Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[mrandmrschicken]

My Dellie K is about 1/4 his size! But just as handsome!

 

[karimw]

I love the Bantam Dellies

I don't know if my boy is a good example of the breed or not. I rather thought not, but I kept him in case I decided to play with his Columbian gene.

 

[ottbjumper06]

I'm starting to get cabin fever really badly over here- I learned today that I not only get to build a small addition onto my existing 16x24 coop, I also get to rennovate our large grainery into a coop as well!
It's like Christmas day all over again... deciding what to do with the space is so fun.
So now I have to ask: out of all the coops that you've all built, what are things you're glad you did or wish you'd done? right now my list consists of insulation, water access, and outlets. Do any of you have something to add?
I feel this might also be a good discussion topic on our website forum for newbies to study...

 

[karimw]

Wow, you are one lucky girl! What will you do with all those chickens? I am always reorganizing my coops depending on population. Be sure to plan space for growing out your youngsters and have a good sized pen with lots of hiding places to put your young cockerels. That's probably my biggest challenge.

 

[ottbjumper06]

Wow, you are one lucky girl! What will you do with all those chickens? I am always reorganizing my coops depending on population. Be sure to plan space for growing out your youngsters and have a good sized pen with lots of hiding places to put your young cockerels. That's probably my biggest challenge.

Haha, yes I am. I'm sure I'll find a way to fill it up

. Mom wants 25-50 broiler chickens this year so that would be a lot of it. It's also an excuse to get a couple porcelain and partridge Silkies as well, LOL.

I almost forgot about having multiple grow out pens. Last year when I tried to have 6 week olds and 4 month olds in the same pen it didn't work too well

.

Let's talk brooders. I'd like to be able to have no chickens in the house when the house project and coop rennos are done, so that means I would want day olds outside as well. I have a couple plans drawn up, but would someone mind posting what they use for brooding?

And quarantine: When I bring in new birds, how far away should I put them from the rest of the flock? My dad said I'm the definition of chicken math, so I need to factor that in as well

. I have a horse barn and a hay barn at my disposal. This whole country living thing can be mighty convenient!

 

[karimw]

Those broilers won't be there very long, so you can certainly use that space for other things. Will you be butchering too?

 

[karimw]

One thing I am going to change in my coop when I refinish it is to add good windows. More light, more ventilation in the summer, with shutters I can close if it gets too cold.

 

[ottbjumper06]

That's a good idea. I'm not planning on butchering, I don't have the stomach for it.

 

[karimw]

I can do it, but it takes me for ever and it makes me sad. I have a guy that does chickens, ducks and turkeys not too far from me so I avoid it unless I have to.

 

[karimw]

Thought I'd show a picture of my little friend Scrappy. He is out of an Iowa Blue and a bantam lavender AM/OEG rooster. So cute and friendly and a real chatter box.