I'm at the end of my rope - HAPPY UPDATE!

[technodoll]

At some point I'll stop feeling overwhelmed... Is it April yet?

Adding to all this stress are the chicks scheduled to hatch in 3 days - we'll hopefully get between one and four, not sure yet. I've never even been NEAR a baby chick before and have NO idea what to do, what they need, nothing.

I'm hoping that if I put out chick starter food and fresh filtered water with poly-vi-sol that mama silkie will take care of the rest... They're in a big wire dog crate in a floor-heated bathroom, i'll put newspapers and wood shavings on the crate's plastic floor... oh please lordy just let them be healthy, that is all!

 

[technodoll]

I think we have the coop humidity issue under control now!

Bought a small desk fan, husband cut out a hole in the coop's west wall with the reciprocal saw (it leads to a storage area so NO wind gusts to penetrate the coop) and put the fan in the opening, facing outwards.

Secured the open spacing with pink insulation and chicken wire, plugged the fan in and now the warm humid air is being sucked out of the coop - humidity is already down to 88% in less than two hours, I am THRILLED!

We have two heat lamps going on (175W and 250W) to help with air flow but will most likely only keep one running once the humidity is down to an acceptable level.

i hope it works, i hope it works!

Cost us $16 for a fan and that was IT!

 

[Amethyste]

Just keep a close eye on the fan for chicken dust buildup!

Grats on the lower humidity tho!!!

 

[technodoll]

I had the fan on *inside* the coop the past 24 hours (i know, stupid... but i didn't have tools for the wall hole yet) and had to blow out some coop dust from the fan casing and blades but it wasn't that bad. it's a small, lightweight plastic unit with heat surge protection, if the motor gets hot it will stop functioning. At least that's what it says.

I will make sure to clean it twice a day, am paranoid that way!

 

[Kittymomma]

Glad things are starting to go better for you.

 

[tdgill]

yayy!

 

[JestersEye]

Glad to hear things are improving for you!

 

[lngrid]

Congrats on getting the humidity down, technodoll! Hopefully that'll do the trick for your coop.

Maybe this is cracked, but I had an idea about the chicken smell. When you have your house actively listed for sale, what if you pick up a bunch of ratty old towels at a thrift store and put one in the bottom of each cage? Would it work to swap out the towels several time a day, tossing the dirty ones in the washer to wash with bleach? When prospective buyers are on their way over to your house, you could put in fresh towels and move the cage to the garage for the visit. Would that help with the smell?

 

[technodoll]

That's a good idea, thanks!

I love how BYC'ers are always so helpful, I'd be lost without you guys!

 

[lngrid]

You are such a trooper, Technodoll. I think of you often and send positive prayers your way. Now I'm sending "toasty, cozy, DRY coop" vibes. Please keep us updated, even if you're feeling overwhelmed. Spring will eventually come and your rescue friends will eventually get better.

Ooo... I just realized.

Tomorrow is the winter solstice! After tomorrow, the days start getting longer!!! The weather will get colder. The snow will get deeper. BUT SPRING IS ON IT'S WAY and nothing can stop it! Yay, winter solstice!