NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

If you are looking for a negative, and it really is not, just an extra consideration, is to use plastic shovels to clean. Metal lipped, or metal shovels can tear and put holes in the flooring.

If you are a re-designer like me, it also adds some complexity. As of yet I have managed to not put a screw or nail into the flooring. but you need to be mindful of that. I have Linoleum and love it, any future coops will also have it.

Framac

For those consider this type of flooring you might check the floor places for cheap end lots. Kinda like fabrics. That is if you're not to picky on pattern. I wouldn't go with anything that has red in it though.

 

[rancher hicks]

Groan......cannot seem to commit to where to put the new coop! Thought I had my mind made up, but I think the ground is going to be a little too prone to holding surface water in the winter thaws and spring time. The coop will be off the ground, though, so any thoughts on this? It won't get tons of sun, but has a good natural windbreak on 3 sides. The other advantage to this spot will be the (relative) ease with which to get water and electricity to it. It's not terribly far from the house.

Second spot is further away. Water and electricity still doable, but more of a schlep from the house. Still has decent windbreak, and will get more sunshine. Slope is a little steeper here, but we live on a hillside, so we don't own a piece of level ground!

TOB - can't make a quick decision...ever!

If you have concerns to water, what I suggest is to fill in the area making a slight "berm" so the coop sits high and water can run down. Perhaps a good truck load of any kind of fill would work.

You could also use a load of "runner crush" or gravel. I think the gravel would work best at making a berm. Drainage would be better.

 

[stonykill]

I will try again ..LOL..
Are your RIR from a hatchery or from a Breeder ?
The reason I ask is We have a Breeder Austlorp roo & hatchery RIR , & hatchery red sexlinks or Golden Comets .
Your Sumatras are breeding with the RIR I assume ? How is that working out ?
I am interested in making my own Mutts ..
If I were to get a couple chickens (hens ) from you ..would it be better to get just one or two ?
Can the babies be sexed ?
We have a small coop & run ..so we dont want to overcrowd it ..they only sleep in the coop ..& stay in the run till we let them out ...to free range

lol...ok
birds than
The ones I always take pictures of...neither. Old farm stock. Bred over a period of 60 years on the same farm. I have 2 hatchery RIR's and they are much smaller birds than my old girls.

My sumatra roo's breed with any hen that moves

. It works out great. Sumatra genes are strong. They look more like Sumatra's or game birds than RIR's. 2 is always best. Adding 1 new bird to a new flock is never good.
Sexing Sumatra chicks is pure guess work. So no...can't be sexed at birth. Even Sumatra breeders sell them straight run or when they are older.

 

[marquisella]

Is there anyone near enough to me that wants 3 RIR pullets that just started laying for $15?

Let me know.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: That is good that you are on a hill. I would put the coop where it is convenient for you...chickens will adapt. Think about walking out to feed mid winter with a lot of snow...Here is a pic of my Brabanters, all roosting. I call it the "Lineup"...layigh pretty well too...nice large white eggs..besides being rare breed.

 

[stonykill]

Is there anyone near enough to me that wants 3 RIR pullets that just started laying for $15?

Let me know.

wish I was close enough

 

[vmdanielsen]

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

I cover my windows with hardware cloth, I just don't trust screen to be sturdy enough.

 

[vmdanielsen]

I will try again ..LOL..
Are your RIR from a hatchery or from a Breeder ?
The reason I ask is We have a Breeder Austlorp roo & hatchery RIR , & hatchery red sexlinks or Golden Comets .
Your Sumatras are breeding with the RIR I assume ? How is that working out ?
I am interested in making my own Mutts ..
If I were to get a couple chickens (hens ) from you ..would it be better to get just one or two ?
Can the babies be sexed ?
We have a small coop & run ..so we dont want to overcrowd it ..they only sleep in the coop ..& stay in the run till we let them out ...to free range

I never only get one bird. With 2 (or more) one they have a friend and there is someone getting picked on (the newie) there is someone to commiserate with.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Groan......cannot seem to commit to where to put the new coop! Thought I had my mind made up, but I think the ground is going to be a little too prone to holding surface water in the winter thaws and spring time. The coop will be off the ground, though, so any thoughts on this? It won't get tons of sun, but has a good natural windbreak on 3 sides. The other advantage to this spot will be the (relative) ease with which to get water and electricity to it. It's not terribly far from the house.

Second spot is further away. Water and electricity still doable, but more of a schlep from the house. Still has decent windbreak, and will get more sunshine. Slope is a little steeper here, but we live on a hillside, so we don't own a piece of level ground!

TOB - can't make a quick decision...ever!

I prefer coops off the ground. And as I schlep water and food to my birds, closer is better! More shade in the summer is a plus.

 

[rancher hicks]

That is good that you are on a hill. I would put the coop where it is convenient for you...chickens will adapt. Think about walking out to feed mid winter with a lot of snow...Here is a pic of my Brabanters, all roosting. I call it the "Lineup"...layigh pretty well too...nice large white eggs..besides being rare breed.

Have you posted any close ups? I've always stayed away from white egg layers since I figured the only ones who layed white were Leghorns a hyper breed and Hollands that lay a medium egg.

Right now I'm ready to take an ax to these BR's and SLW's. Not an egg for weeks. The same with these orps.

I've put a light in the coop and the Dels have picked up, but not the orps side. 13 birds and only three eggs today. Some day only one or two.

and of those two were EE's.

None from the BM's today either, but the three chicks got out and went back there last night and I had to move them back to the youngster coop, so I figure there was an upset.

I'll be setting eggs tomorrow I hope. Mostly Dels and BM's. Also a few EE's. Not sure how many will hatch of course but I've selected only the largest eggs.