NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

That's one of the problems I keep haveing. I have plywood. 43x45 inches and I don't know if I want to make one long coop that is short or one tall enough to walk in. Wasted head space for a walk in but easier cleaning. I have a good screen door and some 5x5ft bay windows that could be used for a tall coop. Also trying to find a way to get it done cheaper.

My chicken runs are 6' in front and 5' in back. I've bumped my head a few times, but I've learned to duck. Mostly if I move to the back. 6' is plenty high enough for me.

I think if you look at a lot of designs and use your imagination you should be able to make something. This crate has a back door that opens up completely and I can reach in with a hoe and scrape everything right into a wheel barrow. I use it as a grow out coop, but may use it for a single rooster too.

I've since added a pop hole and 8x6 run on the front. Only problem is getting new chicks to learn to climb the ramp and not go underneath it at night. There is chicken wire behind the lattice. It's bent out away from the sides about a foot or so and now hidden by the grass.

My point being if you build a coop that is easy to clean without going in too often, short would work.

 

[Glasshen]

Just saw a nice small coop on the Poop board convert thread, for those considering small easily cleaned coops. At the moment it is the last post.

 

[Lapeerian]

Here's my handsome, overly eager young Easter Egger. I've named him Harry Potter, because he's the Boy Who Lived.

Perfect name for him! My EE roo is named Harry, but got that name before I gave him away for Amish dinner and he escaped.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Depends....Will they if they will have access to the heat lamp if they get cold and they are well protected? If they are under a heat lamp set at say 90*, I think that they will get cold, unless they are with a broody.

I've done it. Put 3 week old chicks outside for the day when it is cooler than 70. At 3 weeks old they shouldn't have 90 degree heat on them. Or I should say they don't need it. The rule is lower the temp 5 degrees a week. I usually speed that up. By 4 weeks, no heat. Don't need it.

I agree. That is why I put depends and qualified it.

 

[Lynzi777]

Would it be safe to bring out 3 week ish old chicks tomorrow if we really hit 70? They're just starting to feather and I'd bring their heat lamp out with them

Did you want to take them outside to enjoy the warm weather while you clean coops or move them out there permanently? We got our first chicks on Easter weekend last year, I can't remember the temp but I know it got warm! I took outlet chicks outside at days old, one of them a week old at the most, so I could take pics of the kids with them in the grass. They were fine. We kept the heat lamp on them maybe a week or to more. And moved them outside when we moved here permanently the end of June. If we were living here in May they would have been out there, it was so warm by then. Do you still have a heat lamp on them now? If so I would wean them off of it and get them ready for outdoor weather!

 

[stonykill]

I think you mean raise, but I agree. Even now my chicks shy away from the heat light area. IMO 250 is to much. I've had hens raise chicks outside when it's colder. But for the other birds they'd do fine. I think if they had more space and would be safe from preds chicks would be ok.

no I mean lower the temp. If one raised the temp 5 degree's a week the brooder temp would be 105 degree's at week 3 and that would be silly

. I mean lower the temp, you mean raise the heatlamp, which is the same thing.

 

[Lynzi777]

So I was informed last night of the reasoning behind why I couldn't get my chicks shipped from CT. There WAS a miscommunication on their end. I was told that "Chicks must be shipped within 24 hours of hatching as they only have 3 days worth of nutrients in their system. After that they need to wait till they are mostly grown where they can handle a couple days in transit with no food and water. I physically could ship the chicks but it violates USPS rules and the risk of them arriving in very poor condition is very high."

But now this makes me curious, does this vary by state? Because I have been in contact with someone who has 4wk olds that is willing to ship to me, so what is going to be done as far as food and water goes for these chicks? I do believe if I decide to purchase they mentioned they will be shipped Next Day which is probably the difference. I guess everyone is different in the way they handle the shipping of the chickens.

 

[NookNook01]

Hey Y'all.
Broody question....how do I know if my Broody I serious about sitting?? Since I've moved her to her own confined area of the Shack,she only gets off the nest to eat/drink and less often beg for treats if the other girls are offered them.... Is she serious enuff to put fertile eggs beneath her, it's been a Lil over a week or should I wait?? Her belly is nekked, incase that's a factor. Thanks For Any and All Pointers( first time broody coach) Haa~

 

[JLaw]

Glad to hear your little chick is still improving


You almost  always totally crack me up ...
8 inch Mother in Law - eating chickens ..You shouldnt raise scary chickens  THAT is NOT NICE It is amazing what people are scared of ..
Flying baby Chickens ...LOL
Oh by the way if you do let them out side be prepared to chase them ..ROOS especially

Sadly I've only gotten to take two chicks out side so far and only for one day. I took the leghorn which I think maybe a roo out but he just stood there so then I took the silkie that I think maybe a roo also then they walked about 5 feet and stood there. If it was the silkie that ran up on her I could see why she got scared. I trained those 5 toed freaks to ripe out people's hearts with Kung fu like Bruce lee moves. But no really that 5toe is just freaky lol.

 

[mderby48]

So yesterday I decided to put some plastic Easter eggs in a nesting box. I had one hen sit on them fir about 4 hrs then didn't go near them again. This morning I go out to collect eggs and 3/4 of the fake eggs were kicked out. 3 hens were piled on top of eachother on the one fake egg and a bunch of real ones. I pulled off two of them then reached for the eggs and I got bit, HARD! After I took the eggs I put the fake ones under her and she is sitting on them still (its been an hour) My question is, do I have a broody hen? I didn't risk checking for a bare chest as my finger is quite sore LOL. Any advise?