INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[CluckAcres]

ok if I don't use the pallets where can I get cheep wood

I use pallets all the time. I have never had a problem that i know of.

 

[bradselig]

4 silkies out, one died in shell after external pip. I checked it out and wasn't shrink wrapped. I guess just to weak to survive? Candled the rest of the eggs in there and one was a late quitter, the remaining six were early quitters that I put in hatcher just to make sure since I am still new to candling. So out of 11 eggs, 4 hatched. While I'd like it to be higher, can't really complain with shipped eggs. I got 2 buffs, a silver partridge, and a cuckoo! I need to double check chick colors of the silver and cuckoo as the chicks look identical. These are in the brooder in bathroom and my first batch of chicks are now in a brooder in the garage. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

The remaining 5 in the other hatcher has its first pip today! Hoping for a much higher hatch rate as at least 4 of the 5 were moving in the shell when I moved into hatcher. These are black and white silkie.

On a sad note, I had to cull a chick for the first time today. The birchen Marans that had the leg issue. While he was growing nicely, the extra weight on his legs were making the foot turn inwards even more. He wasn't able to walk very well. I didn't want him to suffer.

 

[Kiniska]

I use pallets all the time. I have never had a problem that i know of.

Sometimes there is not an issue. It is just a personal choice not to use them. Many of the chemicals they are exposed to are questionable. I prefer not to take the chance.

 

[Kiniska]

ok if I don't use the pallets where can I get cheep wood

I do have a suggestion that may make using pallets safer. Paint them with a good outdoor primer and paint. That may seal them up enough to keep any toxins from getting into your soil or effecting the chickens.

 

[Kiniska]

4 silkies out, one died in shell after external pip. I checked it out and wasn't shrink wrapped. I guess just to weak to survive? Candled the rest of the eggs in there and one was a late quitter, the remaining six were early quitters that I put in hatcher just to make sure since I am still new to candling. So out of 11 eggs, 4 hatched. While I'd like it to be higher, can't really complain with shipped eggs. I got 2 buffs, a silver partridge, and a cuckoo! I need to double check chick colors of the silver and cuckoo as the chicks look identical. These are in the brooder in bathroom and my first batch of chicks are now in a brooder in the garage. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

The remaining 5 in the other hatcher has its first pip today! Hoping for a much higher hatch rate as at least 4 of the 5 were moving in the shell when I moved into hatcher. These are black and white silkie.

On a sad note, I had to cull a chick for the first time today. The birchen Marans that had the leg issue. While he was growing nicely, the extra weight on his legs were making the foot turn inwards even more. He wasn't able to walk very well. I didn't want him to suffer.

So sorry you had to cull a little one. That is never a happy time. (Hugs)

 

[animallover2202]

I llive inbuck creek so I guess subdivision and I think we have paint for the pallets

 

[CluckAcres]

I do have a suggestion that may make using pallets safer. Paint them with a good outdoor primer and paint. That may seal them up enough to keep any toxins from getting into your soil or effecting the chickens.

Thats what i do. Stain and seal. Or just seal depends.

 

[animallover2202]

i have an idea but idk if it will work lol i have 2 medium sized wired dog cages with trays in them what if i take the trays out and put a couple chickens in them and bring it to a section of the grass and make that a chicken tractor for now lol i could also do that when i build the coop.

where can i get cheep plywood?

 

[Too Fast]

Forgive me if this is long winded, just hang in there. There is more than one problem with using pallet wood for projects. First most of it is treated at the pallet manufacturer so that it is bug and mold resistant. Pallets are used over and over. So just because it is used for human food today does not mean that it was last week. If you look at a loaded pallet there is often a thin sheet of plastic between it and the load it carries. There is a good reason why a barrier is needed. Ultimately you need to decide. Personally I would not put all the time and effort into making a coop and use pallet wood in the off chance there might be problems. Especially since I eat my chickens and their eggs. If they are exposed to questionable chemicals that means my family and I will be too.
One last thing. You cannot disinfect wood because it is porous. I work in a sterile laboratory and we do not allow wood, cardboard, or styrofoam into our facility because there is no sure way to sterilize or completely clean it. Not even an autoclave can effectively sterilize wood.

Many many people have used pallets for construction. I am also, and am not the least bit worried. The pallets I am using are for structure only, they will be covered many ways before our girls go in. Pallets are a very easy way to make walls, then cover them inside and out, and also the floor.

What about eating eggs or meat birds who are subjected to living/pecking/eating in their own poop? How sanitary is that? Yeah it's different then treated wood, no chemicals, but still gross.

 

[bradselig]

Unfortunately no plywood is cheap right now in stores. OSB is currently at around $14 sheet the last checked. Several months ago it was less than $8 per sheet. 1/2" thick plywood is around $14.50 for the cheapest quality when I last bought it a month or two ago.

Check Craigslist or a habitat for humanity restore store if you have one in your area