Hidden Forest Coop

[Jetpad]

Yea, I don't have a good place for it inside the coop as it's all roost inside the coop. But I'm thinking it'll only be in there a day or two while I let them get used to being in the coop and then I'll move it out into the run.

I'm actually working on making two of those chicken nipple waterers. When I get them put together I'll put one out in the run and another one inside the coop. I think I'll be able to mount one in there that I can protect from poop.

 

[Jetpad]

Have you used that heat emitter before? I found those things don't cast much heat very far but are scary hot to the touch.

What are your chicks in now and are you still providing heat?
How old are they...... Too lazy to scroll back thru the thread, but IIRC they are not very old maybe a month or two?

I would suggest instead of that heat emitter that you put a cardboard 'cuddle box' (big enough for them all to fit into and about 4-6 inches high) filled with shavings for them to gather in together if they get cold.
They probably won't be roosting yet and would prefer a comfy place to cuddle on the floor for a while......and sand can be cold.

I used the heat emitter (75 watt) inside the brooder box in our laundry room for the first couple weeks. That room isn't connected to the central AC and we've had the window open in there the whole time. I turned off the emitter about a week ago. It did a decent job of heating things up and would get their sleeping corner into the 90s depending on how close I had it. When it heated up, you could still handle it on the edges but you wouldn't want it to lay against anything flammable for any length of time. I'm definitely leery of it.

They'll be 4 weeks old this weekend and are mostly feathered out except for their bellies. The daytime temperatures here are in the low 70s and nighttime temps are in the high 50s.

>> cardboard 'cuddle box'

good idea. I'll do that. They currently get up on the mini roosts I made them for the brooder box during the day but don't think they use them at night time. They all huddle in a corner. I think they'll probably prefer a cuddle box.

 

[vehve]

I directed mine at a box of sand, it heated the sand and made a nice warm spot for the chicks to stay warm at.

 

[smcgill]

Oooooooo you get your laundry room back!
You will not miss the mess!
We want pics of the chicks in the coop!
Good luck!
Sean

 

[aart]

Quote:

I directed mine at a box of sand, it heated the sand and made a nice warm spot for the chicks to stay warm at.

I guess I should specify that the emitter I used was only 60 watt and IMO was a waste of money as it only heated about a 7" diameter area directly underneath it, the surrounding area cooled off drastically. I ended up making a brooder 'plate' out of a metal rack and a heating pad for my chicks.

 

[Jetpad]

I directed mine at a box of sand, it heated the sand and made a nice warm spot for the chicks to stay warm at.

My brooder box is also filled with sand that I was using for the litter. That's probably why the emitter worked well for me.

 

[Jetpad]

Oooooooo you get your laundry room back!
You will not miss the mess!
We want pics of the chicks in the coop!
Good luck!
Sean

Oh, definitely! Starting out, I was wondering how bad this "dust" problem was going to be that everyone was talking about. I ended up moving as stuff out of the laundry as I could because it was/is getting covered with dust. That's also why I'm trying to get them out of the house a week or two before I had originally planned.

 

[aart]

I was using sand too.

 

[vehve]

Quote: We had our chicks in the living room, thinking "Pfft, a couple little fluffballs won't put out that much dust." When we finally got them out and did a thorough cleaning, the couch changed color completely when vacuuming it.

 

[sunflour]

Awesome coop, you should post in the coop pictures.

Those are some lucky chickens.

Too bad you have to hide your coop, it deserves a coop tour.

A couple of folks commented on crowing will reveal to all. But the girls do get loud and proud over their egg laying. And when more than one singing, it is very, very loud. Don't know how close your neighbors are, but if you have to hide the coop, bet you they will hear them in a few months. Hope they are friendly people and like eggs.

I think it is absurd that anyone can have dog kennels in their yards but our pet chickens don't get the same respect. So if anyone gives you a hassle, let them know these are just a new breed of dog that can lay eggs?