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

[NovaAman]

Well, I have added space to the phoenix area. A bit of "Freedom" from their run. Had a barred phoenix figure out how to get out and the neighbors leghorn pullet was playing chase the chick with it. Stupid birds. LOL

I have a sick/starved I think polish. I noticed her all puffed up and quite thin for what she should be. I think the phoenix realised she was different and were not letting her eat. SO, she's in the house on an aquarium at the moment with her own feed and probios water. She's perked up quite a bit from last night. Last night she was so weak that she couldn't even open her eyes. Had to force feed her and kept dipper her head in vitamin water till I was satisified. Than crossed my fingers that she'd make it through the night. She did. Might have a me a house chicken.

I am so willing to let you come to the states and build me a cockerel coop. I have so many right now it is not funny. All those faverolles boys running around out there. Another 6-8 weeks before they'd even be fat enough to butcher. Oh... man... why do I do this... LOL

 

[Wrightsx4]

I just spent FIVE hours...HOURS!..cutting another hole in my coop and constructing a [hopefully] secure door/ramp combo so that Betty can take her baby chicks outside from their semi private pen. I spend most of my construction time walking the distance back and forth between the garage and the coop. Jeff isn't home and when he was, he wasn't too interested in my project . So what he could probably do in an hour easily...I can do in five, only it doesn't look as nice. Nothing a ton of paint can't fix - and I didn't use one ziptie or inch of duct tape! I still need to fence off their area, may require zipties. Maybe tomorrow. So far Betty hasn't been outside and has had no interest in taking her brood anywhere near the other chickens so I'm hoping she'll feel safer with an enclosed run within the larger one, at least for a while.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Finally finished reading! It's been so cool to read all about your chicken adventures. Thanks!

Hi IndigoChicken12! Thanks for taking the time to read along. I just looked at the page counter and that must have been a bit of a sit! Welcome, feel free to drop in anytime. As you now know, I don't mind a chat!

Nova, next time I am in the area, I promise to help out with a rooster box. I am still not 100% on who we are keeping, we have 8, going to try keep 2, allowed zero! Have to see how that pans out.

Pam, a job with no duct tape or zip ties is a job well done. I am sure I alone have kept both companies financially afloat through my career. My motto was "If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem, if you can, then duct tape and zip ties will help" hahahaha

Still, a top effort to get the job done and make a safe place for little miss and her babies.

 

[NovaAman]

Wrong... No job is complete with outdone zips and tape. Lol.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Wrong... No job is complete with outdone zips and tape. Lol.

LOL sounds like me

 

[Bens-Hens]

So here are a few pictures from my current project. A rooster box. I got a little further along than the pic's show, but I had to pack up and didn't get the last couple of pictures. More tomorrow.

I got my expert design skills out, sat down with my crayons poked my tongue out and got cracking. (My wonderful skills also extend to being able to upload the image the right way up.....hold the applause lol)



Then gathered up the materials, off cuts and left overs from a work project. Mostly 35mm steel fridge panel, with an extra 50mm piece. More on that in a moment.


It's a little out of order, but here is a cross section of the roof panels. Total 100mm thick, a 50mm panel and a 35mm panel, secured inside a 100mm channel. This gives the air gap seen here. I have used the air gap method for two reasons. The best form of insulation is an air gap, secondly, I wanted a path for air flow.


I cut a 100mm hole in the top panel, right in the middle with a hole saw, this is to mount the rotary roof vent to. The aim is for the roof vent to pull air from outside, into the box then, through the air gap and out the vent. Air flow that will act as a sound muffler.


Rotary vent, used for trucks. I got this on sale for $23AU, brand new in the box.


Here is the roof section upside down. the angles mounted to it are to secure the sides to.


I picked up a few stainless steel vent grills. I don't have the right size hole saw for the vent, so I improvised. The internal holes are offset to the central rotary hole, so we get the insulation, but reduce the crow-ibells from within.


Pretty vents secured, aimed back towards Mr Roo's


I got the two ends cut and the roof rake sorted, but no pics of that tonight. Hope to have the basic structure completed tomorrow night, then work on the doors, other four vents, middle divider, roosts plus finishing touches over the weekend.

Once that is done, I can do some tests with my remote thermometers and see what sort of temps differences we get, got to make sure it's safe for our boys!

 

[NovaAman]

The crow-ibells. Good one. A sound proof coop. Hehe. Like it.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hahaha, that's the idea! Just a little night box suitable for two boys, keep them dark, and muffle the sound if dark does not work. Hopefully we can get away with two roo's long enough to make some fertile eggs before we have to get rid of them. (complaints etc)

 

[IndigoChicken12]

Good idea! Hope it works!

 

[ozexpat]

Hahaha, that's the idea! Just a little night box suitable for two boys, keep them dark, and muffle the sound if dark does not work. Hopefully we can get away with two roo's long enough to make some fertile eggs before we have to get rid of them. (complaints etc)

If it does not work, close off the vents, put it in the sun and you will have a crock pot.

The things we go through to have chickens!