Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

What I am truly thankful for is my parent's hearing loss.

Talked with Rich Vaughn yesterday about breeding Jersey Giants. He suggested, since I am not trying to win national competitions, to breed Eddie with my Jersey hens from McMurray and see what happens.

You can do that, of course, but if you use smaller hens (which hatchery type always are), you will have birds that remain small. If you want bigger birds, use bigger hens. Did you talk to him about getting some hens or started pullets this year? I think that would be the way to go if you want to do the breed justice. Getting them from Robert or Rich would give you a better outcome since you would be line breeding.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Minnie when r your babies due?? Will u hace chicks and bunnies at the same time??

Actually, yes, about the same time. Are you looking for some 4-H bunnies too? I know I will have some that would work for you.

 

[holm25]

Actually, yes, about the same time.  Are you looking for some 4-H bunnies too?  I know I will have some that would work for you.

I wish... I already am showing a pair of Muscovys a pair of Bucks from u and a shorthorn heifer. I might even show a CCP if one of the heifers we get is trainable and good quality

 

[KlopKlop]

chicken tv in a different way . She doesn't like politics and neither do I
In good news her bum really cleaned up well and the prolapse went back in! We will see if it stays in. There was a little scabbing so I softened with warm water then I pushed it back in and she relaxed. Yay!
I suspect she laid a soft shell egg and it broke as it came out and she pushed hard to get it out or an egg stuck to the wall of her tube. Hard to say. I am going to keep her in another day or two and hold food until tomorrow. She has access to water with vita mix.

 

[mnbrewdude]

Help Minnesotans! Posted this on the coop building forum and got crickets.... Working on my 4x8 coop again, and am down to siding and roof! I want good ventilation and plan to have Windows on the gable ends, but want more ventilation on the "long" ends. Right now, I'm thinking of building a 6 inch by 5 foot "window" with poultry betting on the inside, on each long end of my coop. This will be built with hinges so I can swing it open and closed as need be. I thought this could help with convection and keep air movement well above the chickens heads. Attached is a rough blueprint of what I mean. The small box on the lower left is a pop door so ignore that! Again, more concerned about air movement / humidity reduction in winter. Summer I will have plenty of air for them on the 4 foot ends.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Looks like you are doing the right things!!

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Good news Klop!! Glad to hear it. If you or anyone else are going to the International Motorcycle Show, I will be there all weekend. I am at the Ton-Up booth so be sure to stop by and say hi!

 

[Minniechickmama]

Help Minnesotans! Posted this on the coop building forum and got crickets.... Working on my 4x8 coop again, and am down to siding and roof! I want good ventilation and plan to have Windows on the gable ends, but want more ventilation on the "long" ends. Right now, I'm thinking of building a 6 inch by 5 foot "window" with poultry betting on the inside, on each long end of my coop. This will be built with hinges so I can swing it open and closed as need be. I thought this could help with convection and keep air movement well above the chickens heads. Attached is a rough blueprint of what I mean. The small box on the lower left is a pop door so ignore that! Again, more concerned about air movement / humidity reduction in winter. Summer I will have plenty of air for them on the 4 foot ends.

I suggest a vent at the top on the East and West sides. Make your window to the South so they can get some natural light in during the winter months. If you have it in an open exposure to the South this gives a little bit of passive solar as well. If it is gabled, the heat will rise to the top. Wind will pull the air through from one end and out the other vent if it is properly aligned with East/West.
What do you have made already, can I ask? I find it easiest to use metal roofing materials, less weight and less heat radiating in Summer. I would suggest double wall instead of insulating since insulation can make it too warm and then allow moisture build-up in Winter from birds pooping and breathing.
I would got bigger not he window too if that top rectangle is the window, but that is my personal opinion. I do think birds are happier with natural light as much as possible. A Window can mean using clear roofing material over the opening too. In fact, I just did this to a small coop where I used to have an access door to the nests I originally had in there. The birds loved the light coming in there without having to be exposed directly to the outdoors to get it. There is enough airflow around the ripples in the clear material too that it allows some ventilation without having draft. I can take some pictures if you want me to show you what I mean. In fact, I used that for a few coops this year to give them a window. to brighten up the coops. Of course, you can always go with the barn windows, which can be found at Fleet Farm for the best prices. I have used the vinyl sliding windows in the brooder house, which I would not recommend since they get all skanky in the tracks and are hard to clean. I opted for awning windows for the new building I started and plan to house rabbits and either bantam or started birds in.
I have made lots of coop building mistakes, so I can offer things to NOT do as well as things TO do

 

[AlezaJ]

I think you will be happy with the results. I can't remember if you are doing Cornish cross or something else?

We are planning on red rangers or freedom rangers(is there a difference?).
.

 

[scandiafowl]

chicken tv in a different way . She doesn't like politics and neither do I In good news her bum really cleaned up well and the prolapse went back in! We will see if it stays in. There was a little scabbing so I softened with warm water then I pushed it back in and she relaxed. Yay! I suspect she laid a soft shell egg and it broke as it came out and she pushed hard to get it out or an egg stuck to the wall of her tube. Hard to say. I am going to keep her in another day or two and hold food until tomorrow. She has access to water with vita mix.

What a great photo. Is she an Australorp?