Moving forward...

[aart]

It's more of a condition than an injury, tho banging it on something can start it.
Tendons often run thru a sheath, overuse (or odd position use) creates inflammation and swelling of both tendon and sheath, tightening the tendon path thru sheath......
.....which creates more friction>inflammation>vicious circle.
Anti-inflammatories, icing, and rest all help, but hard to stay on top of if you want to keep using your fingers haha!


Brooder house looks fantastic!
Will you add an anti dig apron?

 

[Mini Meat]

It's more of a condition than an injury, tho banging it on something can start it.
Tendons often run thru a sheath, overuse (or odd position use) creates inflammation and swelling of both tendon and sheath, tightening the tendon path thru sheath......
.....which creates more friction>inflammation>vicious circle.
Anti-inflammatories, icing, and rest all help, but hard to stay on top of if you want to keep using your fingers haha!


Brooder house looks fantastic!
Will you add an anti dig apron?

Thanks.

Yes, to the apron, I've been calling it a skirt. I have a roll of 1/4" x 2' hardware cloth that I am not going to use any where else and a partial roll of 1/2" that got run over and has crimps all over it so that will go down as well.

Last year I got myself sick brooding 100 chicks in an outdoor room in another building on the property. I underestimated the amount of dander and dust that 100 can produce. One whole side was open so the fumes would vent but without a cross breeze the dander just lingered. Even fans didn't help. Horrible... This brooder should allow the dander to drift away.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Mini meat your brooder looks fantastic. I wear a dust mask myself ( a decent one, not a cheapie useless one) when I'm working with chicks and chickens (and sawing stuff). No lungs, no life, and although the dust mask is a pain and inconvenient, it's protecting my lungs. Chick dander is horrible.
I have to say your hard work is inspiring me to work harder on my new coop too, I'm building it in my old barn. Almost finished! I'm defniitely the world's worst carpenter but if it keeps the chickens in and predators out, that's really all it needs to be. I have 90 chicks in my upstairs bedroom, I wanted them out before they were 2 weeks old- hopefully I can get it done by the end of the weekend.

 

[Mini Meat]

Mini meat your brooder looks fantastic. I wear a dust mask myself ( a decent one, not a cheapie useless one) when I'm working with chicks and chickens (and sawing stuff). No lungs, no life, and although the dust mask is a pain and inconvenient, it's protecting my lungs. Chick dander is horrible.
I have to say your hard work is inspiring me to work harder on my new coop too, I'm building it in my old barn. Almost finished! I'm defniitely the world's worst carpenter but if it keeps the chickens in and predators out, that's really all it needs to be. I have 90 chicks in my upstairs bedroom, I wanted them out before they were 2 weeks old- hopefully I can get it done by the end of the weekend.

Thank for the compliments.
I would love to hear more about your coop build. I feel the same about carpentry skills and coop building, make it safe and reasonable sound and that is enough.
A Dust mask is a good idea I just need to find one that doesn't fog my glasses.

Today I did my day18(25)/pre lock-down candle and noticed that some of the turkey eggs seemed like the may... MAY have internally pipped. Then I noticed that I was hearing cheeps as I worked...

Well long story short, at least 3 of the 14 turkey eggs are hatching early. 3 are rocking and rolling and 1 has an external pip.
The external pip is at the small end but I am going to try to stick to my no help policy. I figure, if you can't even make it out of the egg... I don't want you to wind up in my gene pool. I know that is probable hard for some to hear but...
I want my birds that thrive not just survive.

But, anyway, I am unprepared for early arrivals and was counting on the chicks to nanny the turkeys. I will have to rig a temp brooder until all are ready to go out side.

Stupid birds.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

It's coming along. I'm happy with it, but the temporary brooder I built in the coop was a flop (chicks were too cold). I didn't have a roof on it and the heat got sucked straight up. I have 93 3- week old chicks wearing out their welcome in the house, we are having an unseasonably long cold snap (nasty frost again last night, so long currants) and my barn is like an icebox- the heat lamps can't keep up. But this week we're supposed to warm up and I'm looking very forward to putting the chicks out!
I'm behind with all my plans this spring. I don't even have peas planted, but it's been cold and dry so they probably would not have done much anyway.
I have no plans for any critters other than chickens. If anything it would be milk sheep but the world has to pretty much end before I get into that. Chickens are more than enough work, and the dogs. The cat is easy but one of those is lots too.

 

[Mini Meat]

It's coming along. I'm happy with it, but the temporary brooder I built in the coop was a flop (chicks were too cold). I didn't have a roof on it and the heat got sucked straight up. I have 93 3- week old chicks wearing out their welcome in the house, we are having an unseasonably long cold snap (nasty frost again last night, so long currants) and my barn is like an icebox- the heat lamps can't keep up. But this week we're supposed to warm up and I'm looking very forward to putting the chicks out!
I'm behind with all my plans this spring. I don't even have peas planted, but it's been cold and dry so they probably would not have done much anyway.
I have no plans for any critters other than chickens. If anything it would be milk sheep but the world has to pretty much end before I get into that. Chickens are more than enough work, and the dogs. The cat is easy but one of those is lots too.

Glad your coops coming along. Too bad about the brooder though. I decided not to use heat lamps in this brooder and built them a heated cave. I love it!!! It's not a new concept there is a whole thread on the idea https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update but I used different materials than most folks do.

It is there under the straw.


A few of the 60 babies taking a mid day nap in the cave



.

I used a scrap of tin siding 4' x 29" and bent it into this shape


Then I taped down a reptile heat rope. http://www.bigappleherp.com/Big-Apple-Flexible-Heat-Ropes I used electrical tape and made sure the rope had good contact with the tin, then I went over it again with Gorilla tape.
You need the thermostat http://www.bigappleherp.com/BAH-1000-Thermostat to control the heat rope, the ability to control the temp is nice.




And covered it with foil insulation. I cut up an old ugly sweater into strips to cover the entry ways at each end.

I set it to maintain a temp of 85 on the floor in the middle. The sides are warmer and if they want more heat they just press their bodies against the tin.

I like the fact that it is only 80 watts.
The heat element is meant for use around animals and in damp environments.
It significantly reduces the risk of fire.
It shuts itself off during the heat of the day AND at night when it is stuffed full of chicks and their little bodies are providing enough heat.
I don't have to worry about them over heating in the middle of the night.
I also like that it gives them a normal day night cycle from the get go.

One more pic of the happy 'lil chicks...

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Thanks, an interesting concept. Thankfully the weather has finally warmed up, I put a roof over the brooder and all is well. I think I'm going to build an Ohio brooder, what was wrong with mine was that there was no roof, and why yours probably works too is that there's a low roof. It seems to be important to keep the ceiling low.
I'm not too keen on the heat lamps either.

 

[aart]

Great concept for heater, but think it needs more egress, commented here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ooder-picture-heavy-update/6860#post_17038660

 

[Mini Meat]

Great concept for heater, but think it needs more egress, commented here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ooder-picture-heavy-update/6860#post_17038660

I saw it and replied over there. I felt like I needed to share it on that thread and not just here since that is were the inspiration came from, hence the cross post.

 

[aart]

Quote: No prob, I agree on the crosspost...more eyes (most familiar with that heat technique) over there...just thought I'd post the link here for others who may be unaware.