Michigan

[sj3364]

I tweaked my back yesterday bending over to get the chicks in the brooder fresh water. The hot shower helped of a while and the ibuprofen is helping a bit, too. But just sitting here in my office chair hurts.

I'm supposed to work at the stable tonight. We'll see if that is gonna happen. The last thing I want to do today is groom and tack 20 horses.


I put a hardware cloth screen between my two little chicks to keep the one from pecking at the other's vent. The little barred rock was not happy about it but she's getting used to it. I'll have to let them out to play together so she doesn't get too sad. Hopefully her vent will heal and I can put them back together soon.

Oh, and the big girls found the deck. It was cute seeing them out there looking in the sliding door but the poop on the deck was not so cute. Looks like I'll have to make the deck off limits. They have taken a liking to hanging out under the deck. It was so cute this morning when I let them out. After getting a bit to eat from their feeder, they made a bee line, in that silly chick run stance, all the way to the big tree. Then regrouped, looked around, and made another mad dash across the yard to the deck and scooted right under. It was like they were Marines on a mission.

That was my entertainment for the morning. Off to pay the bills now.

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
Whats your daughters ages?? Im bringing grand-daughter "Sunshine" she's 12. LOVES animals. She better not cop out on me!!!

 

[ChicwannaB]

DOG FOOD DUCKS....oh my. My ducks figger'd out how to follow me thru the kennel to the farthest stall where the chicks are, but today they detoured into the empty dog stalls and found the food bowl. I hope they don't get belly aches. Before I caught them and shooed them out they had wolfed down half the bowl. I swear they are really feathered piggies. Ive never seen anything eat as fast as a duck!

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:

You go girl!! Great job! Maybe I'll build me one just like it! Do you mind if I steal your plan?

absolutely not, want close up pics? The leftover piece of pressure treated from the 5.5 foot side was used at the top of the door jam. I notched it and set in into the wire mesh, then held it in place temporarily with a zip tie till I put the uprights in. They aren't treated , (duh!) so I'll hafta slap some Thompson's water sealer on I guess. Would that hurt chickens I wonder?

I guess when most people make a hoop house they use cattle or goat panels, but I've priced those at Menard's, a 16 foot length is over $45 and it would have been too hard for me to work with by myself. I did this for the experience. I joined all the pieces together with cage clamps and needle-nose pliers for the most part. One in every 4" section and 2 at the ends where panels joined. Brads to fasten the panels to the bottom frame-work.

the $74 DOES include a roll of chicken wire, I should have told ya that.

I laid awake half the night thinking how I'll finish that thing. A person could even wrap it in some sort of poly greenhouse stuff and make a greenhouse. Hanging pots could hang from the wiring and flats could just set on the ground.
I took close ups this morning and will put them on myPage, under the "chickens" heading, for those interested.

 

[7961]

ChicwannaB: What a clever idea for a "hoop" type pen!

If anyone is interested I have a nice pair of Silver Spangled Hamburg bantams for sale. They are from show quality stock and they are about 1 yr old. I also have 6 Black Sex Link pullets, 2 months old for sale as well. I would try and be at Chickenstock but there is a poultry show in OH on the same day that I have committed to.

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
theres someone here at BYC who made her whole chicken house out of disasembled pallets and she did quite a job on it. I forgot her name. took her quite awhile, she did like you, pulled all nails and made them square.

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
I have a feeling finding people who want to TALK Period won't be a problem

I should probably put up a better pic of self, I took this one the day last week when it was near 100* and I was dripping wet and had all my hair pinned to the back of my head, it's really a little past shoulder length, just cut real short at the top.

 

[RIRJen]

Quote:
Oh! I like!!! What are the dimensions you used on the base? That looks like exactly what I need!

I'm thinking of selling off my Speckled Sussex flock and going with silkies and possibly banty cochins...I haven't decided for sure yet because I love my speckleds but the Silkies have really impressed me and thier eggs are big for such small birds and that is the main purpose of my birds so why not have something that is smaller, eats less and can't fly!

My daughter loves her silkies. We're excited because we had two more silkie chicks hatch out over the weekend...a black and what I think is a lavendar!

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
Oh! I like!!! What are the dimensions you used on the base? That looks like exactly what I need!

I'm thinking of selling off my Speckled Sussex flock and going with silkies and possibly banty cochins...I haven't decided for sure yet because I love my speckleds but the Silkies have really impressed me and thier eggs are big for such small birds and that is the main purpose of my birds so why not have something that is smaller, eats less and can't fly!

My daughter loves her silkies. We're excited because we had two more silkie chicks hatch out over the weekend...a black and what I think is a lavendar!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/7110_0611011830.jpg

well Darlin" I started with 2x4x8 square and thought that was too big, it would make the top of the hoop too short when put in, I wouldn't be able to stand in it. so I cut the narrow end down to 5.5 foot. Then when I got the wire panels all acssembled I discovered it didn't fit inside the box cuz I had only assumed the panels were 4' x 8', they were not, but were only 3.5' x 8' , so when joined side by side were only 84" wide. I had to take the box apart and cut the 8' sides down to 7'. So I guess the INSIDE measurement is 5.5 ft x 8 ft, but I'll go measure to make sure.
I put pick of the plans on MyPage under the chickens sections, I have 4 pages.

 

[ChicwannaB]

Quote:
Oh! I like!!! What are the dimensions you used on the base? That looks like exactly what I need!

I'm thinking of selling off my Speckled Sussex flock and going with silkies and possibly banty cochins...I haven't decided for sure yet because I love my speckleds but the Silkies have really impressed me and thier eggs are big for such small birds and that is the main purpose of my birds so why not have something that is smaller, eats less and can't fly!

My daughter loves her silkies. We're excited because we had two more silkie chicks hatch out over the weekend...a black and what I think is a lavendar!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/7110_0611011830.jpg

well Darlin" I started with 2x4x8 square and thought that was too big, it would make the top of the hoop too short when put in, I wouldn't be able to stand in it. so I cut the narrow end down to 5.5 foot. Then when I got the wire panels all acssembled I discovered it didn't fit inside the box cuz I had only assumed the panels were 4' x 8', they were not, but were only 3.5' x 8' , so when joined side by side were only 84" wide. I had to take the box apart and cut the 8' sides down to 7'. So I guess the INSIDE measurement is 5.5 ft x 8 ft, but I'll go measure to make sure.
I put pic of the plans on MyPage under the chickens sections, I have 4 pages.

the inside measurement is 84 inches long, by 63 inches wide. Place boards and measure before screwing. If the long side isn't 84 the panels won't fit inside and will buckle.