NY chicken lover!!!!

[Child of Noah]

Ravens are larger and have an almost "shaggy" appearance on the breast instead of the smooth feathers of the crow. Ravens have very thick bills and you are right: they do NOT sound like crows.

I don't believe they'll predate on your adult chickens, but I wouldn't rule out an opportunistic attack on chicks or small youngsters if they thick they can pull it off. They're wicked intelligent.

TOB

Thank you for ringing in, that is what everyone seems to be saying. it is a great relief, and it is awesome that he chases the hawk away since I know the hawk would try to eat them.

This is Chickpea, one of my other ones:



Sorry for the super long post. I've been dealing with the loss of my best friend and haven't been on in days, so I had to catch up!

Sorry for your loss

The way that picture is, Chickpea looks zebra striped on first glance.

Thank you for telling about your experience with the ravens. Everyone's story has really set my mind at ease.

I forgot about the EE topic. EE's can be bred using many different breeds. Some breeds lay better than others so how well an EE will lay depends on what they were bred from. I bred mine using leghorns and silver ameraucana. The leghorns for me were laying machines, but the silver ameraucana are not. I was looking for a more productive blue/green egg layer. I also crossed the silvers with delaware. The leghorn cross had a pale blue/green egg color while the del cross has a more distinct blue/green egg color and both crosses lay well for me. Ginny has some of the leghorn crosses and Juanita has some of the del crosses from me. I haven't bred any yet this season, now I'm going to definately need to set another hatchl.

It sounds like quite a few people have EE's from you and that they are good layers of large, pretty eggs. You've got a good recipe. I will definitely look you up when I get the birds I have settled and can think about adding some. Of course I want to right NOW, but thankfully you don't have any.

They have plenty at Taylor Rental in Camillus, they'll sell at $10 for 5 or more! I'm heading back out there today. I wish I could fit more than 2 in my suv but the Princess must have a royal throne to sit on.

Those boxes look nice. I need to ask at my Taylor Rental if they have any. And I am so happy for you that you don't have to move!

1st hatch of the year. My best broody names Mama hatched 11. Warning, cuteness overload

OMG that is so cute! Eleven... wow. Undecamom beats octomom for sure.

 

[rancher hicks]

Wow, sonograms are way better than they were. Your baby looks great, the profile is adorable. I was concerned that my first would turn out to be a blob, couldn't make head or tail of that pic!

Stony, mama's babies are super cute!

Jj's is about 2-3 miles from me, very convenient, but they close around 3, so got to get there early. Neil Casey's is a nice place to buy garden plants and flowers. They have a special on Pansy's and violas, buy 3 six packs, get one free. So now I have too many. Will have to find a place.

The starter feed that they sell at jj's was medicated, when I got my chicks. I have a problem with medicated feed, and am thinking this may start some controversy, but here is my thinking, and I'd love to hear others ideas on the subject.

We are starting to have "super germs" that are resistant to antibiotics. For this reason, when I get a sinus infection which is maybe every third year, my doctor has said no antibiotics, which prolonged it, since I really did need them....and there was just a news story about lots of meat, particularly ground turkey testing positive for these resistent bacteria. So, since my place is pretty clean, and my birds are at least adequately cared for, why would I medicate healthy babies? I just said I'll put some flock raiser in the blender. They seem fine. I believe that medicine is to be given and taken when it is needed, not to prevent the possibility of illness occurring. That is what good hygiene, and good nutrition is for.

Do I need to hide?

YOU think sonograms are great today, I'm so old, when my mother had me, mine was chiseled in stone.

Medicated feed you say. I use it only for the first few weeks then they go on to non medicated. I didn't ask the guy at JJ's if it was medicated. Since I have hens with chicks in the coop everyone goes on non medicated chick grower to avoid the pellet/layer problem. When the new hens get close to laying the whole coop gets transitioned back to layer. It's what works for me, but others I'm sure have their own system of doing things.

No need to hide, it is what it is.

Love ya ,

Rancher

 

[Child of Noah]

jlaw
Will you make me a coop?

 

[stonykill]

OMG that is so cute! Eleven... wow. Undecamom beats octomom for sure.

Last summer on brood number 2 of 4 for her for the year she hatched 11 then adopted 4 orphans. She was never happier than when she was running around raising 15 chicks. Here they are from the beginning of last summer.

 

[rancher hicks]

Lol. I just took pics of what I'm building to ask for some vent help from those here. I know I could go to coop forms but rather get info from those in state rather than get some info from someone in NC or some where.

Ok an idea of what I want to do.
1. Have enough ventilation to have healthy birds all year round with minimum putting up and taking down boards to cover vents.
2. I DONT WANT A SNOW PILE IN HERE IN WINTER!! Lots of wind up here on the hill and no tree breaks to slow wind/snow, though I do plan on planting some soon as this coop gets done but will take a bit to grow and break wind/snow.

Be advised I tried to use MS paint to describe what I'm doing but I cant move a mouse in straight line for the life of me.

Some info before hand. I plan on leaving window in door open year round wind "normaly" don't blow into that direction. The rafters are staying open 6 inch I didn't cut them I used hurricane straps to mount them so a true 6 inch opening front and back. I may put a block of wood in them about foot or two away from wall to help keep any snow out if needed. Building is 8x12ft. front is over 8ft tall I didn't cut the boards down. back is right around 5'11" top of wall. Roof will be shingled.



EAST WALL
This is the wall that gets the least wind so trying to keep it open I outlined the area's that I want open. the measurements for the areas are.
1. 40 1/2 t x 17 1/5 w
2. 29 1/2 t x 23 w
3 31 t x 21 w




WEST WALL
This wall is where i'm kinda iffy wind normaly comes from this side or at an angle from eather corner. I plan on having roosts straight across full with of coop this wall going out here. I figure with one or both outlined area's open will let them in or out of wind as they want/need. measurements are
1. 17 right side 13 inch left side tall by 13 1/2 wide
2. 31 1/2 t x 13 1/2 w


NORTH WALL
this is back side figure up high roof will help cover them from elements but already have rafters so was thinking some might need lower. wind comes from this side along more often also with the pic above it. door to the left here. measurements for these would be

1. 18 t x 22 w
2. 12 t x 12 3/4 w



SOUTH WALL
this is front. this is the side I plan on taking plexiglass in and out of if any side. no measurements yet still debateing on how many and how big to do them. Screwed in a sheet of plywood just to see how much it helped with swaying of coop.

I know lots of odd ball shape openings I want to put in for ventilation but that's what you get when you don't set braces up between studs evenly.

So there you have it so far that's what I have done. Probably lots of mistakes but been a learning experience. I was planning on using 5ft x 5ft bay windows in but didn't want to fool around with bracing roof around that big of window so now just using openings.

Check list still to do.
1. add brace to top of door to rafter.
2. add braces between rafters.
3. plywood walls/roof and shingle roof
4. set up a door for chickens to get out of the south wall
5. hardware cloth the rafters/windows once I figure out which ones to leave open.

I think I should get done this weeknd if all goes as planned. Hoping daughter gets better if not this may not get done till next week. Her incision has an infection we get to find out tomorrow if she has to go back to Rochester tomorrow or not.

Sorry for the long post thanks for looking it over and any advice is greatly appreciated.

Jlaw

I'll look at it again but two things.


A. You need it higher off the ground. Ventilation under the floor will keep moisture away from the floor. You can then cover the openings with hardware cloth to keep chickens and critter out.

I have rabbits under mine so I can't close off the front. Bunnies every year.

2. Cover the eaves with hardware cloth if you leave them open.

First year coon got in and I lost four chickens.


Looks very nice.

Rancher

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Glasshen,

thanks for the heads up that JJs may not offer non-medicated feed. I will call to check. If not, I'll try the store in Tully (Agway?) ...


jlaw,

construction looks great so far. I will not offer ventilation advice, as I'm also building my 1st coop.


Stony,

Just love those mother hen pictures! So cute!


TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

YOU think sonograms are great today, I'm so old, when my mother had me, mine was chiseled in stone.

Too funny!!!

TOB

 

[JLaw]

jlaw,

construction looks great so far. I will not offer ventilation advice, as I'm also building my 1st coop.


TOB

Thanks. Are you haveing fun building it? At the rate this cost it seems it's almost cheaper to buy one from someone. Then again i've made a few mistakes i've had to fix and some i probaly cant fix now that it's so far along. I dont think i'll ever build a coop this big again next biggest i'll ever build i think will be a 6x8. Or maybe just a 4x8. Every time i go to store wife just gets a look like what now? I should have waited on chicks so i could have found more cheap/free supplys but eh i'm not one to do it the right way i like to impulse buy. And i knew i wouldnt build it if i didnt have to get the chicks out of the house lol.

I'll look at it again but two things.


A. You need it higher off the ground. Ventilation under the floor will keep moisture away from the floor. You can then cover the openings with hardware cloth to keep chickens and critter out.

I have rabbits under mine so I can't close off the front. Bunnies every year.

2. Cover the eaves with hardware cloth if you leave them open.

First year coon got in and I lost four chickens.


Looks very nice.

Rancher

1. I was thinking higher but didnt see a way to really do it besides 2x6's up and down under it. i know i messed up i have it sitting on 4x4's with 2x4's flat. should have done 2x6's up and down. dont know a way to raise it atm kinda heavy. Only good thing is it's sitting on a piece of blacktop that slants the same way my roof does. didnt notice how much it was unlevel untill i went to do the door and had to shim the right side to square it up. I dont own a square so this is all by eye and lineing up 2x4's and useing a tape messure.

2. yeah i was planning on doing the harware cloth. not sure how much space bantams need to escape and all. not to mention i have this one hen that likes to roost in my brooder light i can see her trying to roost up there. Wife says this thing makes alot of noise trying to get into the brooder light to roost at night.

jlaw
Will you make me a coop?

lmao no this is a pain for me as it is. at least i'm learning some though never had to build on this scale.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Thanks. Are you haveing fun building it? At the rate this cost it seems it's almost cheaper to buy one from someone. Then again i've made a few mistakes i've had to fix and some i probaly cant fix now that it's so far along. I dont think i'll ever build a coop this big again next biggest i'll ever build i think will be a 6x8. Or maybe just a 4x8. Every time i go to store wife just gets a look like what now? I should have waited on chicks so i could have found more cheap/free supplys but eh i'm not one to do it the right way i like to impulse buy. And i knew i wouldnt build it if i didnt have to get the chicks out of the house lol.


lmao no this is a pain for me as it is. at least i'm learning some though never had to build on this scale.

I am enjoying parts of it, but some of it has been incredibly hard work for someone who could hammer a nail, but that's about it. I now operate drills, sanders, pneumatic staple guns and can mix concrete and lay block. Sheesh. You are right: it would have been "cheeper" (bad joke) to buy one pre-made, for sure. But it's nice knowing that my husband designed it and I actually put my own blood (literally), sweat and if not exactly tears, then stress into it !!!!

I would not want to build one again unless it was a perfect square. No more funky angles, which is my husband's calling card.

If I don't finish soon, Rancher is going to come and beat me up.

Hang in there jlaw! Keep on truckin'...

Edit: PS: the pen is the next challenge. Holy crow, I'm dreading that!


TOB

 

[JLaw]

I am enjoying parts of it, but some of it has been incredibly hard work for someone who could hammer a nail, but that's about it. I now operate drills, sanders, pneumatic staple guns and can mix concrete and lay block. Sheesh. You are right: it would have been "cheeper" (bad joke) to buy one pre-made, for sure. But it's nice knowing that my husband designed it and I actually put my own blood (literally), sweat and if not exactly tears, then stress into it !!!!

I would not want to build one again unless it was a perfect square. No more funky angles, which is my husband's calling card.

If I don't finish soon, Rancher is going to come and beat me up.

Hang in there jlaw! Keep on truckin'...

Edit: PS: the pen is the next challenge. Holy crow, I'm dreading that!


TOB

No blood from me yet but i've knocked my head enough times walking through wall stud bracers instead of under them lol. Well when rancher comes to beat you up just have him bring the birds and then put him to work : ). As for the pen i have no idea what i'm doing for that. I have to see if i have to get a permit or not for it. i know the buildings under 100 sq ft no permit needed but not sure about a fence type pen. Thinking 2x3's for it and running 1/2 inch hardware cloth along bottom then 2x4 inch behind it and up. not sure how covered i really want it. If i just want to hang rope over top to try and keep chickens in or go with 2x4 over the top also. Shoot the way my chickens act when i take them out side all i have to do is build a big wall to make shade and they wont go any where. Every time i take them outside on sunny day they just chill in shade no sun at all. I have a 4x8 ft plywood leaning against swing set and they use that for shade sometimes they will walk around it or over to where i'm working. Then it's right back to the shade. lazy chickens i swear.

jlaw