***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[jcatblum]

I know POOPS doesnt yet have a date. As long as there isn't a conflict I am willing to do the egg contest again.

Hope everyone has a great weekend & that everyone gets some rain!!

 

[okracefan]

My new hot wire I put around chicken fence got that little yorkie

today maybe he will stay away from my chickens for good.

Might take him time or two but he will learn!

 

[NanaKat]

We got all 11 cows ear tagged. Hay feeders are murder on those tags. No ears were ripped so we could retag with out having to pierce another hole...makes it much easier on both the cow and the handler.

I was able to finish the Cochin house today too. It isn't painted yet, but the roof is on and we can move it to the pen and paint it this Spring. Moving the Cochins outside means freeing up a large floor pen for the three week old chicks in the big brooder. Will clean it first thing in the morning and lay down wood shavings for the chicks. Then clean the brooder for the new batch of babies.
I really think the Cochins will like the bigger space too.

The afternoon can then be spent cleaning out the roost area in the henhouse before the rain. I want to put the clean out in the garden.
Oh the life of an organic gardener...

 

[shelbydog]

I'm doing a pallet chicken house inspired by this http://www.oklahomahistory.net/palletshed.html. But I was wondering if I could get away with a more open air variation on this in Oklahoma. It can be pretty windy were I'm at - the wind definently comes sweeping across the plain. The bldg will be not far from the side of my house's north end.
So...keep it closed up with ventilation or go halfway open air? If I go halfway open air it will be the wall that has the completely fenced in run.

 

[CayuseRanch]

I'm doing a pallet chicken house inspired by this http://www.oklahomahistory.net/palletshed.html. But I was wondering if I could get away with a more open air variation on this in Oklahoma. It can be pretty windy were I'm at - the wind definently comes sweeping across the plain. The bldg will be not far from the side of my house's north end.
So...keep it closed up with ventilation or go halfway open air? If I go halfway open air it will be the wall that has the completely fenced in run.

Do a search on byc for my NEW breeding pens by DMRippy. Those were pallets and really neat

 

[jcatblum]

Shelby I keep my main pen pretty open, during the cold months we staple heavy duty plastic over the largest 2-3 opening. It is still pretty vented since the other wall is privacy fence boards. The plastic drastically warms the coop though. And leaving it open keeps a breeze going most days. A couple times spring storms have wet a large portion of the coop, and that is with 16ft between the opening & back wall. If you are doing a small coop my only concerned is the birds getting soaked when it rains.
As spring storms approach, everyone keep an eye out for privacy fence pannels. We seem to always find a new trailer load of pannels just before the last load runs out. They don't have to be broken apart & make easy quick walls. Defiantly our favorite building material here. If you can find pannels you will fall in love with using them for all you pens.

 

[shelbydog]

jcat...I just got an idea from reading your reply. I could do a pretty good sized "window" and have a wood or corrugated roof panel on a hinge to act as a closable awning. That should help keep rain out while open and close it when it's really bad weather.

And it should be a decent size bldg. Going to house 3 turkeys and get some guineas in addition to a few chicken hens. I haven't done an official measurement as the pallets I got are way bigger then the ones from the link.

 

[erinszoo]

For sale very cheap ... the right half of my head. Congestion is a free bonus.

Sprinkling here again. Birds are not happy about it. All they've ever known is drought. Rain just makes no sense to them. Can't wait to get the new pen completed, even the bantys got out of the yard yesterday. Sigh. And we blew a tire and had another one go flat. And I'm still sick. And ... okay, happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts ...

 

[emach0301]

Okay friends, I am in need of some expert help. I have a hen that has laid about 3 of these eggs now, and I am not sure why. I have read that it could be possible that its IB? I really hope this is not the case, as this would be my first time treating it? Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Kassaundra]

emach, 3 times in a row, or 3 times over a longer time period? Is she acting sick any other way? Are they soft?