NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

TOB: JJ Feeds carries the large compressed brown bags of shavings. They're right off Route 20. Just picked up 2 the other day.

Was just there the yesterday. One thing to consider when buying is the gas to get there. I saved on the DE cuz no one else carries the fifty pound bad and to have it shipped to me was $30 or a total of $57.99.

Now with feed it makes no sense to drive there to save $2 when the gas will cost more. JJ's does have a nice 20% grower and good prices though. If I had a truck and could buy 2-3 hundred pounds of feed at a time then it might be worth it.

I did save on a couple of other things when I was there too. The feed is fresh and that's a plus too. It's 20 miles from me so at a gallon of gas, ($4.35 back and forth $8.70) it just isn't worth it. I also forgot to take a copy of my tax exempt form.

 

[rancher hicks]

They have plenty at Taylor Rental in Camillus, they'll sell at $10 for 5 or more! I'm heading back out there today. I wish I could fit more than 2 in my suv but the Princess must have a royal throne to sit on.

I am over run with chickens and chicks. More to do than I have money or time. The yard work is there and garden to get in. I have a crate coop to finish and even if they were free I couldn't take on any more work.

TOB the longer you take the more you take home with you. Your DH will be putting in an in law apartment on that coop.

 

[Lynzi777]

Was just there the yesterday. One thing to consider when buying is the gas to get there. I saved on the DE cuz no one else carries the fifty pound bad and to have it shipped to me was $30 or a total of $57.99.

Now with feed it makes no sense to drive there to save $2 when the gas will cost more. JJ's does have a nice 20% grower and good prices though. If I had a truck and could buy 2-3 hundred pounds of feed at a time then it might be worth it.

I did save on a couple of other things when I was there too. The feed is fresh and that's a plus too. It's 20 miles from me so at a gallon of gas, ($4.35 back and forth $8.70) it just isn't worth it. I also forgot to take a copy of my tax exempt form.

I'm glad someone recommended it to me. It's 5 minutes down the road from me and I was driving back and forth to TS every time I was in need of feed or shavings. And those shavings at TS are a rip compared to what I get now from JJs. I feel like I get 3x as much for a buck or two more. Now that I have two big bales of it I probably wont have to go back until Fall.

Beautiful again today. I need to take a day off soon. I hate being inside on days like this.

My husband decided to inform me last night that he basically accepted this new promotion so in a few days he will begin the training the new GM so he work side by side with him for the next couple of months. He's going to be traveling a LOT when he starts this. But the good news is we don't have to move!!!

 

[rancher hicks]

Grrrrrrrrr so I'm pretty much ready to plywood the walls today. I checked work last night for any bins that I was going to use and they was out. If they don't have any tonight looks like I will be attacking homedepot with plastic again.

the plywood on bins is like 47x45 ish 3/4 inch. They charge only 3 dollars for a full bin 6 sheets. I have a few pieces but not nearly enough.

Sorry to hear about your loss of a good friend.

Grats on some more bm's hatching rancher.

Well back to the coop.

Jlaw

Ok let's see what you're building? I'm sorry but IMO some folks go too far. Yes those cutesy coops are nice IF you're only going to have 12 chickens and you don't mind cleaning and painting. Rest assured those pictures are staged. Chickens are messy. They will drop that pile where ever they are. That is why I have them fenced in a part of the yard where no one walks. Usually.

They'll like to jump up on the cute little flower boxes and make a mess. Scratching and digging and rolling around. Where ever I dig to plant they run right over and start scratching and digging for whatever they can find. That is why I surround my garden and plants with fencing.

This area was loaded with Lily plants and Grape Hyacinths. Much fuller than this picture. Last year I planted lots of Lily's along the outside of the fenced in veg garden and now few are there. Gotta do it all over again and block it so they become established before the birds can scratch them out. The same with my raspberries.

 

[stonykill]

1st hatch of the year. My best broody names Mama hatched 11. Warning, cuteness overload

 

[miquwid]

Very cute! Congrats

 

[miquwid]

So I try and take a pic every morning and it helps me through the day, ugh back to work.

 

[Glasshen]

Wow, sonograms are way better than they were. Your baby looks great, the profile is adorable. I was concerned that my first would turn out to be a blob, couldn't make head or tail of that pic!

Stony, mama's babies are super cute!

Jj's is about 2-3 miles from me, very convenient, but they close around 3, so got to get there early. Neil Casey's is a nice place to buy garden plants and flowers. They have a special on Pansy's and violas, buy 3 six packs, get one free. So now I have too many. Will have to find a place.

The starter feed that they sell at jj's was medicated, when I got my chicks. I have a problem with medicated feed, and am thinking this may start some controversy, but here is my thinking, and I'd love to hear others ideas on the subject.

We are starting to have "super germs" that are resistant to antibiotics. For this reason, when I get a sinus infection which is maybe every third year, my doctor has said no antibiotics, which prolonged it, since I really did need them....and there was just a news story about lots of meat, particularly ground turkey testing positive for these resistent bacteria. So, since my place is pretty clean, and my birds are at least adequately cared for, why would I medicate healthy babies? I just said I'll put some flock raiser in the blender. They seem fine. I believe that medicine is to be given and taken when it is needed, not to prevent the possibility of illness occurring. That is what good hygiene, and good nutrition is for.

Do I need to hide?

 

[Gramma Chick]

1st hatch of the year. My best broody names Mama hatched 11. Warning, cuteness overload

No need to be warned for cuteness ...ONLY the gross out Factor LOL

Wow, sonograms are way better than they were. Your baby looks great, the profile is adorable. I was concerned that my first would turn out to be a blob, couldn't make head or tail of that pic!

Stony, mama's babies are super cute!

Jj's is about 2-3 miles from me, very convenient, but they close around 3, so got to get there early. Neil Casey's is a nice place to buy garden plants and flowers. They have a special on Pansy's and violas, buy 3 six packs, get one free. So now I have too many. Will have to find a place.

The starter feed that they sell at jj's was medicated, when I got my chicks. I have a problem with medicated feed, and am thinking this may start some controversy, but here is my thinking, and I'd love to hear others ideas on the subject.

We are starting to have "super germs" that are resistant to antibiotics. For this reason, when I get a sinus infection which is maybe every third year, my doctor has said no antibiotics, which prolonged it, since I really did need them....and there was just a news story about lots of meat, particularly ground turkey testing positive for these resistent bacteria. So, since my place is pretty clean, and my birds are at least adequately cared for, why would I medicate healthy babies? I just said I'll put some flock raiser in the blender. They seem fine. I believe that medicine is to be given and taken when it is needed, not to prevent the possibility of illness occurring. That is what good hygiene, and good nutrition is for.

Do I need to hide?

No ! I think most people agree with you ...IF it is not sick why medicate it !
flock Raiser works just fine ...We went the baby food & Layer way ...As babies will be seperate for a while & we will be getting more babies ..I hope ..
I got some pansys , snap dragons , diantus ? 6 packs( they had assillum ? too on clearance at Lowes Camilus for a dollar each ....Just need a little love ..most have already flowered ..

 

[JLaw]

Ok let's see what you're building? I'm sorry but IMO some folks go too far. Yes those cutesy coops are nice IF you're only going to have 12 chickens and you don't mind cleaning and painting. Rest assured those pictures are staged. Chickens are messy. They will drop that pile where ever they are. That is why I have them fenced in a part of the yard where no one walks. Usually.

Lol. I just took pics of what I'm building to ask for some vent help from those here. I know I could go to coop forms but rather get info from those in state rather than get some info from someone in NC or some where.

Ok an idea of what I want to do.
1. Have enough ventilation to have healthy birds all year round with minimum putting up and taking down boards to cover vents.
2. I DONT WANT A SNOW PILE IN HERE IN WINTER!! Lots of wind up here on the hill and no tree breaks to slow wind/snow, though I do plan on planting some soon as this coop gets done but will take a bit to grow and break wind/snow.

Be advised I tried to use MS paint to describe what I'm doing but I cant move a mouse in straight line for the life of me.

Some info before hand. I plan on leaving window in door open year round wind "normaly" don't blow into that direction. The rafters are staying open 6 inch I didn't cut them I used hurricane straps to mount them so a true 6 inch opening front and back. I may put a block of wood in them about foot or two away from wall to help keep any snow out if needed. Building is 8x12ft. front is over 8ft tall I didn't cut the boards down. back is right around 5'11" top of wall. Roof will be shingled.



EAST WALL
This is the wall that gets the least wind so trying to keep it open I outlined the area's that I want open. the measurements for the areas are.
1. 40 1/2 t x 17 1/5 w
2. 29 1/2 t x 23 w
3 31 t x 21 w




WEST WALL
This wall is where i'm kinda iffy wind normaly comes from this side or at an angle from eather corner. I plan on having roosts straight across full with of coop this wall going out here. I figure with one or both outlined area's open will let them in or out of wind as they want/need. measurements are
1. 17 right side 13 inch left side tall by 13 1/2 wide
2. 31 1/2 t x 13 1/2 w


NORTH WALL
this is back side figure up high roof will help cover them from elements but already have rafters so was thinking some might need lower. wind comes from this side along more often also with the pic above it. door to the left here. measurements for these would be

1. 18 t x 22 w
2. 12 t x 12 3/4 w



SOUTH WALL
this is front. this is the side I plan on taking plexiglass in and out of if any side. no measurements yet still debateing on how many and how big to do them. Screwed in a sheet of plywood just to see how much it helped with swaying of coop.

I know lots of odd ball shape openings I want to put in for ventilation but that's what you get when you don't set braces up between studs evenly.

So there you have it so far that's what I have done. Probably lots of mistakes but been a learning experience. I was planning on using 5ft x 5ft bay windows in but didn't want to fool around with bracing roof around that big of window so now just using openings.

Check list still to do.
1. add brace to top of door to rafter.
2. add braces between rafters.
3. plywood walls/roof and shingle roof
4. set up a door for chickens to get out of the south wall
5. hardware cloth the rafters/windows once I figure out which ones to leave open.

I think I should get done this weeknd if all goes as planned. Hoping daughter gets better if not this may not get done till next week. Her incision has an infection we get to find out tomorrow if she has to go back to Rochester tomorrow or not.

Sorry for the long post thanks for looking it over and any advice is greatly appreciated.

Jlaw