Maine

[Widget]

Horse shelter is done. Well 99% done.

Just have to make sure all the bolts are tightened and rearrange the fence by it and it will be all set for the horses.

Of course as soon as I was done the sun came out.

But there was no wind to speak of so getting the top on was relatively easy. Don't think my shoulder thinks so since I somehow managed to tweak some muscles. And one of the horses decided that the mound of hay wasn't good enough for him so he decided to go through the fence into the yard.

Took me a few minutes to catch him. He certainly looked like he was enjoying himself while tolting (an Icelandic gait) at full speed around the yard.


While writing this I heard some peeping coming from the incubator. Went over to investigate and I now have a newly hatched Icelandic chick.

DIdn't even think that anyone had peeped yet.

 

[Dita Von Cluck]

Horse shelter is done. Well 99% done. e Just have to make sure all the bolts are tightened and rearrange the fence by it and it will be all set for the horses.

Of course as soon as I was done the sun came out. :/ But there was no wind to speak of so getting the top on was relatively easy. Don't think my shoulder thinks so since I somehow managed to tweak some muscles. And one of the horses decided that the mound of hay wasn't good enough for him so he decided to go through the fence into the yard. Took me a few minutes to catch him. He certainly looked like he was enjoying himself while tolting (an Icelandic gait) at full speed around the yard.


While writing this I heard some peeping coming from the incubator. Went over to investigate and I now have a newly hatched Icelandic chick. DIdn't even think that anyone had peeped yet.

Your post went from good news to bad news back to good news again!

 

[Widget]

Your post went from good news to bad news back to good news again!

I swear I didn't plan it that way.

In other sort of good news the company that decided it didn't need my services last November was just sold to a competitor. Layoffs are expected. While I hope that some people will keep their jobs there are a select few who I hope are shown the door. That would be Karma at its finest.

 

[Dita Von Cluck]

I swear I didn't plan it that way.

In other sort of good news the company that decided it didn't need my services last November was just sold to a competitor. Layoffs are expected. While I hope that some people will keep their jobs there are a select few who I hope are shown the door. That would be Karma at its finest.

Oops that might be bad karma on me...or maybe it doesn't count since i don't actually know them...hmmm loophole? hehe

 

[gracejr]

I use a dog playpen (North States Superyard XT). It is plastic but well built . There are add on panels available to make it even larger. It is collapsible so storage is not an issue. It would be easy to enclose the sides to keep dust and loose feathers from getting all over the house. I use a screen top to keep the adventurous in and the curious (cat) out.

What do you use for the floor of it? I've toyed with the idea of a puppy pen, but wasn't sure about a base or what to cover the sides with.

I think chicks in a garage with heat lamp will be fine, as long as the brooder has sides to keep out the draft. I've never tried this, but I've read about other people who never brood in their house.

Gracejr, I put my 4 week old chicks out in the coop without heat, and they are doing fine. If you want to keep them in another week and your current brooder just won't do, get a large appliance box. You can toss it when you are done. One of the appliance stores in Winslow has another property with a large open trailer where they dump their boxes. If I have a large hatch, I add a box onto our much smaller plywood brooder.

Really? These guys seem to have a lot of baby fluff still. Even the 4.5 week old still has some fluff on her. The coop isn't heated or insulated if that makes a difference. Did you put the brooder in the coop, or are they right with the adults?

you could use a dog crate lined with some sort of mesh, or tarp. Sometimes you can get them cheap on CL. Maybe a baby pool with something on top?

Would a crate be big enough though? I have 18 chicks right now, 17 in the incubator set to hatch next weekend. I think a baby pool would be too expensive once you buy everything to make it work. Hmmm

 

[lazy gardener]

Alright guys, I need some ideas! Right now all the chicks are in a storage bin brooder, but they're already outgrowing it. I need a BIG brooder (18 chicks), that can be easily broken down for storage, is easy to clean and lightweight, inexpensive, and closed sides to try and keep the dust at a minimum. Cheap and easy is the name of the game, collapsible is a must as we don't have a garage and storage space is very limited. I can go up to 48"x48" floorspace.

Any ideas? Also, do you think window screening over the hardware mesh top will reduce dust? They're in our main living area so there are computers and the TV in the same room.

Lastly, when do you think it will be warm enough for them to go out? My chicks last year didn't go out for a LONG time, but that was because the coop wasn't done. They're only about 3 weeks old right now, but I can't wait until they're ready to go out!!

If you want to make something for re-use, you might try using 1/4" ply wood, framed around edges and held together with door hinges. It could then be folded flat. The top could be made of what ever sturdiness you require to keep chicks in and unwanted pets out. Good luck on the dust. My asthma is at an all time high even with chicks shut in basement, and me wearing a dust mask when ever I tend to them. I'm wondering about the option of using a "plenum with a furnace filter and fan" over the brooder, (not sure how the chicks would respond to the draft created) but at this point, my energy is going into finishing the tractor ASAP so I can give these guys the boot.

 

[gracejr]

Oh! Another question... Once the chicks go in the coop, what do I need to switch the feed to? I need something for growing birds, laying hens, and the rooster. Plus a few turkey poults in a month or two. I looked at the multi flock options at blue seal but wasn't sure which would work best.

 

[Widget]

What do you use for the floor of it? I've toyed with the idea of a puppy pen, but wasn't sure about a base or what to cover the sides with.
Really? These guys seem to have a lot of baby fluff still. Even the 4.5 week old still has some fluff on her. The coop isn't heated or insulated if that makes a difference. Did you put the brooder in the coop, or are they right with the adults?
Would a crate be big enough though? I have 18 chicks right now, 17 in the incubator set to hatch next weekend. I think a baby pool would be too expensive once you buy everything to make it work. Hmmm

I just put a tarp on the floor and add shavings on top of that. And I use cardboard for the sides to keep the shavings from flying everywhere. The cardboard I just throw out if it gets too dirty or wet. The tarp I can hose off and reuse again and again.

 

[Josh207]

Be careful of Blackhead, it's a pretty potent disease turkeys can get from chickens. Read the label on the bag of feed to see when you should feed that specific feed to that animal, you shouldn't start feeding young hens layer pellets until they are laying or close to it.

 

[gracejr]

Be careful of Blackhead, it's a pretty potent disease turkeys can get from chickens. Read the label on the bag of feed to see when you should feed that specific feed to that animal, you shouldn't start feeding young hens layer pellets until they are laying or close to it.

From everything I've read and heard from others, blackhead seems to be a non-issue here.

I know the different formulas of feed, I'm just not sure which would be better for a mixed ages flock. I'm not about to build a whole new coop to keep juveniles separate until they start laying.