Old and Rare Breeds

[Chickielady]

No, I have no Shamo, I was just showing the poop trays. I guess they would work for Shamo, if they could fly a bit..that you will have to ask Illia.

 

[Illia]

Shamos have normal sized wings like any other chicken. I'm sure they can, umm, sort of fly. . . But most of the time they just make really well calculated jumps.

As for fences. . . Mine fully respect a 4 ft fence, but can jump over something 2 feet tall.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Quote:
Well it has been some time but I got a start on the Incubator.
I got the door off and got a 4½" x 19" window cut into it here are some pictures.

Before -
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_dsc_0935.jpg

After -
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_dsc_0936.jpg

Chris

This is nice, Chris. Could you use just the freezer portion as an incubator if you didn't need so much space? I like to keep some of my feeds sealed in a non-working freezer, maybe a standard freezer-on-top household fridge would be the best of both worlds for me.

 

[welasharon]

Another question. I don't have coops here because of our heat and humidity. I have open air/one sided pens. Sort of an all-in-one deal. Then I block drafts with plastic during the coldest of the winter. I am trying to envision the nest box, roost set up for the shamos. How high up do the laying boxes need to be and how tall inside the box does it need to be?
sharon

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Well it has been some time but I got a start on the Incubator.
I got the door off and got a 4½" x 19" window cut into it here are some pictures.

Before -
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_dsc_0935.jpg

After -
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_dsc_0936.jpg

Chris

This is nice, Chris. Could you use just the freezer portion as an incubator if you didn't need so much space? I like to keep some of my feeds sealed in a non-working freezer, maybe a standard freezer-on-top household fridge would be the best of both worlds for me.

I'm sure you could.
I like the smaller type freezers that are around the size of a GQF Sportsman that way I can use the heating element, fan and the water reserve system from a Sportsman and the auto turners, thermostat and some other parts from the hova-bator type incubators.

Chris

 

[Cuban Longtails]

On the roost height, I was told 2 ft for large birds by a respected friend and breeder of oriental fowl.

My large fowl malay will roost on top of a 55 gallon drum (if I allowed it) and just jump straight down, babies included. I took the barrel out as it was only in the pen for egg laying/brooding purposes. I was afraid the young ones would eventually hurt a leg as it's usually my luck. I think what they liked was the flat surface to fully lay on that supports their weight without stressing their legs, as others have mentioned their birds used a table or shelf instead of the roost. Just an observation, not sure if that's really the key or not.

I've not seen the males try to fly at all. The females will, only to get up in a tree or down from roosting in said tree. And, really it's not so much a tree as an over grown bush...

 

[Chickielady]

I had to lower my roosts as I had a few bumblefoot, and pile on more shavings on the coop floor for a softer landing.

 

[welasharon]

Thank you very much. This helps a lot. I want to be prepared before I get them....for a change!
sharon

 

[saladin]

Quote:
Here in the South, there is no need for plastic. My house has a 4 foot high wall and the 4 foot of welded wire: all 4 sides. That is the way the commercial boys have built poultry housing for years in the South.

Helps keep the roofs on during hurricane season too!

 

[welasharon]

Thank you Saladin,
Question: the four foot solid wall...on the top or the bottom? And is the solid around all four sides? Do you have a picture of your set-up?
sharon