The4Walls
Chirping
Hello to all the BYC members. Long time lurker and finally joined up.
So a little about myself and the flock. I have a small flock of chickens for about 15 years. On and off. Started when the kids were young to show the cycle of food. Mostly dual purpose pullets in the spring for the eggs then into the freezer when it got too cold. I am in Northern Ontario and it does get really cold. Over the years things have progressed and expanded. I built the girls a 8x20 "Carolina Coop" stile chicken run and house. Works great with happy fowl. I have since expanded it out to include a 15x20 covered run for the meat birds I raise in the summer. I am a tinkerer and have made many things for the coop. I rebuilt and cut down an old garage door opener that I was able to hook up to the wifi for a fully automatic coop door. It is voice activated, on a timer or set by official sun up/down that varies and I can just use the clicker in the truck to close it too. That was a fun project. I also built a Whiz Bang style barrel plucker that works amazing. It is all from a scrap, front load washing machine, a used electric motor from a furnace blower and a blue 55 gal barrel. I salvaged the water servo from the washing machine to control the water sprayer with a switch. The whole thing cost me 30$ for the fingers and 16$ for some pulleys from the hardware store. My 14 year old son helped me build it and is now renting it out as a side business. He expanded this past summer and now goes to local farms and plucks and processes birds ( with my help ) for local flocks. We did almost 2000 birds this summer and he is excited to expand his business again.
My personal flock is a barnyard mix of dual purpose birds. Between 10-15 layers with one gentle rooster to protect the flock. I have a few Guineas mixed right in for local tick control. Wound up with a beautiful Blue Slate tom turkey by mistake that has fit right in. I also have 4 Muscovy ducks that roost with the hens at night and march down to the lake in the mornings for the day.
Thanks for all the wonderful information on BYC.
Justin
So a little about myself and the flock. I have a small flock of chickens for about 15 years. On and off. Started when the kids were young to show the cycle of food. Mostly dual purpose pullets in the spring for the eggs then into the freezer when it got too cold. I am in Northern Ontario and it does get really cold. Over the years things have progressed and expanded. I built the girls a 8x20 "Carolina Coop" stile chicken run and house. Works great with happy fowl. I have since expanded it out to include a 15x20 covered run for the meat birds I raise in the summer. I am a tinkerer and have made many things for the coop. I rebuilt and cut down an old garage door opener that I was able to hook up to the wifi for a fully automatic coop door. It is voice activated, on a timer or set by official sun up/down that varies and I can just use the clicker in the truck to close it too. That was a fun project. I also built a Whiz Bang style barrel plucker that works amazing. It is all from a scrap, front load washing machine, a used electric motor from a furnace blower and a blue 55 gal barrel. I salvaged the water servo from the washing machine to control the water sprayer with a switch. The whole thing cost me 30$ for the fingers and 16$ for some pulleys from the hardware store. My 14 year old son helped me build it and is now renting it out as a side business. He expanded this past summer and now goes to local farms and plucks and processes birds ( with my help ) for local flocks. We did almost 2000 birds this summer and he is excited to expand his business again.
My personal flock is a barnyard mix of dual purpose birds. Between 10-15 layers with one gentle rooster to protect the flock. I have a few Guineas mixed right in for local tick control. Wound up with a beautiful Blue Slate tom turkey by mistake that has fit right in. I also have 4 Muscovy ducks that roost with the hens at night and march down to the lake in the mornings for the day.
Thanks for all the wonderful information on BYC.
Justin
That's great you and your son are doing it together. No issues with your whizbang syle plucker? We thought about building one, but for lack of time, ended up buying instead. Nice to have you here!
Hello Justin and welcome to BYC, You found an Awesome poultry Forum to be a part of with many great knowledgeable members who are more then willing to jump in and help you with any questions you may have. 
