NY chicken lover!!!!

[pharmchickrnmom]

Hi Pharmchick - that would be my coop. I have gone back and forth on whether or not to put a ceiling in at around 6'. The ventilation was already a concern, but we thought we'd cut venting "doors" into the ceiling. The two biggest reasons I wanted a ceiling was to (1) keep the birds off the rafters and randomly pooping everywhere; and (2) to keep their heat in and closer to their roosting poles in the colder months.

I welcome any thoughts on this little dilemna...

TOB

Well I guess if they were great flyers and really motivated, they could get up there. Mine dont bother. Please remember that chickens can handle the cold weather as long as there is adequate ventilation and no drafts. It is when there is a buildup of humidity in the coop that you get problems like respiratory disease and frostbite. Mine live in a woods style coop that has and open front and sides and open windows up top. Here is a winter pic"

You can see them looking out the front window and you can kinda see their roosting bars in the back. No matter how cold it got, they were comfortable in the coop and I found it wasnt bad. We have a cookie tin water heater in it for the winter to keep the water just warm enough to not freeze.

My suggestion is to go back and read the threads on ventilation. I would rather have more than less because you can cover up if its too much but cutting holes during the winter trying to fix not enough is going to be a real pain! Hope this helps.

Cooked up the venison with the tiny eggs and silkie eggs that were clear, added some hot sauce and a jar of salsa and it was chicken nirvana. The divas, of course, had theirs first served on their concrete block while the terrorists watched in envy from behind bars (aka their run). I then further drove them crazy by letting the terrorists watch me strategically place spoonfuls of said deliciousness around the back yard on various pieces of logs that were lying around. I took my time, letting them see everything I did. Worth the wait because when I opened the prison gate, chickens scattered everywhere! They didnt know where to run to first and Olaf, my rooster, was beside himself trying to keep all the girls together. It was hilarious to watch, just the thing for a long and tiring week.

Gave the babies some yogurt but they wouldnt eat it until I mixed it with some chick food and then only off my fingers. I will try again tomorrow. They did peck at what I wiped off my fingers onto the cardboard sides of their brooder. Gave them something to do. Since they didnt eat it all I opened the slider and asked the two rir girls that were in the back yard if they would mind eating the rest. They obliged me and also tried to eat the flesh off my fingers as well. A bit of revenge for the earlier incident maybe?

Tab--sorry to hear you are rundown. Take care of yourself mommy and get some rest.

Speaking of rest, thats what I am off to do. Ta ta everyone.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I guess if they were great flyers and really motivated, they could get up there. Mine dont bother. Please remember that chickens can handle the cold weather as long as there is adequate ventilation and no drafts. It is when there is a buildup of humidity in the coop that you get problems like respiratory disease and frostbite. Mine live in a woods style coop that has and open front and sides and open windows up top. Here is a winter pic"

You can see them looking out the front window and you can kinda see their roosting bars in the back. No matter how cold it got, they were comfortable in the coop and I found it wasnt bad. We have a cookie tin water heater in it for the winter to keep the water just warm enough to not freeze.

My suggestion is to go back and read the threads on ventilation. I would rather have more than less because you can cover up if its too much but cutting holes during the winter trying to fix not enough is going to be a real pain! Hope this helps.

Cooked up the venison with the tiny eggs and silkie eggs that were clear, added some hot sauce and a jar of salsa and it was chicken nirvana. The divas, of course, had theirs first served on their concrete block while the terrorists watched in envy from behind bars (aka their run). I then further drove them crazy by letting the terrorists watch me strategically place spoonfuls of said deliciousness around the back yard on various pieces of logs that were lying around. I took my time, letting them see everything I did. Worth the wait because when I opened the prison gate, chickens scattered everywhere! They didnt know where to run to first and Olaf, my rooster, was beside himself trying to keep all the girls together. It was hilarious to watch, just the thing for a long and tiring week.

Gave the babies some yogurt but they wouldnt eat it until I mixed it with some chick food and then only off my fingers. I will try again tomorrow. They did peck at what I wiped off my fingers onto the cardboard sides of their brooder. Gave them something to do. Since they didnt eat it all I opened the slider and asked the two rir girls that were in the back yard if they would mind eating the rest. They obliged me and also tried to eat the flesh off my fingers as well. A bit of revenge for the earlier incident maybe?

Tab--sorry to hear you are rundown. Take care of yourself mommy and get some rest.

Speaking of rest, thats what I am off to do. Ta ta everyone.

I like the coop and wonder if I should just take out the two front windows on my coop. Though not as big as yours. My roosters got frost bit bad last year. I do plan to open things up a bit near the top this summer.
I also plan to cover the rafters with black landscape fabric. It should breath ok.

Now to the hot sauce. Is there a purpose for that? They don't seem to mind it? Is that a winter thing or all year long?

 

[Lapeerian]

Well after 2 hours of working on it the internet is up and running.  The 90 eggs in the bator are staggered batches of 30.  30 went into lock down the night the power went out and we now have pips started tonight.  The next 30 are due next week.  So far  so good.

I've had a sinus head cold all week and not sleeping good has left me run down.  I am due for a sonogram in a couple of weeks  which I look forward to.  The baby be bops around pretty good.  Well I'm pretty tired.  I'll check in tomorrow morning.  Good night.

Glad to hear the eggs are surviving. Sorry to hear about the cold, which is always worse when pregnant.

The little brown leghorn didn't make it. It was doing ok this morning, but not great. Not a complete surprise when I came home, but still disappointing. Maybe I'll have to buy a replacement chick next weekend.

 

[JLaw]

sounds like your chickens was raised right rancher. They share eggs probaly food and water probaly share same roo also.

 

[JLaw]

first off sorry all the double posts on cheap cell at work.

Sorry was confuseing. Was just saying they are nice ofr shareing you tell kids to share all the time but chickens do it. Giving up kids(eggs) to other hens and shareing they're man. So you raised them right on the other aisde of the railroad tracks pharmchicks raising jail birds convics and divas. A hen goes to get in a nest box with another hen over there and some one gets shanked. Lol sorry guys bored at work. Now lets hope this posts one time only.

 

[brahmapapa]

yes! I got some Marans, orps, and a few others from you but I also bought a dozen from Tricia and out some of my own in. I might possibly do another hatch I just don't want to spend money on any just to have them all fail. I have had two pip and start zipping today and they both died before finishing. I still see some rocking so I guess I will wait til there is no movement

I'm just disappointed. I would love a few marans chicks from you. A few pullets and a too would be good. Plus the lav. Pullet of course

I will be bringing more manure soon.
My chickens favorite place to hang out is in the horse pasture digging through the poo. At least it gets all spread out then fertilizes the grass! Have a good night everyone, time to tuck in the horses and chickens for the night.

HERE IS A TRICK THAT I NOW USE WHEN CHICKS START TO ZIP AND STOP AND DIE. MY OBSERVATION HAS BEEN THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS ITS USUALLY BECAUSE THE MEMBRANE HAS DRIED STUCK TO THIER FEATHERS. MY SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO MIST THE EGGS THAT ARE STOPPED ABOUT EVERY TWO HOURS.....BE CAREFUL TO GET THE EGGS WET BUT NOT DROWN THE CHICK INSIDE. YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOU MIST THAT THE MEMBRANE CHANGES TO DARK COLOR AS IT GETS WET. DOING THIS HAS IMPROVED MY SUCCESS RATE ALOT. WHEN I OPEN THE INCUBATOR TO MIST, I MIST AROUND THE INSIDES OF THE BATOR AS WELL WHICH HELPS THE HUMIDITY TO RECOVER VERY QUICKLY. AGAIN JUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET TOO MUCH WATER IN THE EGG OR THE CHICK WILL DROWN. I HAVE FOUND THAT CHICKS THAT HAVE ZIPPED A WHILE AND STOPPED, ALL OF A SUDDEN BEGIN AGAIN TO ZIP AND SOON HATCH. I HAVE SPRAYED LIKE THIS SOMETIMES AFTER NO FURTHER ZIP ACTIVITY FOR 10 OR MORE HOURS, ONLY TO HAVE IT FINISH AND HATCH IN AS LITTLE AS 15 MINS LATER.

 

[Breella]

The last few days I have had severe stomach upset-- to the point that I begged off of work on Thursday and today I napped for about 3 hours mid afternoon. I haven't made any more progress with my coop and that honestly makes me sad. I have the plywood and the vinyl sheet, I have to get hinges for the doors. Since half the shed is becoming coop (slightly smaller than 6ft by 10ft!) I'm making two doors, one on the left that opens to the coop and one to the right that will open to the storage area. I was thinking of doing them dutch style but I may not to save time. I could always take them down and cut them later if I really wanted them that way.

*sigh* here is to feeling better in the AM.

 

[msgenie516]

Hi Everyone!

I'm in the Smithtown (Suffolk County) area of Long Island, New York and was wondering if there is anyone near me? Thanks!

Genie

 

[Gramma Chick]

Hi Everyone!

I'm in the Smithtown (Suffolk County) area of Long Island, New York and was wondering if there is anyone near me? Thanks!

Genie

Welcome Genie !
there is someone near you ..Maybe they will speak up .
I am in Jordan about 20 min from Syracuse . Do you have chickens ?
I have 9 - 8 hens & a Roo

 

[Pyxis]

Hi Everyone!

I'm in the Smithtown (Suffolk County) area of Long Island, New York and was wondering if there is anyone near me?  Thanks!    Genie

Welcome! I'm nowhere near you, but I'm sure others here are


Can anyone tell me how to disinfect wood? I was driving home from a movie tonight and on the way, found two barred rock hens huddled in the road in the rain. I stopped to be sure they weren't hit, and they weren't, but they're terrifyingly skinny and there was no house with a coop anywhere in the area, so I brought them home and, for the night, tossed them in an extra run I had built FAR away from my flock that I use to house chicks until I get my abandoned tool shed A.K.A the quarantine area set up for them tomorrow. I want to be able to use that run, though, and I want to be sure it's safe before I put any chicks anywhere near it, JUST in case. What can I use to disinfect the wood? Outward appearances indicate the birds are healthy besides their undernourishment, but one can never be too careful!

Also, I'd love to worm them with DE too, while I'm at it. How do I do that? Just mix it in with their food, or is there a certain amount they need to get or anything?