INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[kabhyper1]

I do roof ventilation, at the peaks and make sure there is no openings at the floor area during the winter.
Thats how a draft occurs from what I understand, if theress opening at the bottom.
I have wall vents that I can open with hardware cloth covering if its hot out also.

jchny~ I love your posts-- they're like reading a storybook! I find myself enthralled with your descriptions of your creatures and their behavior.

There are so many dumped off here, its horrible.

"hey its a farm they need our dog or cat" Any that are I neuter and have vaccinated IF I can catch them.
They do NOT come into the house due to my mom/dads health. After being in animal control the numbers are just depressing to see!
everyone please have your pet fixed if you are not breeding a dog or cat for a purpose. there is so many euthanized its just sickening.
Many of the cats I try to save do not last long. we have too many predators, cats are domestic and not prepared to deal with it.
Most of the dogs are boys, not fixed and aggressive. I have had stray cows and goats too, just depressing.

I hadn't thought about all of the wildlife predators that would snatch a cat, especially if they had a family to feed. It makes me sick to see the daily list of free cats and dogs on craigslist even though they're not supposed to post free animals.

kabhyper~ To me, a draft is at floor level. In the winter, I put plastic around the bottom 2/3 section of the coop/run, but leave the top 1/3 open for ventilation. I also leave the inside door to the coop open year-round for circulation. I don't know if my way is the best way, but it seems to work fine.
gunchief~ Your friendly Cockadoodledoo posts are always nice to see!

I do roof ventilation, at the peaks and make sure there is no openings at the floor area during the winter.
Thats how a draft occurs from what I understand, if theress opening at the bottom.
I have wall vents that I can open with hardware cloth covering if its hot out also.

Pretty girls! My wyandottes sometimes do that too as youngsters. I have learned to gently, but firmly bump the chest letting them know its not ok.

If you clean it well with bleach, allow to air dry, in the sun if possible, it won't mildew.
Works great! convenient and keeps insects out.
I had a chest type for years that I stored my dog/cat food in at the animal shelter.
My storage room was not heated there.

Thanks for the info! No floor drafts. Now I have something to go on for winter. My girls try try to bite me through my tennis shoes, but it doesn't hurt so I just bump them back, but the pinch through the jeans hurts! Even my roosters are looking at them funny. I'm pretty sure they are telling them to go take a Midol.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

AmLambson~ When I looked up info, it turned out that being an avian vet is actually a vet who has taken a special avian course.

Becoming an Avian vet does require special training as I imagiene any major or focus would.

 

[kabhyper1]

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That's why I hope more vet students look into camelids as a specialty. It is really hard to find a vet for Alpacas.

 

[Mother2Hens]

Re Leg injuries

kabhyper posted: Last spring I had a little cochin that tried to rrun through fence and hurt his leg, I wasn't sure if it was that or marecks and freaked. Every day, a couples times a day, I would fill the kitchen sink with warm water and hold him in it and move his leg around, (it was curled and he wouldn't use it) I upped his protein with some scrambled eggs, put chick saver and vitamins in his water and just exercised him in the sink. He was in his own brooder and it took about 3 weeks, but he recovered.

For Violet, my vet suggested "physical therapy" in an warm epsom salts bath. I used a 28 qt. plastic storage box 28 x 16" x 6" deep.
kabhyper~ I've described my RIR behavior modification program before, so bear with me if you've heard it . . . When my infamous floppy-combed RIR Nene was a pullet and I would pick her up and put her back down, she would fluff out her feathers and then peck me. If I sat down on a step, she'd walk around behind me a give me a big peck on the back. So, when I would pick her up and put her down, I'd give her a blueberry immediately. If she pecked me when I put her down, she wouldn't get one and I'd pick her back up again and then put her back down. It did not take long at all for her to learn. When the orps recently joined the five mean hens in the coop, Nene would walk up the steps and immediately go over and start pecking them and I'd grab her and put her up on her perch spot. The next two nights when Nene walked up, I put her up on her perch. After that she began going directly to her perch because she didn't like me manually putting her up there.
Next, I am going to teach her to play the piano:

I've posted this first pic before, but it captures Nene's crazy personality.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Quote:
That's why I hope more vet students look into camelids as a specialty. It is really hard to find a vet for Alpacas.

i havent ever heard of camelids. I bet it is hard to find a vet for them. There needs to be more specialized vets

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

[COLOR=800000]Re Leg injuries[/COLOR] kabhyper posted: [COLOR=333333]Last spring I had a little cochin that tried to rrun through fence and hurt his leg, I wasn't sure if it was that or marecks and freaked. Every day, a couples times a day, I would fill the kitchen sink with warm water and hold him in it and move his leg around, (it was curled and he wouldn't use it) I upped his protein with some scrambled eggs, put chick saver and vitamins in his water and just exercised him in the sink. He was in his own brooder and it took about 3 weeks, but he recovered.[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]For Violet, my vet suggested "physical therapy" in an warm epsom salts bath. I used a 28 qt. plastic storage box 28 x 16" x 6" deep.[/COLOR] [rule][COLOR=008080]kabhyper~[/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]I've described my RIR behavior modification program before, so bear with me if you've heard it . . . When my infamous floppy-combed RIR Nene was a pullet and I would pick her up and put her back down, she would fluff out her feathers and then peck me. If I sat down on a step, she'd walk around behind me a give me a big peck on the back. So, when I would pick her up and put her down, I'd give her a blueberry immediately. If she pecked me when I put her down, she wouldn't get one and I'd pick her back up again and then put her back down. It did not take long at all for her to learn. When the orps recently joined the five mean hens in the coop, Nene would walk up the steps and immediately go over and start pecking them and I'd grab her and put her up on her perch spot. The next two nights when Nene walked up, I put her up on her perch. After that she began going directly to her perch because she didn't like me manually putting her up there. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]Next, I am going to teach her to play the piano:[/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]I've posted this first pic before, but it captures Nene's crazy personality.[/COLOR]

i love thefirst photo of nene! i think with some tome and dedication you could teach her how to play the piano

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Okay so I am trying to figure out the difference between ventilated and not causing a draft. Our coop has two windows in the front and the corrugated roof is open at the "humps" of the roofing. I usually crack the far window away from the chickens roosts for ventilation, but I'm afraid it's either not enough or will cause drafts. Based on these pictures, could anyone suggest something different we could do, or let me know if just cracking the window this winter would be fine. Thanks!
Inside the coop



the silkie coop has an open window in the door in the picture that I hope will be okay for ventilation this winter, since it is under the run.

This reminded me of an article I read awhile back in Backyard Poultry by Harvey Ussery. I remembered the picture of his chicken coop & his stating that the doors remained open pretty much constantly all winter long. Here's the article (if I copied the link right!) http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/6-5/preparing_the_flock_for_winter/

 

[Mother2Hens]

i love the first photo of nene! i think with some time and dedication you could teach her how to play the piano

Haha! I just might look on eBay for a cute little chicken-sized piano! Now that I have an empty nest, I have more time for a new hobby

My daughter who is studying animal behavior at IU recently told me that chickens can be trained to play the piano. So, I guess it's not a crazy idea-- it's educational!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

no kidding! My favorite roos ( Bruce, my Australorp and my mutt barred boys) never peck me. Almost every one of the wyandottes will until they mature.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:

too CUTE!