INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[bradselig]

I would use a dog house.

I found someone that said they can build me a 4x6 coop for 160...

2 of them could house 10-12 birds! I dont think you could make them that cheap!

 

[LonelyPageTurne]

2 of them could house 10-12 birds! I dont think you could make them that cheap!

That's what I was thinking too. I would need to pick them up, put hardware fabric in the windows and paint them. Still, not bad.

 

[bradselig]

Check with Lowes on fencing. They are switchibg brands so 2x4 welded fence, hardware cloth, and chicken wire may be on clearance!

 

[Leahs Mom]

@bradselig

Where are your chicken camp photos...been skimming through the gallery and can't find them

Wanted to see how you secure those.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Moved the chicks out to the coop yesterday after work - figured this stretch of beautiful weather was a good time for them to make the change - they're 5 weeks and had pretty much outgrown the brooder, so it was time. Spent the night worried about my "babies" - and was very relieved to go out this morning and find 16 bright, happy chicken faces greeting me - they think they are in chicky heaven, lol. If they only knew it gets even better - we *should* get the run done this weekend and then their world gets even bigger and better.
Speaking of the run - have decided to do a hoop run - seems like something the kids and I can handle (if DH lets us - something tells me the moment I reach for one of his tools he'll be out there doing it for me --- not that that's entirely a bad thing, lol). Figure this is a good place to get some feedback on how they hold up in our climate. Anyone use hoop houses/runs? Any major changes you've made to the basic plan to accommodate our area? I know one thing I'll be doing is running a couple of hot wires around out around it because the run will be in the pasture and our horses are horrible about using anything that holds still as a leaning post or butt scratcher - so I figure a t post at each corner and a couple in the middle with a wire low and one about horse chest high will keep them at bay and add a layer of deterrence against the neighborhood dogs/other pests.....figure with the posts there anyway I might as well use them to give me anchors for the run too (because DH is convinced it will blow over - no convincing him otherwise).

 

[bradselig]

@bradselig


Where are your chicken camp photos...been skimming through the gallery and can't find them   Wanted to see how you secure those.

Well.......it wont do you any good looking for the pics! Honestly my setup is not very predator proof! But to secure the dog houses you could easily attach a door on the front that hinges and locks. Typicalky one side of the roof is hinged and you could add a latch there to lock it down. All of these ive yet to do. I know im a terrible chicken owner!

 

[iamfivewire]

Check with Lowes on fencing. They are switchibg brands so 2x4 welded fence, hardware cloth, and chicken wire may be on clearance!

is that just a local deal or corporate wide - maybe i can find some clearance on the hardware cloth rolls in Lansing, MI ?

 

[bradselig]

is that just a local deal or corporate wide - maybe i can find some clearance on the hardware cloth rolls in Lansing, MI ?

im at lunch now but will try to find out when I get back

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Ideas Needed.

For a quick, 2 - 3 chicken, predator secure sleeping "house/box" that they can be locked into at night only. For temporary use. Needs to be movable. Cheap. Re-purposed.

We made a small plywood lean too style dog house when we thought were were keeping 2 puppies. We then converted it to the duck house when we had only 2 ducks. The converting took very little time. 2 small jailhouse window vents and a cover for the door opening. The door cover has since been removed as it made the roof harder to open and the house is in a covered run.
My vote is for converting an used dog house or building a plywood tiny coop.

Quote: my lowes will lower their clearance prices depending on who is working if I buy the rest of the stock.

 

[lilmizscareall]

As chicken owners, so we ever actually catch a break?
Dita is limping. Here are photos of the bottom of her feet and a video of her walk.

The video...


I checked her over and feel that I was pretty thorough. I must have gone through her feathers several times looking for wounds or discoloration. Nothing, nada, zilch. She has not laid yet today. I first noticed her strange walk yesterday. She did lay a very nice egg in the afternoon.
Any thoughts?