Maine

[liquidequis]

Next project is some storage for bags of feed, shavings, treats, and cleaning tools.  DW thinks a privy would make an fun project that fits with her primitive decorating style.  I've been looking for plans and think I found one I like, hope she likes it too. 

LOVE!!!!!

 

[striperon]

Thanks for your approbation of the privy.

Another project (the list is endless, ... and I like that), is wiring to the coop for a bird bath heater in their waterer. For the electricians reading this thread, I would think underground feeder wire would be a 3 conductor wire. When I search Home Depot for wire, most of their underground wire is 2 conductor. Don't I need 3 conductor, especially when one of the items powered will sit in water?

 

[suzMEchicks]

I got 4 eggs today out of 6!I've been only getting 2 sometimes 3. Would be nice if this continued.I do not look forward to winter with chickens again. The worry about -15 degree weather, frozen water etc. I think I've finally decided to let them have the winter off and not keep a light on through the winter. I've gone back and forth on that one.I may change my mind. They've had a stressful summer. I need to replace the window in the coop before winter and I too would like to build a place for feed and such. That would make things easier.

 

[suzMEchicks]

I have a question about hay.i only use it in the nest boxes and lately have been throwing a bunch in the run cause they like to scratch through it .I had bought 4 bales of hay last winter to put up one side of the coop (OUTSIDE) as insulation.I have the better part of 2 of them left.So it's pretty old right? It still smells sweet.Its gotten wet over the summer and dried out. Should I ditch it or can I use it up?

 

[freakshow5]

Is it better to use hay or wood shavings?

 

[lazy gardener]

Suz, did you wrap the hay bales in plastic? Last winter, i piled bags of leaves around the bottom of the coop. They worked well and shed the moisture. I'm sure I went overboard b/c I wrapped the bottom of the hoop coop in plastic before putting the leaf bags in place. I'll not have to deal with that this winter as the flock will be in their nice new coop.

I have 2 naughty girls. Found 2 eggs (RCBL and SLW) in a little dirt nest in the back corner of the front flower garden. There are 4 or 5 pullets who absolutely refuse to stay behind the fence. So, as soon as the coop is finished to the point that they can move in, I'm going to put up a temporary run that will be covered with netting. Perhaps I'll re-work their fencing so they exit the back door of their hoop coop into a covered run. Any one else have naughty girls who have been successfully re-trained to put their eggs where they belong?

 

[buckabucka]

I prefer wood shavings, but I've never tried hay before.....

First pullet egg yesterday! light green.
Fifth rooster in a solo cage yesterday evening. Two weeks and day until they are out of here! My new (keeper) rooster lives in a cage, but here he is:

 

[lazy gardener]

He's beautiful. What is he?

 

[buckabucka]

He's a golden cuckoo Marans.

 

[lazy gardener]

Bad girl has been at it again! This afternoon, when I went out to get the mail, I found my SLW hunkered down beside the front steps, getting ready to lay an other egg. So, I scooped her up, and LOCKED her in the coop loft, where she had no choice but to lay her egg on the floor, or go into one of the nest boxes. She wasted no time going into the box, and made a speedy deposit. She's been hanging out with one of the RCBL, and they've been egging each other on into misbehaviors.