really heavy smoke from the forest fire in Minn.over 100 miles away. It was like heavy fog. we could see, smell and taste it.
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Yes the frozen water is rough, especially if no snow. Mine would rather eat snow first thing in the morning. So I wait to bring out water to mid afternoon.

Isn't it unusual for Minnesota to have forest fires? That has to be rough being outside.
 
erlibrd said:
It has been very dry here this year, fires are not really uncommon. Earlier this season the smoke was from fires in Canada.
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I'm used to hearing about fires out west and Canada, which I get light smoke from. ... somehow I missed regular fires in Minnesota
 
this is the first time that I can remember getting smoke from Minn.
We could actually see the smoke hanging in the trees in our yard. It was more than hazy.
Last night we got more rain. Over 2 inches
It came one wave after another with lightning and thunder.
the humidity is so high. the bathroom door won't close for the first time in 54 years. I think the floor swelled up . For easy fix. I am going to just trim off a half inch from the bottom of the door.
Molpet, if you are trying to get eggs during the winter, I wouldn't let the chickens eat snow.
It may look like they like it, but they are just really thirsty.
.
 
jvls1942 said:
Molpet, if you are trying to get eggs during the winter, I wouldn't let the chickens eat snow.
It may look like they like it, but they are just really thirsty.
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That's what I always thought. However I brought out food and water for 40 chickens at dawn. They ignore the water and eat snow....I came back out 3 hrs later with more water and the frozen water is higher than the liquid water. Expansion.... Some will drink the second water. I was bringing water out every 3 hrs. Now If there's snow they want to eat, soft snow, I skip the dawn water. I bring water out when I check for eggs.
 

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