Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Chaos18]

what are dog clips?

I think they are the clips usually found on the end of a dog leash.

 

[BullChick]

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Thanks!

 

[fisherlady]

That's dedication! 

My Barred Rocks did lay more of a tan/light brown egg.  But maybe you have a special one? They are lovely, I definitely want more for my "collection".  Yes, I am very excited, and tired.  Haha, between the excitement, the lifting of boxes and heavy stuff, and the busy schedule, I am going to need a 2 day nap.  That should do it.  The guys are attempting to dismantle my refrigerator.  Oh my, I hope we can get it back together! 

My first project is to get the bed setup (easy) , and then (the real first plan is to)  convert the carport to a temporary turkey enclosure.  I will get a shed for them to stay in, in a couple months.  But its so warm right now and the carport is huge.  I just have to make sure to super duper secure it against predators.  I have lots of wire fencing from my chickens' run, so I will be using that.  But I have to come up with how to make an access door for me, yet still keep it predator proof.  I will figure it our fast since I am getting the turkeys this weekend hopefully!  I am so excited since I was reminded this Monday is Labor Day and so its a long weekend!!

I'm such a nerd, a friend of mine was asking what my decorating style was.  I told her I didn't really care too much, so long as things are functional and comfortable.  I hadn't even thought about decorating.  However, I have though about turkey housing, where to place a kill cone in the woods, where to put my chick brooder, etc.

My that was a rant wasn't it....

Definitely worth a road trip!

Doors can be sourced at many price points, and don't needto be fancy to work. Watch Craigs list and Pennswoods.net for free or cheap metal or composite entry doors. We got our coop man door free when someone remodelled a basement entrance and replaced their door. Just build a wood frame for it to attach to and add a safety chain mechanism or a dead bolt type latch.

You can buy the dog kennel pieces separately at Lowes and TSC, the 'door panel' side would be about $125 probably, though you can find them on the sale boards also at about $150- $175 for a whole kennel. We have used pieces and parts of dog kennels for multiple chicken applications.

You can also buy chain link gates in various sizes at Lowes and TSC type stores, build your fence wall and leave a frame sized for your gate and just ad it in.

And building your own custom sized is actually much easier than it may sound. We buy pressure treated 2x4s and rip them lengthwise (if you can find pressure treated 2x2s that makes it even easier., use screws to hold the corners together and scrap plywood can be used to reinforce the corners, at least one cross brace across through the center is needed, sometimes 2 if it is a tall door. Add a latch and wire cover of your choice and hang it in a frame in your cage wall.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote:

Thanks! That still sounds intimidating given my current building experience (none), but I hope I can so something like that.

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks! That still sounds intimidating given my current building experience (none), but I hope I can so something like that.

It is simpler than it sounds, all the corners can be done as straight joints rather than having to join anything with 45 degree angles. The corner brace pieces made out of plywood will make it much sturdier.
Hanging the chain link gates just require a sturdy post to attach the hinge side to and a piece of scrap pipe on the latch side for the gate latch to dropover...
Here are some pictures of various interior and exterier coop doors we have here.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Thank you @fisherlady ! I will be referencing this in the future. The near future...

 

[gonehencrazy]

A year or so ago, there was a local ad on Craigslist for Isbar chicks, I haven't seen anything since. There are a lot of breeds like that where they get really popular and bring high prices, then they get cheap for a brief time as the disillusioned keepers unload their extra stock, then they become almost impossible to find. Another breed like that is the Breda Fowl. My friend has been trying to find people interested in eggs or chicks, but no one is interested it seems. I think Isbars are the same (almost impossible to find anymore), and Bielefelders are just starting on that curve and will lose popularity in another year or so.  Legbars and Copper Marans are 2 recent breeds that seem to have "staying power" and will likely be easy to find for many years, like Barred Rocks and Buff Orps.

I applaud your efforts to track down and (maybe) preserve what will always be a rare breed in the US. I wish I could help more, If I ever find a source, I will post it.

It seems to more popular out west. My friend in KY suggested them to me. There is a breeder there. All the other breeders seem to be in places like Michigan, California, Florida and Louisiana. I'm not really set up to preserve the breed. Eventually I'd like to find a place to keep my horse at home and have room for more chickens.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Thanks! That still sounds intimidating given my current building experience (none), but I hope I can so something like that.

I built my own run door without really any building experience. The coop was our first building project. I just used 2 x 4s and connected them together using those hammer in spike strip things (mending plates). It's been extremely sturdy and has held on prefecture for the last 3 years.

Not the best pictures of the door but that was all I had.

 

[ChcknNurse]

That is a wonderful thought! - And we need an olive egger here, too. Does anyone have any for sale near lancaster? We still need to get some chicks!

There is a part of me that wants an Isbar...now called Silverudd's Blue. It doesn't seem like there are any breeders in Pa. Any ideas? Might just have to make a trip to KY to visit my friends and buy some chicks....