NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Looks GREAT !

And yes, learn from us - a normal screen won't last a minute against a weasel or a raccoon - they will rip right in. Use hardware cloth .... and chickenwire is not for chickens .... I watched a fox chew right threw a section that was only a year old ! (I was right there - so swooped down on the fox once he munched out a few wires in seconds)

Mine have an open front all winter long with a deeper back - so how's that for not closed in ? Even in this hard and cold and long winter - no deaths and they are all plump and happy and can't wait to get out and start to free range - if the white ever leaves the ground.

Have we seen a pic?

 

[huntin fool]

sounds like you got the right idea, how many birds do you plan to get? when i made my 2nd run, i made it so i can add onto it,also keep in mind that if you plan on adding to your flock in the future, its nice to have a big enough run so you can separate your birds if you have to. my coop also has 2 doors so when i introduce my pullets to the existing flock, they can see them, hear them, but not hurt them. i temporarily separate the coop so the pullets have about 25% of the coop and run to themselves, home depot sells this green plastic fencing for like 10 bucks a roll, use a staple gun to put it up, works great for separating a run or coop, but Dont use it as a predator barrier(easily chewed thru). ill post pics when i get done, my chicks are only 2 weeks old, i probably wont put them in the big coop until may. oh yeah dont forget to cover the top of the run, keep hawks, possums and such out. i'm actually gonna cover most of the run with roofing panels, tired of muddy eggs!

 

[rancher hicks]

Had two guys stop this am while I was out letting the girls out. They were looking to buy some hens.
Live over Fyler road way. Said they had pigses.

I don't have anymore hens for sale, plus it was too early. I was in my bathrobe still.

Not dressed for catching chickens.

One guy said he could get chicks but didn't want to raise chicks. I thought you and me both but they don't come out of the egg layers.

Rain or no I've got work to do before I leave next week. I just hope it warms up a bit more.

One thing folks don't think about when the buy stuff that comes from farms is that the farmer is up whether he feels like it or not. At least if he want so to keep a clean and healthy situation.

Jesse graduates this year so I'll need to find another teen to hire for cleaning days. I usually hire them for 4 hr stints. It's tough for teens these days since all the Seniors have taken the "fast food" jobs. Used to be that was a kids first job. Now it's a Seniors last job.

Just finished "Because of Winn Dixie". Nice book. My DS and his lived in AL and just around the corner of a Winn Dixie, so I had to read the book. I think it's not as important what you read only that you do. If your a parent remember RIF. Reading Is Fundamental. (forgive the muse)

TTFN

 

[huntin fool]

Quote:



dont forget to check craigslist for supplies also, check the free section as well as the materials and farm and garden sections, i got all my roofing for 5 bucks a sheet, lots of lumber on clearance carts at home depot and lowes, remember, if in doubt about the size of the coop or run, always go larger rather than smaller, most of us on this site probably started with a small coop, then after we got chickenitis, we all needed more coop space! sounds like you might already be infected.... if you feel a bad case of chickenitis coming on, DO NOT go into TSC!!![/quote]

Funny you should say home depot clearance. I actually got all my lumber from there clearance cart. Spent only $60 on almost $300 worth of lumber. All the ply wood was scrap wood from my cousins job so that didnt cost me anything

dont forget lowes also has clearance wood, i was able to get the red corrugated roof panels for 5 bucks cuz the corners were broke, i think they are normally over 20 bucks a sheet! one of lowes best deals though is in the paint section, 5 bucks a gallon for mistinted or returned paint, i have bought most of the paint i use for that price, even expensive valspar paint, it doesnt matter what the retail is they always sell it for 5 bucks a gallon! also the back end caps on the aisles usually have alot of clearance items. i even got clearance deck screws at a dollar store, cuz they had a funny tip that needed a special bit, i got the bit at home depot for less than a dollar!

 

[marquisella]

Quote: My yard isnt fenced in so I am building a run. I Plan on making it the width of the shed which is 9-10 feet and 4-5 feet off the shed. I may even wrap it part of the run around the shed. Once all the snow melts ill have a better idea of what I am going to do with it. I am hoping the rain will melt the rest of the snow so I can get started on the run next week. I am in the Hoosic Valley area
Here is another suggestion...Divide up the run into 2 sections Each with its own coop entrance, or block off one side at a time. Your chickens will eat up all the grass if you only have one run that size. If you divide it into two sections, you can let them go inn one while the other recoperates and regrows grass. Otherwise you will have a mud run and that isn't good for the chickens or for clean eggs.Also, when its wet, they will drop mud off their feet when they come inside, makinng clean up even harder than normal. Imagine the coop floor hard with dried mud. Ugh.

 

[matthewg325]

Here is another suggestion...Divide up the run into 2 sections Each with its own coop entrance, or block off one side at a time. Your chickens will eat up all the grass if you only have one run that size. If you divide it into two sections, you can let them go inn one while the other recoperates and regrows grass. Otherwise you will have a mud run and that isn't good for the chickens or for clean eggs.Also, when its wet, they will drop mud off their feet when they come inside, makinng clean up even harder than normal. Imagine the coop floor hard with dried mud. Ugh.

Thanks didnt think of that... Thats a good idea will def. do that

 

[rancher hicks]

Here is another suggestion...Divide up the run into 2 sections Each with its own coop entrance, or block off one side at a time. Your chickens will eat up all the grass if you only have one run that size. If you divide it into two sections, you can let them go inn one while the other recoperates and regrows grass. Otherwise you will have a mud run and that isn't good for the chickens or for clean eggs.Also, when its wet, they will drop mud off their feet when they come inside, makinng clean up even harder than normal. Imagine the coop floor hard with dried mud. Ugh.

Thanks didnt think of that... Thats a good idea will def. do that

I think so too. Good idea. My hoops have doors on both sides but I've yet to build a run on both sides. I really should.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Well Legolas is back with his girls and Junior is still downstairs. Its raining out pretty good so I am not going to try to set up his bachelor pad in the rain. I treated Legolas again and have to go do so again soon. He seemed happy to be back with his girls. I sat and held Junior for a while and talked to him and pet him. He seemed to enjoy the attention despite being downstairs in a cage. I feel bad for him an might put one of the girls in with him for company. He is a really nice boy, just hormonal right now.

Changed out the paper towels in the brooder and that was an excuse to run and jump and flap and jump on each other while I was doing it. Had to bring out the long feeder so everyone could step up to the bar and eat. Gave them the empty paper towel roll to play with. My cat had to check them out before I closed the door.

Making bread and doing laundry. Got to go get eggs and feed the beasties. Mud everywhere but snow is melting. Thank goodness.

 

[Glasshen]

I just looked back, and it was January of last year that my two roosters stopped living together in harmony. But January last year had some warm weather, which probably signaled spring to the chickens. The one I gave away is Reveille and he is the subject of my avatar now. Good luck with your boys.

 

[AQHAchick22]

I'm sorry your roosters aren't getting along
I've noticed the fighting increasing among mine as well. The Fayoumi will fly out of the run and avoid the conflict but the Welsummer and Orpington are definitely facing off more often now that the weather is getting warmer and they are more active.