NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
It was Creepy ....we had it happen 2 times ...the first time they stayed up in the trees ..second time they landed in the yard ...
chickens were still in the coop ..only my Roo Lucky ..dared to look out ...everyone else was hiding

 

[akaruby]

I completed my cabinet incubator this weekend! I'll post pictures soon. It took about 4 hours. I bought some higher wattage bulbs because the temp is still at 76 degrees. We'll see...

 

[rancher hicks]

You can buy basic plans for coops
http://www.thegardencoop.com/
forgot
seen this on Craigs list 200.00 New unassembled a nice start ..would have to be made more secure


https://syracuse.craigslist.org/grd/5486267079.html

This is very worth the money, I think. spent more than that on my hoops.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I want to encourage those of you who say you have no carpentry skills to learn I retired three years ago and taught myself how to build things. I'm a senior citizen and only 5'3" and my current project is a 30X32 horse barn that I am building by myself. My daughter helps once i a while to lift things that are too heavy for one person or hold one end steady while I secure things, but mostly I am on my own. Since I have arthritis and fibromyalgia, lighter tools are a big help in keeping control of power tools and safe handling. I have a Ridgid Fuego power saw with a smaller 6" blade and a compact size Dewalt drill/driver that are just right for my smaller hands and light enough to handle easily. They do all the same things my son-in-law's big heavy versions do. Here is the first build of a 12X8 coop with his help, showing me how to do things. The next coop I did on my own by starting with a single 6X6 coop on one end and a closed run. The entire thing is 6X16. The next year I closed in the other end for another 6X6 coop with a feed area in the middle. I also built a turkey pen out of 10X10 kennel panels with a real metal roof over it, a coop from a calf hutch, a small 4X4 grow out coop, and a duck hutch. The point being that you learn how to do it as you practice. It isn't necessary to be a carpenter and know how to calculate all the angles and get it all perfect. I keep saying to myself, "It's only a chicken coop" when something is off by 1/2". No big deal Instead of stressing over all the cuts, just get a big level (4') to make sure everything is reasonably level and plumb and mark your cuts by a combination of measuring (get a good metal tape) and holding the piece up where it is going to go and marking it in place. This even worked with the 2X6X12 rafters on the barn. The biggest mistake on the first coop was using rough cut green lumber thinking I would save money. Every piece was a little different and needed a custom cut and fit. When I checked later I found I could get the same thing in finished lumber for the same price. It's amazing how easily things go together when you use clean straight lumber to start with. Here is a link to how the duck hutch was put together with pictures and instructions that I entered into the coop contest on this site. Yes, I tied for first prize with it. The instructions are written for a beginner and may help you understand how to build your own coop. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/scrap-duck-hut Sorry for the long post, but I know how frustrating it is to think you can't do something yourself, and I know you can.

I'm in agreement with you. I'm 5'3" and anything a man can do so can I. Not being competitive or ugly just realistic. Who's to say I will always have a man around.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

It was Creepy ....we had it happen 2 times ...the first time they stayed up in the trees ..second time they landed in the yard ...
chickens were still in the coop ..only my Roo Lucky ..dared to look out ...everyone else was hiding

We have a problem with barn swallows. They are cute as a button but my flock wants to eat them. Once in a while a few will go in the run while I have it open for the flock to free range.

 

[akaruby]

Here is my incubator. I'll write up a page on how to do it tomorrow. I have replaced one of the light bulbs with a 150w clear heat lamp to see if I can get the temp up. I may have to add two. Humidity is holding well at 43%.

Drawer is a Hatcher.

I wired a digital thermostat to the two light bulbs to regulate the heat. There is a probe attached to the thermostat that is set at the egg turner level.

 

[MorrisRdFarms]

My broody hatched a baby Friday night, but she accidentally crushed it. She was still sitting on two more eggs, but I didn't hear any peeps from either of them. We went to TSC and picked up 6 RSL, slipped those under her Saturday afternoon, and removed the two remaining eggs. She and the babies have taken to each other quite well. I am very pleased. I checked the two eggs, and neither of them were viable, so everything worked out great. Mama is getting up and moving a little now and has been eating too. The babies are quite entertaining to watch with her.

Dave

 

[Lapeerian]

Got the new HovaBator 1588 up and running. Came up to temp quickly, was so easy to add water. Did a thorough candle and moved all the eggs over. Keeping the LG to help with hatching, maybe. Pulled 1 more clear spitz, 2 more clear Wyandottes, and 1 Wyandotte that got cracked and scrambled in all the moving. So down to 37 out of the 52 I started with.

 

[tao chick]

Here is my incubator. I'll write up a page on how to do it tomorrow. I have replaced one of the light bulbs with a 150w clear heat lamp to see if I can get the temp up. I may have to add two. Humidity is holding well at 43%.

Drawer is a Hatcher.

I wired a digital thermostat to the two light bulbs to regulate the heat. There is a probe attached to the thermostat that is set at the egg turner level.

Great job!

 

[Gramma Chick]

Here is my incubator.

interesting ! So is the incubator in the foil thing ? then when they hatch they go in the drawer ? cute idea