Illinois...

[BReeder!]

OK... dumb question: how are you attached pics. I'm trying but when I use the "image" icon it doesn't embed into my post like I see everybody else's pics.

 

[Molpet]

OK... dumb question: how are you attached pics. I'm trying but when I use the "image" icon it doesn't embed into my post like I see everybody else's pics.

"upload a file"
byc is on a new site
(or whatever they call it)
ETA some of the features still don't work like they used to

 

[BReeder!]

I finally figured out how get correctly upload a pic. I was using the icons at above the text box before instead of the buttons below (i.e.: "upload a file"). Seems simple, but I overlooked. Thanks, Molpet. I'm new to the site - only been a few days so far.

So I got me brooder going. We did opt for a heat lamp, although I did end up looking at the heat pads and plates as somebody had suggested. The pricepoint just didn't make enough sense - we don't intend to have chicks every year so we may only use the brooder setup this year and not again for a few years until these hens begin to slow down on laying.

The chicks again are:
2x Light Brahmas
1x Gold Laced Wyandotte
1x Spotted Sussex
1x Cuckoo Maran

After taking this pic, I added a small cardboard box in the back corner turn side ways so the chicks go easily go in and out to get some shade. they seem to use it for naps. It stays warm still under the thin cardboard. I intend to build a bigger brooder from some scrap wood I have piled up in the garage. Likely going to build it to be 2'x4'x1.5'. It will sit on my workbench in the garage (off the cool concrete floor and easy access to the outlets and shop lights for when I'm access the brooder). Thinking about using peg board for the back and sides, plywood for the bottom, and wood slats and hardware cloth for the front and top. I'm trying to be sure I provide plenty of space and air circulation, while keeping an eye on the temp. We opted to use an indoor/outdoor thermometer that has a sensor I put in the brooder and a hand-held remote monitor I can keep in the house to keep an eye on the temp. It was $9.99 at Farm & Fleet.
Going to stick with paper towel/newspaper on the brooder floor topped with aspen shavings - I read a lot about pine shavings but have the aspen on hand since our pet hedgehog passed away a few months ago. Any reason not to use it? It doesn't seem to put of fumes/odors and is pretty low on dust. I might add some sand. Somebody on here mentioned that the other day and I liked the idea. Thinking about raising the water a bit - maybe just a wire baking rack under it in case the chicks spill any water - I don't want them slipping or getting wet (cold). Started them off on a medicated chick food since they came from the store and a hatchery before that - who knows what they were exposed to and what the conditions were like (cramped I'm sure). Going to switch to the non-medicated once this 5lb bag is gone- what food do you use?
I was thinking about adding something with the new coop to keep the chicks from getting board. Any ideas? I fear a board chick could turn into a little bully and start pecking another chick.

 

[Justso]

I could... I am afraid of it getting too warm in the summer though if the greenhouse ventilation were to fail. The current idea is to have the coop attached to the back wall of the greenhouse. sharing a wall would provide some added warmth in the winter as the greenhouse warms by trapping energy from the sun and some of that heat energy would transfer through the 3/4" wood wall that the coop would be built up against. I definitely could put the coop in the greenhouse though in a corner and add a door on the outside. The greenhouse is 18'x8'. I'm likely only going to have a 4-5' coop similar in size to a large breed dog house.

My neighbors got out of chickens and are looking to get rid of their quirky coop. It's about the size of a small dog house . I'll PM you, we're in Naperville

 

[Faraday40]

To prep for the new Easter chicks on their way, I sold all of my last chicks except 1 Dom & 1 orp. (I probably should have kept 2 Doms + 0 orps, but I have a serious orp addiction. It's not like I even have room for her, but I really want to see how she turns out.)

I think this blue orp looks female (because no comb, angular face, & much wing/tail feather growth)..... but the color is throwing me. It's a dark blue but may have a slight barring - unless my silver laced orp was the Daddy. Any guesses on what's going on?
(Note: the other "lighter blue" was looking like a mauve, and the black orps may have been getting lacing when sold. I asked the new owners to email me pics, so hopefully they will keep in touch.)

Here's the Dom we kept. They pretty much all looked the same, so I either hatched 5 males or 5 females.

The darker feathers, black wash on legs/beak, and longer wings should mean female.
The headspot & lighter chick down made me initially think male.
It's so much harder to sex one's own chicks!

Male or Female?

Since we got rid of all the extra chicks, I was able to move the mama back into the coop. The little family has a special little cage inside the run but can take field trips whenever they like to mingle with the flock.

 

[BReeder!]

We are using a jar waterer for now in the brooder (I upgraded the brooder and will share a pic in the next post). I have the chicken nipples or whatever they call them. I am going to setup a system using them as we build out the coop. I am wanting to ensure I can provide water all year round to the birds though. Has anybody had success using the nipple waterers in the winter? How do you stop them from freezing in the winter? I want to build it out right the first time and make it last.

 

[BReeder!]

Here's a pic of the upgraded chick brooder. It's built from materials I had laying around. it measures 4ftx2ftx1.5ft. We also swapped out the bulb for the heat lamp - we had a bright white one before and now are using an infrared heat lamp (I found one that was still 125 watts instead of 250 watts like I kept seeing for infrared lamps).

 

[Faraday40]

We are using a jar waterer for now in the brooder (I upgraded the brooder and will share a pic in the next post). I have the chicken nipples or whatever they call them. I am going to setup a system using them as we build out the coop. I am wanting to ensure I can provide water all year round to the birds though. Has anybody had success using the nipple waterers in the winter? How do you stop them from freezing in the winter? I want to build it out right the first time and make it last.

Yes. I have used chicken nipples for several years. In summer we have many waterers throughout the yard when free-ranging. In winter when the hose is shut off, we only use our 5 gal bucket with horiz chicken nipples. (The vertical ones are easier to find and fine until freezing - they they may freeze & leak - even when your bucket is liquid. The horiz style worked for us even when -20'F!!! Unlike the vertical ones, there's very little dripping as the chickens use them, so we said "good bye" to the skating pond under the chickens' waterer!)

I'll dig out my photo later (or take a new one). Basically, I bought a sort of tank heater (bird bath de-icer) that was safe for plastic buckets. Mine turns on only when water gets near freezing. Water is still cold (like 33-35'F) but liquid. I think it ran about $40 but it's 6 years old & still going. I simply place it inside the 5 gal bucket with the nipples and plug it. I carry out a gal of water daily to refill and as needed I unplug & bring the bucket inside for cleaning. Other people have come up with cheaper versions using a thermocube outlet &/or heater dog bowl or even heat tape.

I don't know the model number of mine (who knows if they still make it) but it looks very much like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovat...580586&sr=1-5&keywords=farm+innovators+deicer

 

[cavemanrich]

Here's a pic of the upgraded chick brooder. It's built from materials I had laying around. it measures 4ftx2ftx1.5ft. We also swapped out the bulb for the heat lamp - we had a bright white one before and now are using an infrared heat lamp (I found one that was still 125 watts instead of 250 watts like I kept seeing for infrared lamps).

Just curious, have you checked the temperature on the brooder floor below the lamp with a thermometer? Also, you should keep lowering the temp by 5 degrees each week.
Here is an option for winter water. It is for adult chickens, which yours will be by winter 2018. Baby chicks still need surface access water.

 

[Faraday40]

Here's a quick pic from 2013 or 14 when we switched to horizontal nipples.
I simply hang the bucket using a piece of chain so I can adjust the height in seconds. (Comes in handy when chicks are present. Also we now have a brick step on one side for my bantam.)