Hi, I'm Pia!

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sourland said:
Hello, Pia, and welcome to BYC. You have picked a very mellow, attractive breed.
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I actually picked buff orpingtons! The guy who picked them out for me apparently got his breeds mixed up. I was iffy because of the feathered feet but he assured me that he knew what he was talking about. :rolleyes:

A few days after I got them home I noticed their pin feathers were definitely not buff but white and black. That was a fun discovery. I did a bit of research though and I'm very pleased. I wasn't familiar with brahmas but now I'm quite fond.

Chullicken said:
Insulation values within a coop are not what contribute to frostbite, its the amount of relative moisture in the air from fecal matter, waterers and exhaling. Add improper ventilation or not enough of it, the moisture stays along with harmful toxins in the breathable air when they are locked up. Want to aim for around %20 or less humidity. If you do not have the ability to insulate fully, the roof and floor are your key elements with wind proof walls. Floor to keep the cold air at bay and the roof to keep the hot sun out during warmer months. So much conflicting information around here..there is no set height for roosting bars. keep in mind the higher they are, the more likely your chickens could suffer a foot injury or sprain. In colder climates it would be wise to have it off the coop floor, but there is no golden rule. 2 X 4 flat side up so they are able to cover their toes with feathers while roosting. The idea of nesting boxes per number of birds is a rather archaic belief. You'll start to see your birds will start using one box, maybe two and the rest will just take up space. I recommend people try out one big nest box instead. Big enough for them to go in there at the same time with no discomfort. Much easier to clean as well. The lighting is really optional, if you do not have a winterized run and they stay in the coop most of the season you may consider adding a light during normal times. Keep in mind this low level light season is when they recharge their little systems for the warmer months. Chickens are remarkable little creations. They can withstand a lot of increment weather situations, they may not like it but they will get through it. Good luck with everyone!
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That's some great information. I hadn't considered the humidity but I think it'd be good to keep an eye on things with a hygrometer. I'll be checking them out. I'm just in the planning phase of my coop but my rough design has got the coop raised off the ground and I've been adding ventilation holes so I'm glad I'm on the right track there.

I've read that brahma do well with wider roosts so I like the idea of a 2x4 to give them a bit of room. The ability to cover their feet when roosting sounds great.

I'm not too worried about the number of nesting boxes but I figured three would be more than plenty. I like the idea of one large nest though, it's something I'll look into.

Thanks!

drumstick diva said:
Very nice to meet you Pia, wish there was an electrician in my family, also a plumber and master carpenter. :idunno
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I need a plumber and a carpenter in my family too! :D
 

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