NY chicken lover!!!!

[lbenedict15]

Wow Shawn14858, your chickens are living the high life! Love the coop, and that roost is amazing.

 

[boskelli1571]

Now for why I dropped in. I'm going to order a Stethoscope for egg checking, to see if I hear a heartbeat. Only once did I hear a heart beat by ear. Marans are tough to candle and I'm thinking a stethoscope may help. Has anyone ever used a stethoscope to check hatching eggs? If so is there one you like?

Rancher - a good stethoscope will set you back $75+. Can you modify something to make a small 'ear trumpet' type? I think it might work better since you can make it egg-sized?

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
How about a childs tethoscope

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher - a good stethoscope will set you back $75+. Can you modify something to make a small 'ear trumpet' type? I think it might work better since you can make it egg-sized?

Did I mention I ordered one on Ebay. Only 6 bucks but I figure if it's not good the grandkids can play with it. Stay tuned.

 

[Gramma Chick]

You got a expensive one ...LOL...they start out at 2.49 free shipping from china

 

[boskelli1571]

You got a expensive one ...LOL...they start out at 2.49 free shipping from china

yup - have to have a good one for work purposes. They last forever and you can buy any replacement pieces, they are guaranteed.

 

[rancher hicks]

You got a expensive one ...LOL...they start out at 2.49 free shipping from china

yup - have to have a good one for work purposes. They last forever and you can buy any replacement pieces, they are guaranteed.

I figured I'd give it shot. I do recall hearing a heart beat once while checking eggs. Or maybe it was just the pounding in my head from all the stress.

 

[rancher hicks]

In other news. I've been reading the Jan issue of Practical poultry and thought I'd share somethings that have helped me.

Andy Marshall, of Andy's diary, shares.

"Asking a friend to walk around with you is another good way of seeing how you can improve things."

Alan Holtham, shares some winter tips.

"Over the past couple of issues, regular readers will recall that I've demonstrated how to build a covered, walk in chicken run and to honest the whole process has proved something of a revelation to me.
I'm so impressed with the difference it made that I'm now in the process of building another one alongside the first."

My tip is that a hoop run is easily attached to your barn or some coops that it provides a measure of safety for when you're not home. Certainly not 100% but something that allows chickens to go out when they can't "free range". I think mine is helpful in protecting broody hens and their bairn. (I just like saying bairn. Scottish for children.

)

Alan shares his experience with feeders and waterers too.

Also hardware that works best.

"Use heavy duty, tee type hinges to give run doors maximum support and will help prevent sagging and catching."

"A gate-closer is a very useful addition, and doesn't have to be expensive." (something I intend to get, as it helps the gate to close behind me. My usual mode of operendi is to use a rope latched over a clamp. A gate closer will allow the door to swing closed behind and keep quick moving hens from shooting in or out of the run.)

"Oval padbolt-type door fasteners can't be slid open accidentally, or by predators, but remain easy to operate even with freezing fingers.

Tip, Flea markets are a good place to look for hinges and hardware. Buy it when you see it. They don't last long. I buy hinges where ever I can find them cheap.

Hope some of this helps someone. I can't copy and paste the entire article as I'm not sure that would be ethical. If you can find back issues of this magazine for cheap, I suggest you buy them. Lots of good info from the experts in the UK.

Take care and enjoy the day,

Rancher

 

[horsekeeper]

"Use heavy duty, tee type hinges to give run doors maximum support and will help prevent sagging and catching." I've started using 3 hinges on larger doors and gates and it adds a lot of stability and strength.



"A gate-closer is a very useful addition, and doesn't have to be expensive." (something I intend to get, as it helps the gate to close behind me. My usual mode of operendi is to use a rope latched over a clamp. A gate closer will allow the door to swing closed behind and keep quick moving hens from shooting in or out of the run.) A heavy duty large fencing staple in the side of the coop (or an eye screw) with a short bungie cord works well, is easy to work with, and can be used to secure the door shut or open. I was having trouble with the wind blowing coop doors shut when it rained and was finding soaked chickens, so I started fastening the doors open with bungies. Keeps them from getting pinched in swinging doors, too.



"Oval padbolt-type door fasteners can't be slid open accidentally, or by predators, but remain easy to operate even with freezing fingers. Love these latches and have them on all my pens and coops. I use the similar stall door latches and put a caribiner clip through the loop to prevent raccoon breakins at night.

Tip, Flea markets are a good place to look for hinges and hardware. Buy it when you see it. They don't last long. I buy hinges where ever I can find them cheap. Agree

Another thing that works with feeders is to put a large eye screw in a rafter and attach a long chain with one of those repair links that screw open and shut. Use a double ended snap to hang the feeder from the chain and adjust the height for different size and ages of birds. Having it just low enough for them to reach the feed keeps them from scratching out so much.

 

[armandobenitez]

Hello Everyone! I really want to get started with this idea I've been having since I was like 10. I really want to have pet quails. But I checked online and I've seen I can only get them in a bundle of like 50 or 100. I would only want maybe 3 min but I would just really want these cute guys as pets? Any one knows of a local place I could maybe purchase them?