I'm going on an adventure!

[RoseHawke]

I will definitely take your suggestions under advisement . At the moment I'm thinking of two 14x24" windows on the run (north) side, with two 14x24" windows on the south side with home-built awnings. Ventilation strips on the soffits, and if I can, a ridge vent of some description. If I can't get the ridge in, then an HC screened opening up under the peak on either end. Insulation is not in the budget, but we thought we would at least put a radiant barrier attached to the rafters.

I'm going to need to put up some sort of paneling on the interior to keep literal crap out from the bays between the studs. At the moment I'm thinking just 1/4" OSB. It's the cheapest at around $15 a sheet (I'll need 8-9 sheets,) and at least light-ish in weight. Plus, it looks at least okay once painted. I'll hang those with screws rather than nails I think so that if we, or whoever might have the property after us, want to put insulation in the building it won't be too terribly difficult to remove. Nails are a pain.

Pop door probably centered on the south side; I'm leaning toward the Omlet door at the moment even though it's so bloody expensive. After reviewing a guillotine style door for Amazon Vine, I've really been put off those and don't think I would ever use one.

Two 8' roosts on the blank west wall with a poop tray. The otherwise dead space under the roosts I'm thinking about screening in as a/an convalescent/broody/whatever cage(s). I haven't decided about where would be best to put the laying boxes yet and I'm definitely open to suggestions on that.

 

[RoseHawke]

Amber has been under the weather for the last day or two. I noticed yesterday morning that she wasn't first out of the coop as usual, and when she did emerge, instead of heading for the feed like she hadn't eaten for a week, went to the water and drank a copious amount. I could just tell she was "off". After observing for a day or so, she's not really eating that I can see either. Caught her up and examined her this morning; no impacted crop, no sour crop that I can tell, still laying (got 4 eggs from 4 hens yesterday,) so is not that I can feel egg-bound. I don't know about poop although she does have a bit stuck below her vent that's dark in color. She's just coming on 6 months which is a bit old for coccidiosis but not out of the question. I've put electrolytes in the run waterer, although I may separate her today so I can monitor her more closely and at least tell how and what she's pooping.

I don't like the color of her comb; it's showing purplish points.

I've heard it said of sheep - "An animal looking for the fastest way to die." I'm beginning to think chickens are in the same category.

 

[Folly's place]

Add another waterer without additives, some birds won't drink 'adulterated' water at all.
Having a fecal checked would be a good idea, otherwise 'who knows', chickens don't act sick until very late in the game...
Mary

 

[RoseHawke]

She went into Pip and Helena's run on her own, so I just shut her in there with a chick waterer and feeder (if given the choice, even now, the "Big Girls" will use the chick feeder/waterer for preference.) Good info on the treated water. I'll change it out when I go back out.

 

[RoseHawke]

... chickens don't act sick until very late in the game...

Yep. Flock animals. I like to think I know when something's "off" with my animals, even if they're not overt in their behavior. But even with that little bit of intuition, who knows how long they've actually been ill.