***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[mjgigax]

I'm a happy chicken mama tonight!! The hoop coop is done (except decorations) and I moved 7 of the bigger chicks and the 3 adults into it. No scuffles Yay! I dusted everyone with seven dust before moving them and they were so mad at me the bonded over it. I think I heard them plotting against me too. Anyway the hen that has been laying for me stayed with the littles and was clucking at them from her roost. The littles haven't figured out roosting yet.



I had to put a vent in the back so I used paper plate holders from dollar general and zip ties

nice! - very clever solution for a vent.

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote: my only concern on the coop would be predators? i need to make a coop for the silkies and i like your idea on this!!

galahad must be feeling better, he and o'brian had a scuffle, so am working on the bantam fence today....

 

[Jeansrie]

Is a Hova Bator much better than a LG...or should I just suck it up and spring for a Brinsea?

I have the HovaBator with fan, like it so much I bought another. I took me a little while to figure out what works best for humidity, but I am consistently getting 100% hatches on eggs that make it to lockdown now.

 

[muesky]

my only concern on the coop would be predators? i need to make a coop for the silkies and i like your idea on this!!

galahad must be feeling better, he and o'brian had a scuffle, so am working on the bantam fence today....

You could use welded wire over the frame to reinforce and strengthen it.. Another option is to get the 16 foot hog panels and make a hoop frame out of several of those then just cover it with chicken wire and a tarp. Chicken people are some crafty, industrious folks I have found!!!

I have the HovaBator with fan, like it so much I bought another. I took me a little while to figure out what works best for humidity, but I am consistently getting 100% hatches on eggs that make it to lockdown now.

I have two HovaBators. One with a fan and one without which I use for a hatcher. I get pretty good hatches from mine and the main thing is to not open them very often. I painted the insides of mine with acrylic paint to keep bacteria from getting into the foam and make it easy to sanitize. It is also kind of psychedelic painted so the chicks come into a groovy world... hehehe!

 

[NanaKat]

Beautiful day outside...taking a quick break.
Checked hens on eggs...lost a few....down to 48. Need to candle them...but will let nature take its course. They seem to know which eggs to dispose of...by smell.
Lost a quail d'Anver hen last night...not a thing wrong that I could see....will do a necropsy.

Had to put down one of the year old Columbian Wyandotte cock birds this morning. He had injured his leg three weeks ago and while he could get around to feed and water, even trying to cover his favorite hen, he just hasn't been thrifty nor fertile. I have a few chicks from him out of the Blue Columbian hens. I really liked his type and comb so I hope those chicks carry that. Doing the best by him was hard....but necessary.

Hatch this morning was 14 of 17...5 Delaware Bantam, one d'Anver bantam, one Columbian Wyandotte, one Cochin, and 6 Buckeye. keeping the 3 last hatch in the Icu to dry off.
Moved 6 three week old Buckeye to the barn.

Going back out to set out some squash and cucumber plant, move the tropicals outside, plant flowers in pots for the deck and then work on covering an outside pen. Then there is a soccer game in Edmond.

Roger and his brother have gone to help a neighbor cut up a tree that fell on his fence.

 

[Loriemarler]

You could use welded wire over the frame to reinforce and strengthen it.. Another option is to get the 16 foot hog panels and make a hoop frame out of several of those then just cover it with chicken wire and a tarp. Chicken people are some crafty, industrious folks I have found!!!

That's exactly what I did with my coop I used the heavy duty 16 foot hog panels and covered it with chicken wire the back portion that is covered with the tarp is actually one of those metal cages you use to see the old farmers have in the back of their trucks for hogs or other animals. It was left on our property when we bought it and it is super heavy made out of angle iron frame with hog panels welded to it. We use to have it in the back as a dog run but I had DH pull it with his truck so I could use it. It is upside down and wrapped with a tarp. A dog or coyote can't get in for sure the squares are too small on the panels.

 

[Jeansrie]

I have a friend in Tulsa looking for 2-3 laying/almost laying hens. He wants a docile breed that lays well. Please let me know if you know of any for sale, thanks!

 

[shelbydog]

I have my backdoor open and I'm out doing stuff and come back in the house to find a hen jumped into the gosling brooder box and layed an egg. Now I know who's been laying the round eggs.

 

[hotcurltr]

Beautiful day outside...taking a quick break.
Checked hens on eggs...lost a few....down to 48. Need to candle them...but will let nature take its course. They seem to know which eggs to dispose of...by smell.
Lost a quail d'Anver hen last night...not a thing wrong that I could see....will do a necropsy.

Had to put down one of the year old Columbian Wyandotte cock birds this morning. He had injured his leg three weeks ago and while he could get around to feed and water, even trying to cover his favorite hen, he just hasn't been thrifty nor fertile. I have a few chicks from him out of the Blue Columbian hens. I really liked his type and comb so I hope those chicks carry that. Doing the best by him was hard....but necessary.

Hatch this morning was 14 of 17...5 Delaware Bantam, one d'Anver bantam, one Columbian Wyandotte, one Cochin, and 6 Buckeye. keeping the 3 last hatch in the Icu to dry off.
Moved 6 three week old Buckeye to the barn.

Going back out to set out some squash and cucumber plant, move the tropicals outside, plant flowers in pots for the deck and then work on covering an outside pen. Then there is a soccer game in Edmond.

Roger and his brother have gone to help a neighbor cut up a tree that fell on his fence.

Taking a break also and trying to cool down mentally. Sorry about your good cock. It's always hard to make those decisions, but you're right about doing what is necessary. I can't handle anything in pain. If there is a chance I give it up to a certain point, but when there's no more quality of life for them, it's time to make them happy. That's one of the reasons I'm having uch a hard time with this Welsummer pullet. I put the others in the big brooder out in the brood house today and she is regressing again, so she still needs the social. Can't decide if I should put her out or bring a couple in w/ her. She really trys to focus w/ the others and can walk forward more than not when she is with them. She is flying right now to get to one place from another. Anyway, I'm still trying to find a good name for her of a women who has overcome great odds. Let us know on the necropsy on your hen, and I forgot the name off the person w/ the partridge rock pullet U can pm me in necessary. Here's a hug for you since your're always there for us and u need them too.

Well I reallly needed to vent but now I'm a little calmer, so I need to go get started on the evening chores. Hopefully I'll get in before 9 or 10 tonight. It's been late, but I take too many breaks.

 

[shelbydog]

Found a hidden call duck nest....10 eggs. And I have another call duck trying to sit on 3 score eggs.