"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[LindaB220]

The wife and I are thinking about getting a few hens, we have an old barn that we are thinking about taking in a 7'x8' stall and making it into our coop. I have read about having plenty of ventilation for a coop and was wondering if being in a partially enclosed barn, if it would be ok to use something like 2x4 welded wire fabric to enclose the coop or if it needed to be more enclosed?

I'm up by Shreveport. I have mine in 2x4 wire but the bottom two feet really needs to be hardware cloth 1/2". Snakes and weasels can get in a 1" hole. I've lost 2 this year and each time it was in the coop. I'm just lucky that it was only one at a time.

 

[Ron Skekel]

Yeah, funny isn't it?   We do need each other.   They did a Cat scan and it was clear.   On talking with the Dr.  he found out that she is a light sleeper and has a loud snoring husband.   Once he wakes her at 1 or 2 am she can't go back to sleep.  Answer?....wait for it.......He's sleeping on the couch along with the big dog that snores.       Well, the dog isn't on the couch.  Golly, he weighs 110 lbs.   Seriously, the Dr said it was highly likely that lack of rest can assuredly bring on seizures.   Clint sleeps like the dead and when she comes back from dog grooming she just falls into bed and tries to nap.  He comes in and thinks she should be up during the daytime so he wakes her up by banging around.  Passive aggressive.  I'd personally kill him.    
I've been eating like crap for months and I was finally getting enough nerve to get on the scales again.  But the extra hard labor in the coop and stuff is helping and I've lost 50 lbs in the last 2 yrs.   Down to 215.   Think what I could do if I actually put my mind to dieting or eating a well balanced diet.  
Well, my oldest DD Jenny and her family are moving to Portland Oregon on Sat.  Jack is driving up with her and the kids and their clothes and taking a plane back.  He will deal with selling the house and all that.   On the outskirts of Austin, their house is a 2 story model that is one of the favorites and is priced right.  The real estate lady said houses in her neighborhood sell in about 3 weeks.  Hope so.   She said she will buy me a ticket to go see her in Feb or so.   I'm feeling so well that I think that I can do it.  I will make arrangements with the airline to get me to the changeover plane in Dallas.  

If lack of sleep causes seizures I'm suprized I haven had any. Light sleeper check, snoring husband check ,lay awake not able to go back to sleep check. Your chickens are making you healthy that's great.hope their drive is uneventful. Pam

 

[LindaB220]

I find the hens of both breeds to be very friendly and interactive as long as they are handled when young. The SFHs continued to want to be around us when they were older, but some of the Basque hens still even jump in my lap. As far as roosters - I did have one Basque roo who turned mean but I think it was because he was attacked by a dog. He was never quite right after that. Alternately my favorite roo is a Basque named Louis. He isn't properly colored for breeding so I have him as head of my layer flock. He is very alert and protective of his girls (lost sight in one eye defending them), but he still hops in my lap for a bit of affection. The SFH boys are gorgeous and I never had an aggressive one, but I haven't had one with a comparable personality. If anyone is considering these breeds and will be processing extra cockerels, the Basque cockerels usually fill out more quickly.
Perhaps one day she'll understand "Mama Tactics" herself!

I sure hope someone is able to determine what is causing the seizures. The unknown is scary.

I'm glad to know about the Basque vs SFH. I'm sure the SFH are prettier but I really want to go with the Basque. Thanks about my DD. Aimee is one of the strongest women I know. She has had incredible stress with the 2 businesses and her son AJ's mental health issues. She just hates not being in control.
I've been wanting to slug Clint for a while for being selfish. He's one of the kindest people in the world. Beloved by hundreds (ex-football coach) but he's so afraid that she will get tired of him or want somebody else that he's stalking her. Calls her 10 times a day and if she doesn't answer the phone he will call me to check on her to be sure she's okay. I'm 50' in back of the dog grooming shop and I'M supposed to go up and check on her. Likewise I'm 50' from my bedroom to hers and if she's home I'M supposed to still check? The other day he left for work and turned around and came back and snuck in the house because she didn't answer her phone. He was afraid she was on the phone to some man.

Are we talking paranoid here? He walks with a limp because of C. Palsy. And when they married 12 yrs ago she was 220 lbs. She had surgery and lost a ton of weight and now that she works so hard she is a trim 135. Her first marriage lasted 11 yrs and was a lot of arguing and sadness and she was so thrilled to meet a guy that was so kind. She'll never leave him. Or stray. But he's done this the whole time they've been together. But he puts up with my various bad traits and has never said a bad word to me. I'm happy here.

 

[Ron Skekel]

I'm glad to know about the Basque vs SFH.  I'm sure the SFH are prettier but I really want to go with the Basque.   Thanks about my DD.  Aimee is one of the strongest women I know.  She has had incredible stress with the 2 businesses and her son AJ's mental health issues.  She just hates not being in control.  
I've been wanting to slug Clint for a while for being selfish.  He's one of the kindest people in the world.  Beloved by hundreds (ex-football coach) but he's so afraid that she will get tired of him or want somebody else that he's stalking her.  Calls her 10 times a day and if she doesn't answer the phone he will call me to check on her to be sure she's okay.   I'm 50' in back of the dog grooming shop and I'M supposed to go up and check on her.  Likewise I'm 50' from my bedroom to hers and if she's home I'M supposed to still check?  The other day he left for work and turned around and came back and snuck in the house because she didn't answer her phone.  He was afraid she was on the phone to some man.     Are we talking paranoid here?   He walks with a limp because of C. Palsy.  And when they married 12 yrs ago she was 220 lbs.  She had surgery and lost a ton of weight and now that she works so hard she is a trim 135.    Her first marriage lasted 11 yrs and was a lot of arguing and sadness and she was so thrilled to meet a guy that was so kind.  She'll never leave him.  Or stray.  But he's done this the whole time they've been together.   But he puts up with my various bad traits and has never said a bad word to me.  I'm happy here.     :yiipchick  

Glad your happy! That's all that matters is everyone gets along and helps each other. I would tell him if it was me that she is fine and he needs to give her some space and trust. She trust him he should do the same especially sence she's never given him reason not to. Pam

 

[topdog24]

Under reconstruction: I have started building permanent quarters for my colored egg layers, 7x8 ft, i took in the hip roof on the front of the big chicks house, I removed the front wall and moved it 7 ft forward and closed the ends with tin and some ventilation, i now have it partitioned down the middle with 1 in poultry wire so the whole house is basically open as far as air flow goes, i still have to build proper roosts and build a set of nest box's for the Ameraucanas, EEs and the other same age pullets, i still have a little time before they start laying.


This is how it did look

how it looks now

They will have their own seperate run inside of the main one,instead of in a corner which made it hard to move the main run as originally designed, now i can extend the main one front to back and side to side as my flock growth demands more room, i new in the beginning you just can never have too much room for the chickens to run in. I completed the pen today and turned them out, now i have to go make sure they went back in to roost., i will update photos once completed, winter is comming soon.

 

[campingshaws]

Under reconstruction: I have started building permanent quarters for my colored egg layers, 7x8 ft, i took in the hip roof on the front of the big chicks house, I removed the front wall and moved it 7 ft forward and closed the ends with tin and some ventilation, i now have it partitioned down the middle with 1 in poultry wire so the whole house is basically open as far as air flow goes, i still have to build proper roosts and build a set of nest box's for the Ameraucanas, EEs and the other same age pullets, i still have a little time before they start laying. This is how it did look how it looks now They will have their own seperate run inside of the main one,instead of in a corner which made it hard to move the main run as originally designed, now i can extend the main one front to back and side to side as my flock growth demands more room, i new in the beginning you just can never have too much room for the chickens to run in. I completed the pen today and turned them out, now i have to go make sure they went back in to roost., i will update photos once completed, winter is comming soon.

So awesome! All that work looks great. I just finished my tractor and I love it. It's such a good feeling.

 

[topdog24]

I went to Vicksbourg MS today and picked up 600 blank egg cartons for 61$, 115 miles 1 way,230 round trip and cost of fuel was about 40$, the cost of shipping was 55 per 200 count box, thats 165$, so i break it down like this 600at 9.3 cents, i sell 10 dz( present rate of lay) per week at 2$ dz, thats 52 x 20 is 1040$ and i will use 520 cartons in a yr @ a cost of 48.36 + 40 for gas= 88$+ 840 for feed =928$ from 1040= 112$ profit +2010 doz we use at 2.89 dz (store$)= 601$ +112$ = 713$ plus we never run out of eggs, dont have to go to the store to get them and i still have 80 cartons left over plus all of these exspenses are a tax right off as i raise them for sale and will be in the RED on paper for quiet awhile.
now how is that for a lesson in chicken math, and i have 30+ that have yet to start laying, now i just need a marketer.

SOMEONE PLEASE CYPHER THIS FOR ME

 

[Ron Skekel]

I went to Vicksbourg MS today and picked up 600 blank egg cartons for 61$, 115 miles 1 way,230 round trip and cost of fuel was about 40$, the cost of shipping was 55 per 200 count box, thats 165$, so i break it down like this 600at 9.3 cents, i sell 10 dz( present rate of lay) per week at 2$ dz, thats 52 x 20 is 1040$ and i will use 520 cartons in a yr @ a cost of 48.36 + 40 for gas= 88$+ 840 for feed =928$ from 1040= 112$ profit +2010 doz we use at 2.89 dz (store$)= 601$ +112$ = 713$ plus we never run out of eggs, dont have to go to the store to get them and i still have 80 cartons left over plus all of these exspenses are a tax right off as i raise them for sale and will be in the RED on paper for quiet awhile.
 now how is that for a lesson in chicken math, and i have 30+ that have yet to start laying, now i just need a marketer.  SOMEONE PLEASE CYPHER THIS FOR ME

I sold every egg in my house for 2.00 a doz for small, 3.00 for med and 4.00 for large. This is what I wrote I sold them to members of a co-op I belong too. Organic free ranged eggs. I feed scratch and peck soy and corn free feed.My flock free ranges on land free of pestside and chemical free for the 29 years I've owned it. They range from dawn to dusk.These eggs are 6.99 a doz at Rouses and Whole foods.
So I posted that on the co-op FB page. Within 10 days before we pick up our orders I sold them all. I bring them to the pick up and everyone gets thier eggs. You may be interested in the co-op its Azure Standard you can look on there web site. You call and they let you know where the closest drop is in your area. Pam

 

[campingshaws]

SWLA folks: what do you feed and where do you buy it?

I'm currently feeding Dumor layer crumbles. My nearest TSC is Moss Bluff or Oakdale, 30 minutes drive to either. I'm not unhappy with the Dumor, but I like being well-informed on my options.

 

[Ron Skekel]

SWLA folks: what do you feed and where do you buy it?

I'm currently feeding Dumor layer crumbles. My nearest TSC is Moss Bluff or Oakdale, 30 minutes drive to either. I'm not unhappy with the Dumor, but I like being well-informed on my options.

I feed scratch & peck, or big sky I get it at azure standard.