INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[ChickCrazed]

That's pretty much what we have too, but I wish we had the steel door. I'll have to look into that. LOVE the automatic door. It would save so many "did you close the chicken door" moments or trying to get them back in if we won't be home in time. Do you know what brand you have? Is it solar powered or electric?

I got the Ador1

http://adorstore.com/products/ador1-automatic-chicken-door

It runs off a lantern battery, so no electric. It was SUPER easy to install, and the only time it didn't open/close was when it got iced over (which I can't really blame the manufacturer for). The lantern batteries are cheap. I'll probably replace the battery once this summer, and I replaced it every couple months in the winter because I figured the cold weather would drain the battery and I didn't want to worry about it. There are cheaper doors out there that run on timers, but I like that this one automatically senses the light so it automatically stays open later as the days get longer. It also averages the light for a 5 minute span, so headlights or a flashlight hitting it won't open it. The chickens are clamoring to be let out in the morning, so it opens a few minutes later than ideal, but it stays open for PLENTY long at night, they are always in well before it closes itself.

 

[chick rookie]

Sorry about the racoon attack : -(

thanks

 

[CRSelvey]

I got the Ador1

http://adorstore.com/products/ador1-automatic-chicken-door

It runs off a lantern battery, so no electric. It was SUPER easy to install, and the only time it didn't open/close was when it got iced over (which I can't really blame the manufacturer for). The lantern batteries are cheap. I'll probably replace the battery once this summer, and I replaced it every couple months in the winter because I figured the cold weather would drain the battery and I didn't want to worry about it. There are cheaper doors out there that run on timers, but I like that this one automatically senses the light so it automatically stays open later as the days get longer. It also averages the light for a 5 minute span, so headlights or a flashlight hitting it won't open it. The chickens are clamoring to be let out in the morning, so it opens a few minutes later than ideal, but it stays open for PLENTY long at night, they are always in well before it closes itself.

That is so great! I'm going to measure my opening in the morning. Thank you for sharing.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: ebay netting, I'm not sure it is raccoon proof but it keeps out hawks and owls. There is a 50 x 10 and you could make a 2 ft covered part of the run or there is larger net. I would get the larger 50 ft net and trim the extra off. There are all kinds of uses for the netting scraps. WE use ours to section off areas of the coop when needed or cover brooders.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Anti-Bi...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item20d270a7d8

Quote: We have an ador too. works great.

 

[minmin1258]

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Ok here's what I came up with:
1st picture is fabric I have on hand for summer aprons. (Cotton or cotton poly)
2nd is fabric for cold weather ( flannel and baby fleece)
3rd is Warm weather Aprons (including one with lace for the discriminating hen) also bantam size.
4th is Cold weather Apron of baby fleece with cotton batting and flannel lined.
What do you think?

 

[minmin1258]

All the pics didn't

show here are summer ones the above is cold weather.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Those look great. Since you are willing to ship, I would start a buy sell trade thread to reach a larger set of buyers. From there if you want to grow even more there are lots off craft selling sites like etsy.
Something to consider would be the male chicken owners. Sure the hens are girls, but I'm thinking there must be a guy out there that would want a jean fabric or a sports team fabric or even just a sports themed fabric like basketballs and hoops or baseballs and bats.

 

[ChickCrazed]

All the pics didn't show here are summer ones the above is cold weather.

Love them! If my hens get run down I will be coming to you! Right now my roo is afraid of all of my hens after getting beat up by my tiny EE!

 

[minmin1258]

Well I went out and put a tarp over my coop roof and made sure it stuck out in the back and front and on both sides just enough to let the water drain off and not in!!! I know that don't help the mold problem,but best I can do till I get more lumber, then I will try and replace the bad wood, I don't think it will be too hard, at least I hope not anyway. As far as fixing the roof so it don't happen again... will have to wait on DH to get well before that happens. Will just keep the tarp up till then. Dh is feeling helpless and I told him that it will all be there for him to fix ( plus my mess ups lol ) when he gets back on his feet again. don't think that helped, Think he is slipping into a depression, He believes I shouldn't HAVE to do all the stuff I have been doing, that it is his JOB and he has let me down. Hope he heals fast. RK chicks I got the other day that were injured: Lost one and one is not healing and I caught the 2 that have healed picking at the one that hasn't. So I come up with a way to keep her away from the others until she heals, I don't like it but have no ideal how else to do it. she don't have a whole lot of room but she has water feed and heat and DH put some pep holes so she can see the other chicks. and you cant tell from the pick but it is a 1x2 area in the big cage brooder. and I had to make a feeder and a water cause I now have 3 brooders going. They are made out of coffee cans, you just have to make sure they are shaved down smooth so you don't have any injuries. top one is water the 2nd is feed. they work great, keeping the shavings out while letting the chicks in... I know this is long but just have to show ya what silly thing they did this morning... lol trying to dust in her grit ... lol dusting in the pine... lol got a question I have some climbing wood for snakes, it has never been used, would it be ok to put in with the youngest for them to play on? They climb on everything they can find and jump around like jumping beans...lol

I love the coffee can feeder but I'd worry about the bitties drowning in the water can. The snake wood is a fab idea!!! I learn so much from ya!!!

 

[minmin1258]

O

 
That's pretty much what we have too, but I wish we had the steel door. I'll have to look into that.  LOVE the automatic door.  It would save so many "did you close the chicken door" moments or trying to get them back in if we won't be home in time.  Do you know what brand you have?  Is it solar powered or electric?

I got the Ador1

http://adorstore.com/products/ador1-automatic-chicken-door

It runs off a lantern battery, so no electric.  It was SUPER easy to install, and the only time it didn't open/close was when it got iced over (which I can't really blame the manufacturer for).  The lantern batteries are cheap.  I'll probably replace the battery once this summer, and I replaced it every couple months in the winter because I figured the cold weather would drain the battery and I didn't want to worry about it. There are cheaper doors out there that run on timers, but I like that this one automatically senses the light so it automatically stays open later as the days get longer.  It also averages the light for a 5 minute span, so headlights or a flashlight hitting it won't open it.  The chickens are clamoring to be let out in the morning, so it opens a few minutes later than ideal, but it stays open for PLENTY long at night, they are always in well before it closes itself.

Ok you just gave me something else to make "the old man" freak about!!! Lol that door is going to be purchased within the next 2months!!! Love it!!