Illinois...

[BReeder!]

Our five girls are 5-6 weeks old. Still in the brooder because the temps are not steadily high enough. Turning the heat lamp of though sometime this week. They'll stay 60-70 degrees though because the garage is heated and that's where the brooder is located.
We took on a new project this weekend to make use of the chicken poop and bedding, which we still change weekly in the brooder. We built two compost tumblers from recycled food grade 55 gallon drums. I want to paint the drums black so they heat up from the sun better, but they are defintely functional already. I filled one halfway with yard waste, kitchen scraps, and chicken bedding and poop.

 

[Faraday40]

I love those composters! (Well I guess about as much as a person could love chicken poop.) Our composters are getting rather old & the plastic changed shape over the years. The door no longer latches properly, so we're afraid to give it a good spin. They're more of a poop holding area. We've been bagging & giving most of our poultry poop away.

 

[BReeder!]

I love those composters! (Well I guess about as much as a person could love chicken poop.) Our composters are getting rather old & the plastic changed shape over the years. The door no longer latches properly, so we're afraid to give it a good spin. They're more of a poop holding area. We've been bagging & giving most of our poultry poop away.

giving away poop? where are you located again? I would absolutely take some chicken poop for the compost!
As for the tumblers, thank you for the comments. They are sturdy for sure, but they are steel drums. I fear they'll eventually rust very badly, but hopefully the "food grade" coating on the inside and paint on the outside keeps the rust at bay for a few years. I was going to make a plastic one, but people want $20 for recycled plastic drums and I got these two for $7 each on Craigslist.

 

[cavemanrich]

Paint the drums any color that is pleasing to your view. The composting action will generate enough heat on its own. Paint will definitely extend the life against rust.

 

[BReeder!]

got the chicken coop nearly finished. I need to still install the locks and one more hinge as well as some paint. We only to to purchase the plywood and a few 2x3 boards. The foundation is blocks and timbers we had laying in a corner of the yard and I managed to scrounge through my scrap pile of lumber from various projects to get the other bits I needed along the way.

Here are some pics for you.

 

[Justso]

Here's info on another nearby swap meet for northern Illinois:
Walworth County Fur and Feather Swap April 14, 2018
Walworth County Fairgrounds
Hwy. 11 East
Elkhorn, WI
7A.M.-10A.M.
Facebook Page
Admission is $2, children under twelve free.
$5 to sell outside, $10 inside
The swap features a variety of small animals and pets including chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, peacocks, pheasants, rabbits, goats, caged birds and gerbils. Equipment and related items will also be sold.
State law requires all poultry except pigeons to be accompanied by health papers. Copies will be collected at the gate.
Buyers are encouraged to come early.
A lunch stand will be available on the grounds.
For more information, contact:
Dale Wheelock
262-882-3633
[email protected]
or
Bob Kretschmer
414-254-6853
[email protected]

 

[Justso]

And for Central Illinois:
Central Illinois Farm Swap Meet April 15, 2018
Sangamon County Fairgrounds
318 W. Birch Street
New Berlin, IL 62670
7am - Noon
(Come early, items sell out quickly)
Bring your farm-related items to sell. Come meet all your local farmers!
Central Illinois Farm Swap Meet Facebook Page
For more information, call:
(217) 553-2844

 

[Boymommabear]

Hey everyone. I am new here. First time posting in a forum. We are moving to the great lakes area, we aren't exactly sure where yet since we haven't bought a house. But I've been having trouble looking up what towns allow chickens and the laws there. Can I get some help? We are looking to buy in the Gurnee, Round lake, Antioch, Lindenhurst area.

 

[BReeder!]

rther

Hey everyone. I am new here. First time posting in a forum. We are moving to the great lakes area, we aren't exactly sure where yet since we haven't bought a house. But I've been having trouble looking up what towns allow chickens and the laws there. Can I get some help? We are looking to buy in the Gurnee, Round lake, Antioch, Lindenhurst area.

Those are north suburbs of Chicago. I'm in the southwest suburbs, so I'm not too familiar with those you mention. However, unincorporated areas of most suburbs seem to allow to have chickens. For my own township, I just googled "chickens in (township name)" and was able to pull up the municipal codes regarding chickens fairly easily. Whatever areas you like, just google search it.

 

[Justso]

Hey everyone. I am new here. First time posting in a forum. We are moving to the great lakes area, we aren't exactly sure where yet since we haven't bought a house. But I've been having trouble looking up what towns allow chickens and the laws there. Can I get some help? We are looking to buy in the Gurnee, Round lake, Antioch, Lindenhurst area.

Welcome and best of luck!
Keep us posted.