NY chicken lover!!!!

[tao chick]

Try little things of water. Like a custard cup etc...until you find the right surface area to get the correct humidity. If the glass isn't holding temp you may want to put some styrofoam around it. May insulate it enough.  

I have a thermal blanket wrapped around three sides and the bottom. The temp has been ok. The humidity seems low but I think I could modify the cover during lockdown if I decide to try to hatch in it. It would be fun to watch hatching through the big glass.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: A cool Idea ! Remember the humity goes up at hatching ...so it shouldnt be a problem if it is lower

 

[shodack]

Gramma chick, lots of ventilation, a couple inches around the entire top. I didn't know about ventilation when I first started this, but my husband did. He made sure it was included in the build, luckily!
We just bought this house in February and it had an existing dog pen, about 20'x20', which is where the hens live. Made me saying I was going to get chickens okay with my husband!

I wanted to add, someone had asked about letting the hens out for a bit of supervised grass eating. I have been doing this exact thing for the last two weeks or so. Took me a while to build up the courage, but luckily it's been going well. I have a treat in hand when I do it, and have been able to wrangle them up pretty easily because of this.

 

[Purpletie3]

Gramma chick, lots of ventilation, a couple inches around the entire top. I didn't know about ventilation when I first started this, but my husband did. He made sure it was included in the build, luckily!
We just bought this house in February and it had an existing dog pen, about 20'x20', which is where the hens live. Made me saying I was going to get chickens okay with my husband!

I wanted to add, someone had asked about letting the hens out for a bit of supervised grass eating. I have been doing this exact thing for the last two weeks or so. Took me a while to build up the courage, but luckily it's been going well. I have a treat in hand when I do it, and have been able to wrangle them up pretty easily because of this.

I let mine out before feeding them so they can forage. When they see the orange bucket come out they come running!

 

[Gramma Chick]

Gramma chick, lots of ventilation, a couple inches around the entire top. I didn't know about ventilation when I first started this, but my husband did. He made sure it was included in the build, luckily!

Wow that is a lot ..I would probably close 2 of them for the winter ...so they dont loose too much heat ..

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

Another successful day of free ranging! They make me laugh. They peek their little heads out. Some come out, some wait for the others. If one got spooked, they all would run in the coop and then come back out. I found it comical that they freaked out about the wind. You see them running like the dickens for the coop and their fluffy bums look like Tina Turner's hair in the 80's.

Today we added more dirt in the runs, I also added DE. We got the plastic on the roof and half the sides so far. We can add more to the bottom portion but my husband wanted to wait and see. We got a lot done the past couple of days. I'm quite satisfied! Even the pile of dirt in the front is coming along. I took more pictures to show so far. I'm glad the patches are fixed with the hardware cloth. I think we got the area where the mole breeched. We shall see!


She's one of my favorites and seems to care for the smaller ones that the other bigger girls aren't interested in. I like her a lot. Lady Mary behind her is molting under her wing and now just above her tail feathers on her back. Poor girl! She has attitude like Lady Mary from Downton too.



Little Bear wanted a picture of herself in the doorway of the run. It's dark.


Happy Chickens free ranging. Two Golden Laced Wyandottes, 2 black Australorps, and 4 EE'ers.


They're getting used to Little Bear


Lady Sybil was interested in the doohickey that took the picture. The EE in the back (grey) is Snow White. She seems to be more skittish but also a bit more aggressive with the other smaller girls.


The coop lit at night so far. It goes all the way around the back. We have some inside as well.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Dang blasted monster chickens! !! I had to retrieve 16 off the top of the run tonight and another out of the garden! !! Doofy birds were so busy eating bugs they forgot to go to bed. My arms are scratched up and bit up and sore now. Guess I have to Hurd them before dark from now on.

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

Oh no! 16 birds off the top does not sound like a picnic. I'd imagine it was frustrating all the while I'm betting they got quite the kick out of YOU trying to retrieve them. It seems the bugs are in full force right now. They're enjoying the smorgasbord. I'm sure you know this already but just in case, grab up some triple antibiotic ointment and lather those scratches that are hurting. We're trying our hand at a winter garden of greens so if ours landed in the garden they'd be toast!

 

[Beer can]

Mine started roosting in trees last yr, lost some to predators so I stopped free ranging and keep them in a covered run so they couldn't fly out. The jersey giants and sussex I got in June I had in a uncovered run and lost one of my best giant pullets to a hawk. All runs will be covered now.

I started extra kale about a two months ago and another bed last month along with spinach and beets for greens. Only paid $2 a ounce for the seeds so I figure why save them for next yr.Should be plenty extra for the chickens the bed of kale I started in the spring is still going strong.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Dang blasted monster chickens! !! I had to retrieve 16 off the top of the run tonight and another out of the garden! !! Doofy birds were so busy eating bugs they forgot to go to bed. My arms are scratched up and bit up and sore now. Guess I have to Hurd them before dark from now on.

Oh No ! such fun .. I hope you are feeling better .
I had to climb under the deck one time ...when some decided to bed down there ..
I wasnt scratched up ...but I was all dirt ...as I had to carry a chicken crawling along ...underneath ...they were screaming all the way of course !
Do you have a roo ? They usually take care of that going to bed thing ..
And yes a treat before bed works too .
I use my garden/ leaf rake when they are where I dont want them ...
it gives you great reach & they know I mean business when I pick up that rake .

Also they hate a tarp sound ...so that will usually make them move if you shake that at them