NY chicken lover!!!!

is there anyone in the Hudson Valley area here? I'm looking to get some hatching eggs for the incubator I'm setting up at school- so the kids can enjoytheprocesss. I'm not very particular about breeds but it would be awesome to get something w some color.
Thanks!
location? The Hudson Valley is huge
 
Orange county. the HV isn't that big- especially compared to the whole huge state, and anywhere within it is fine for me as I'm smack in the middle.
I'm at the Mass Border and still in the Hudson Valley. A 2 hour minimum ride up the TSP for you. But I can have eggs available.
 
Back to the coop stuff, last year I experimented with sand under the ladder roosts. I put it in boot holders under the roosts, and it was tricky to get to them to clean, even though the roosts were hinged...and there was odor. We put up a variety of roosts with poop boards filled with a mix of sand and ?Sweet PDZ. I scoop it every day, or two, and it is quick. I take out about a half gallon poop a day. On the floor I am using deep litter. Since I remove so much poop every day, the litter stays much cleaner. I started with a big bag from TSC, but we have lots of sawdust so I have been using that. They know not to give me cedar in the mix. So far this is working great.

But ?Reveille is looking for a new home. He was just doing what roosters do, becoming the head roo. But both were bloody, the girls were trying to intervene, it was way too dramatic, and looked like it would go on. Earl had surrendered, but R was still after him.

I will miss his ability to sire pretty egg layers, but I prefer Earl's personality, so if anyone wants him, speak up quick. He would probably be fine with his own hens, he just isn't into sharing. He is less than a year old.
 
The window is meant to be that way. Dr. Woods explains how the placement of the windows keeps air flowing through the coop so there is no moisture buildup and the litter stays dry. It does work very well. We did modify the side screen windows so we could put in some stationery windows for snow storms or hurricanes and dh hung some on the upper screened windows, again to be closed only during severe storms. It does stay dry in front, despite the windows. These types of coops were used in the east coast by many chicken farmers, large and small. There is a book you can get that Dr Woods wrote about them. Our coop is on the small side for such a design and yes, we used that smoke roof for natural light and passive heating from the sun. The most important thing that everyone on this forum will tell you is ventilation in your coop. Chickens can survive cold temps very well. Its moisture in the coop, whether from them breathing or pooping or leaks that will cause all kinds of issues for them.

So in the winter, you still have the open screens (just cover for bad weather situations)? Night times in winter as well? Just trying to make sure I got it right! Thanks for the info, pharmchick. And yes, I am definitely getting the importance of a dry, well-ventilated coop!

TOB
 
Back to the coop stuff, last year I experimented with sand under the ladder roosts. I put it in boot holders under the roosts, and it was tricky to get to them to clean, even though the roosts were hinged...and there was odor. We put up a variety of roosts with poop boards filled with a mix of sand and ?Sweet PDZ. I scoop it every day, or two, and it is quick.

Glasshen, do you mean the plastic / rubber trays that you would put your boots on in a mudroom? Trying to picture what you explained...


TOB
 
We have Armstrong TrafficMaster overlapping vinyl flooring in our coop, and the stuff is phenomenal. It's been down for better than a year and still looks brand new. It's impervious to water, easy to clean, and relatively inexpensive. That coop has better flooring underneath those shavings than does my house.

Still trying to convince the hubby that linoleum over the planned wood flooring might be the way to go. I haven't heard any negatives to it yet, anyway!


TOB
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom