How about a Thread for Embdens?

[brandilly]

Your Africans are BEAUTIFUL, Iain Utah! Tell me, what are they sitting/standing on? Looks way more comfy than straw!

 

[Iain Utah]

Thanks!

It is a timothy/meadow grass hay. It's great because it is soft for bedding and yummy to eat too.

 

[servpolice]

I love her africans too

 

[brandilly]

Do you have to turn it daily? Completely muck it out? Turn and add? Inquiring minds want to know! I would only need to cover about a 6x10 space as the coop takes up some kennel space but if they like it and spend time in it then they will poop all over it (no, no... I already know I'm a rocket scientist... no applause needed! [goofy sarcasm]) soooooo... I have the 4 ducks and one very big goose. I just wonder what I need to do for maintenance, should I decide to find some! Thanks for any advice on this!

 

[Kalsti]

Thanks for posting the pic of the frostbite. Wonder if it is painful for them? Can they get other areas frostbitten also-- like chest where they sit on the lake ice for a long time?
I would love to see pics of the roost using hay bales....

 

[horsekeeper]

Here is the first hay bale pen that started out as a meat bird pen and morphed into winter housing when it started getting cold before the turkeys were big enough to process.







And with hay, cheap used french doors, clear roofing panels (door and front) added:



This started out as a 10 x 10 dog kennel using three sides and putting the fourth on top. Because it is on a hillside I built a front and tied it all together with layers of wire and then wrapped it in tarps.

 

[horsekeeper]

The second pen was originally a 12 x 16 run attached to the main chicken coop. I put a tarp over the back corner and closed off the sides with hay bales, then added a wind break. As I was taking the pictures I noticed the bedding had settled so added some more to keep them warm and dry tonight.

The original pen:



Add hay bales, snow, Pekins, and Embdens:













Not to worry, they got fresh water after the photo shoot.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The second pen was originally a 12 x 16 run attached to the main chicken coop. I put a tarp over the back corner and closed off the sides with hay bales, then added a wind break. As I was taking the pictures I noticed the bedding had settled so added some more to keep them warm and dry tonight.

The original pen:



Add hay bales, snow, Pekins, and Embdens:













Not to worry, they got fresh water after the photo shoot.

Looks like a good way to keep the wind off of them all. I hope your Embdens don't start picking on the Pekins, I've noticed my Embden gander is starting to run the Muscovy's off if they get to close I don't believe I could house them together.

 

[Kalsti]

What a great setup! What do you have holding down the blue tarp? They all look so happy!

 

[horsekeeper]

They occasionally nip at the ducks, but don't chase them. I use two water tubs and that works. If it escalates I can add some hay and tarps in the other corner and separate them. In the spring I will be building again so the geese have their own space and a pasture. Those pekins have quite an attitude .