NY chicken lover!!!!

[admhotel]

Quote:
Rancher, have the light turn on early in the morning that way they can put themselves to roost naturally at night. That way they are not on the floor when the timer shuts off the light.

Ahhh... WONDERFUL idea....IF I get power down there that's exactly what I am going to do.

Last year we used a long extension cord suspended by a cable from the house to the coop for power. Not a long term fix but worked for the winter. Got real power put back in over the summer, now working on running it through the coop and barn. I have alot of old wires in the barn that have to be removed and checked. The good wire I am reusing (wire is expensive), the old cloth wire I am going to strip and scrap.

 

[Cass]

Quote:
Ahhh... WONDERFUL idea....IF I get power down there that's exactly what I am going to do.

Last year we used a long extension cord suspended by a cable from the house to the coop for power. Not a long term fix but worked for the winter. Got real power put back in over the summer, now working on running it through the coop and barn. I have alot of old wires in the barn that have to be removed and checked. The good wire I am reusing (wire is expensive), the old cloth wire I am going to strip and scrap.

Someone else suggested running a lead cord, but every logical place to run one from would cross a path that we snow blow. Hanging it from a tree would really really piss off the neighbors, but would be doable. (I really don't want to piss off the neighbors tho, they still think the crowing is "cute" and I have SIX roosters)

I will probably just buy eggs for the winter and try and run power (underground, cuz that's the best option here) in the spring, before the clay hardens to rock and can't be dug up. The cable for the satalite tv service they put in by just lifting the sod, so I am assuming that electric wire doesn't have to go down 4 feet like water lines do around here.

Since I don't sell eggs production isn't a major problem. (Can't sell what you don't have, can ya?) But next winter? EGGS!!!! (I'm hatching chicks in February like Rancher, so I get eggs sooner, assuming the darn broodies cooperate)

 

[featherz]

We have power to all our coops but I am only lighting the two coops with younger pullets - starting the light at 4AM. My 1+ yr old layer coop is not getting light, although my leghorns keep cranking out the eggs.

I do have a few steady egg customers, but when the larger egg layers quit for the winter I'll have to tell them I'll be on hiatus for a while since all I'll have are smaller eggs. I gave one of them smaller eggs once in a free 'extra' dozen and I never heard the end of it!

(and we aren't talking fart eggs, just smaller pullet eggs). I keep hearing 'no more of those robin eggs!' from this customer, a doctor at my job..

These were free eggs since I had so many /sigh.

I still have a fridge full of eggs, but most are 'M' size or so since I sell all the big ones I get. Getting 13-18 eggs a day now.

Thinking of joining the NYD egg swap, but I'll have to see if my eggs are a decent size AND if my roo is getting the job done since he has a lot of ladies to woo.

ETA: Not only do we have power (run underground), but we also have auto doors on all active coops right now. Had to go out and change all the timers today.

 

[Cass]

My roo Jessie is dancing for my CAT. Now my cat is very laid back and protective of other animals, but she really doesn't know what to make of a rooster trying to be her friend. Poor Jessie, not a friend in sight. Poor cat, not a safe place to hide from her new friend.

 

[stonykill]

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[ODEY587]

i burried the leadcord that goes to our coops

 

[Cass]

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I would do that, as a temporary solution, but the ground has dried and we have 98% clay here, which translates to trying to dig through solid rock. Just not happening til spring.

I had to put compost/wood chips in my runs to keep the chickens from sticking fast in the clay. And ALL my gardens, including the ones that were here when we bought the place are raised beds. Nothing grows, not even grass in this soil, unless you add something to it. Ironically (or not) the history on the place says it was abandoned by the original owners (in the 1700's) due to the "untillable nature of the soil". They moved less than 3 miles from here, according to the Historical Marker and lived happily ever after.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Rancher, have the light turn on early in the morning that way they can put themselves to roost naturally at night. That way they are not on the floor when the timer shuts off the light.

Ahhh... WONDERFUL idea....IF I get power down there that's exactly what I am going to do.

We have fencing down the side of the yard so I ran two extension cords to the coop, from the garage. I switch on the light in the am and turn it off at 9pm. They seem to be ok with that. I have a friend who does electric and he says if I dig the trench he'll help hook up a line to the coop.

The new girls are starting to lay, only one is laying on the ground outside the coop in the run. Then this afternoon when I let them out someone laid one right there on the ground near the waterer. I don't know who it is. I do know the Lav roo have been making nice nice to one of the lav hens.. I have four so there may be more than one he likes. I also saw a RIR in the nest box a few days ago. Eggs are up so that 's good.

I do think the Dels back off after we sold some hens. Any upset in the coop and they're affected in the pecking order and it has to be reset.

ta, ta for now,

Rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Last year we used a long extension cord suspended by a cable from the house to the coop for power. Not a long term fix but worked for the winter. Got real power put back in over the summer, now working on running it through the coop and barn. I have alot of old wires in the barn that have to be removed and checked. The good wire I am reusing (wire is expensive), the old cloth wire I am going to strip and scrap.

Someone else suggested running a lead cord, but every logical place to run one from would cross a path that we snow blow. Hanging it from a tree would really really piss off the neighbors, but would be doable. (I really don't want to piss off the neighbors tho, they still think the crowing is "cute" and I have SIX roosters)

I will probably just buy eggs for the winter and try and run power (underground, cuz that's the best option here) in the spring, before the clay hardens to rock and can't be dug up. The cable for the satalite tv service they put in by just lifting the sod, so I am assuming that electric wire doesn't have to go down 4 feet like water lines do around here.

Since I don't sell eggs production isn't a major problem. (Can't sell what you don't have, can ya?) But next winter? EGGS!!!! (I'm hatching chicks in February like Rancher, so I get eggs sooner, assuming the darn broodies cooperate)

I have two gates in the fencing so I just put up some arbors and run the cord up and over. It's worked for two years so far though I may put in new ones next year. I also unplugged the light to the coop and ran a line of decorating lights for the summer.. I may put some Christmas lights up too.

 

[Cass]

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That will require pics to share. Christmas lights. LOL