Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[ozexpat]

I like that design, I might have a hunt about here and see what I can scratch up on the cheap. I was laying in bed this morning designing our rooster box, and how to open the door in the morning. I found a video last night of an aussie design that used water transfer as a counter weight, with the pump on a timer. Not the most attractive looking thing but certainly did the job.

I love using existing tech in a new way.

Now....to go back to those other links and hurt my brain some!

the pump on a timer is a nice bit of lateral thinking

i ordered some aluminium stock today to make the linear actuator turner. i am going to make the sucker work.

 

[Bens-Hens]

The sex link thread was a great read, I went over the first post thoroughly...but wandered over the next 77 pages. The bulk of the info was in post #1. From that, we could produce combinations of a red sex link, but no black's of 'feather sexed' crosses.

Very interesting.

I am keen to learn more about the layer genes. After reading Oz's last post, I am leaning towards keeping 1x AR and 1x BV or 2x AR's. We will have 10 pullets/hens, so two should have them covered. I am just not sure how long we will be able to keep the boys under wraps here.

I might wonder off and see what EE breeding threads I can find. I am not sure if the BV is going to be dark enough for olive, but it's worth a crack if we have them already. I will report back with my findings, then head down the back with a tape measure for our rooster box.

 

[Bens-Hens]

the pump on a timer is a nice bit of lateral thinking

i ordered some aluminium stock today to make the linear actuator turner. i am going to make the sucker work.

Yeah I liked it too. I had seen a dripper system used as a crude fuse in the past. Liquid is a good medium, just kind of long winded.

I never got my hands on an actuator, so I have not been able to work on something with you.

 

[Bens-Hens]

At an early glance, it does not seem to matter, some used the brown gene male over blue gene hen, and other reverse it with a blue gene male over brown gene hen.

Varying the amount of brown will vary the amount of green in the offspring egg, darker the brown the more olive, the lighter the brown the more minty coloured. The two traits I would like to have when walking back from our coop with a carton of eggs some day!

Maran's seem to be the dark brown pick, although Welsommer's and Barnevelder's do get a mention too.

Maran roo/Americana hen blog
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/04/marans-ameraucana-olive-egger.html

Oliver egger thread where I have seen reversed sexes still achieve the same result. The pea comb does seem to play a large part in it, which we have in both our males and females.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/131131/the-olive-egger-thread/3540#post_8233099

Have to give it a spin!

 

[ozexpat]

Yeah I liked it too. I had seen a dripper system used as a crude fuse in the past. Liquid is a good medium, just kind of long winded.

I never got my hands on an actuator, so I have not been able to work on something with you.

its ok = its my project. I will buy a series of relays tomorrow and see what i can blow up. i love the smell of molten pastic

 

[Bens-Hens]

It my trade (mechanic) it was known as 'letting the smoke out'. All electrical devises actually run on smoke, and if you let too much of the smoke out, they stop working. Self proving theory Hahahahaha.

While I am here, I unloaded some of the panel off cuts I had in my ute. I think I have a design that will to a good job, two 'bays' with a divider and separate doors (all manual) will be somewhere around 600mmD x 600mmH x 1200mmW (2'x2'x4') That should be plenty of internal space for one booth each I think. Would make each booth about 600mm wide x 600mm deep x 600mm high (2"x 2" x 2") each.

I am working on a double skinned door and roof layout, so I can maximise air flow, yet still keeping and indirect path for water and noise. Just need to gather the last of the materials (angle, capping and hinges) and I can make a start on it.

My stash, Steel skinned 35mm panels, and one 50mm panel with will form the top layer of the roof.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Still gathering material, will have to go buy a few bits as my off cut stack won't stretch to the end of this project.

Also, I randomly picky up Rosie (RIR) and checked her pelvic distance, lo and behold, she is almost at two fingers width. According to my source, that means she will be bale to pass an egg in 1-2 weeks. Exciting times. However, her comb is still pink so we will see which sign is closest to egg laying.

Just to be on the safe side, I removed the wire from a couple of nest boxes, put hay in them (not straw available from feed store at the mo) and a couple of false eggs. Then, poked Rosie's head in there, she seemed interested. When I got home, there was a fair mess in there lol, and no real eggs.

Premature to start counting I know, I am only making it more painful for myself, but I can't help myself! The other three older girls (Luna, Cleo and Star are at about 1.5 fingers span, so according to the source, that's 2-3 weeks away. They too are also still pink in the combs and wattles.

See how close to the myth this turn out to be! (I think it will be off a bit, but I will ignore logic and run on hope!)

 

[Wrightsx4]

Are any of them doing the "egg squat" when you reach for them? I found that to be a good indicator. Mine all did it a week or two before the eggs started coming.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I have heard abut the egg squat, but not sure if what I am seeing is it. If I go to pat them they duck down and waddle away, but even Milo the rooster does that so not sure if that is the right type of squat.

Might youtube it and see if anyone has filmed it. Hope hubby sorted out your detainee the other day too.

 

[Bens-Hens]

OK, back again.

Warning....anyone that wants to youtube 'egg squat' be sure to include chicken in there somewhere. Certainly not what I was expecting to see come up!

So, I did find a couple here, and it's seems to be what Rosie does, although she will tend to waddle away after a minute while still squatting. I will give them all another pat tomorrow and see if the wings come out, or if they are just ducking to get away from me hahahaha


While I was there, I saw and 'egg song' vid too, so I will link that here to share.