Kentucky people

[shelleyd2008]

The only problem I can see with the brooder box is that most bantam chicks can fly at a week old! You will open the door one day, and have a flood of babies come flying out!!!

As far as putting the heat light in the center, just remember you are supposed to lower the temp on the chicks every week. might want to put one over the brooder, and another over the 'too big for the brooder, too small for the juvies' cage. But if you have the whole building heated, you could just set up the heater so the warmest parts are closest to the younger ones. After 6 weeks, they really only need enough to keep the chill out on really cold nights! They can pretty much keep themselves warm. Nugget was out of her brooder by 4 weeks old, and free ranging with the big birds! Of course, it was like late July/ early August, but she would still have liked the heat. The OEGB crele cockerel would let her snuggle with him at night. She would tuck herself up under his wing! So cute!!

 

[cthrash1]

Quote:

happy anniversary early (cause I'll probably forget by then - heck, I forgot my own anniversary

)

I had thought about doing a real wedding once - like for our 25th or something, maybe a ren faire type thingy - fun costumes and the whole bit. But, shoot, it's too much expense and work.

Peace -
Meri

Well, thanks early in caseI forget too...

 

[shelleyd2008]

If you had pens stacked on top of each other, then you could use an empty one for storage, or devote one specifically for storage, and that would clear your entry way. How tall is this building gonna be? Tall enough for you to walk into I suppose? Chicks wouldn't need that much height, so why waste it? Tell hubby it would be more ecenomical. All those warm bodies in there would help keep the building warmer!

 

[cthrash1]

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I think you should put hatches in the 4x6 and 4x4 cages on the long wall and have a 4x6 and 4x4 covered runs for them too or maybe 6x6 and 4x6 runs. That way it will have multiple uses for winter and summer.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Well, I could put a caged lid on top of it, so it is open but keeps them inside.

I figure a heat lamp over each brooder box, and one in each cage. I hang them from the ceiling, so I can adjust the chain to raise and lower.

The cages would be mostly for growing them untilt hey can join the bigger birds without being beaten up. Or for themeatie babies to grow out to size.

I changed the pic above, check it out.

meri

 

[cthrash1]

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I like this one better but still need the hatches and runs.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Might be able to do a run - but then, they won't really be staying in there long, and my main concern is brooding in winter and keeping it warm.

By the time I'd want them out all day, they could go in with the bigger chickens, probably - or be going to auction, whichever happens with them.

With the new coop (the breeder coop) I plan (next spring) to put banties down there in the center cell, and move cochins and spitz up into the main coop. the two end cells will hold George and his girls, and the meaty breeders.

eta - btw, I plan to downsize some of the banties (the oegb)

hhmmmm......
meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Problem with cages stacked is the heat lamps - how would I put a heat lamp on each cage?

I suppose I could have cages on a shelf, and storage underneath.

Building will be about 8 foot tall at most.

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Bummer - I'm sorry

See ya tomorrow

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Ok, one more try....

this one is 8' x 8' like the other cells - so smaller than the original plans. It would be enclosed, but have two small cages within - one for "bigger than brooder box", and one for "get to go outside sometimes" - which would open to the outside, of course.

This one would be easier to do and more do-able timewise - less complex.

I really kind of like this one, too.

Inside the cages I could have shelves and perches for them to explore dif levels and get up and over each other, etc....

Meri