post your chicken coop pictures here!

[the poppster]

I didn't secure one of them but the other is secured with screws. An attack dog couldn't knock it loose. I will throw some screws in the other one now that it has been brought up Here are the pics again:

Notice the bottom one has two screws in it and it is very secure. I also like the design of that one much more but haven't seen any in stores like it. My wife found that one at Goodwill. Too bad they can't combine the two designs for complete protection. BTW, the IC enclosure is possible in a custom built brooder, I was just in a hurry and don't plan to leave them in once the chicks are out so didn't go to the trouble.

Where are you? I live in the UP of Michigan and haven't put any heat source inside my coop except for the waterer. The Birds have come through this winter without any problems. They are all adults or close to it. When I did have a heat lamp it hung from an insulated wire up out and away from the walls....basically in the center of the coop. Those light bulbs get over 400 degrees Fahrenheit on the top outside of the bulb. Anything flammable that comes in contact with the outside of the lamp will burn. I wouldn't be surprised if they char the wall they are next to....I would be very worried for my coop if those lights were hung like that in it. Once again that's my opinion...hope I don't get my head bitten off for voicing it.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Please don't use a heat lamp. My set up was a heat lamp type heater enclosed in a metal box, sectioned off by hardware cloth. I even had it on a concert block slab and Wednesday night my coop burnt to the ground along with my 3 week old chicks.

Aw poor baby's and I am still sorry u even just built that

 

[gpeters3]

I see the point and agree for the most part. I dont recall the temp but wood can ignite well below temps we usually associate with fire hazzard. Steam pipes must be located some distance from wood structures even though the temp is around boiling or 212 degrees. Turns out wood exposed to this temp over time can be conditioned for easier combustion.

I could smell warm wood and checked for temps manually and found nothing alarming. I will take your point and make.some adjustments. Initially the chicks were so small the danger of flying debris was virtually not an issue but they are larger and more active now so some changes are in order. Thanks for the heads up All the farm stores use them but with metal watering tubs and well away from any combustibles. The day i noticed the smell was a warm day so the lamps should have been turned off anyway. All good points and it all comes down to common sense.

 

[MeepBeep]

I dont recall the temp but wood can ignite well below temps we usually associate with fire hazzard.

Most woods ignite at between 375°F and 500°F the surface of your average 250 Watt IR heat bulb is 425°...

Radiant heaters like the 'pig blankets' I have suggested multiple times only heat to about +30°F over ambient air temps, so when you are using them during the winter at bellow freezing temps they would be give or take less then 62° far bellow a temp that will start a fire and well bellow ignition temps, but they will take the crispness out of the cold air and provide warmth just the same...

http://www.osbornepetsupply.com/products/pet-heating-pads/

 

[gpeters3]

Im in southern mi near Adrian. I dont heat my coop and dont worry about mature hens freezing or getting sick because i keep enough straw around for them to snuggle in and keep warm but most of the time they dont seem to need to. Some of my bantams lost a toe here and there i think due to using metel pipe for roosts. Ive since removed all those and installed flat 2x4's for roosts (thanks backyard chickens ). Interestingly some still roost on the 2x8 sticking out from the posts with barely enough room to sit.

I only heat the brood pens and after all this discussion wil be looking into some changes to my setup. Best brood setup ever is no heat and a good mom to protect them and keep them warm. I used that method with my bantams. Sadly that brood mom died one winter. She was on the bottom of the pecking order for some reason so probably got ganged up on and killed. She was the prettiest of the bunch too with feathered feet and gold coloring.

 

[bruceha2000]

Im in southern mi near Adrian. I dont heat my coop and dont worry about mature hens freezing or getting sick because i keep enough straw around for them to snuggle in and keep warm but most of the time they dont seem to need to. Some of my bantams lost a toe here and there i think due to using metel pipe for roosts. Ive since removed all those and installed flat 2x4's for roosts (thanks backyard chickens ). Interestingly some still roost on the 2x8 sticking out from the posts with barely enough room to sit.

I only heat the brood pens and after all this discussion wil be looking into some changes to my setup. Best brood setup ever is no heat and a good mom to protect them and keep them warm. I used that method with my bantams. Sadly that brood mom died one winter. She was on the bottom of the pecking order for some reason so probably got ganged up on and killed. She was the prettiest of the bunch too with feathered feet and gold coloring.

Sorry you lost that hen! Kind of interesting difference:

My largest bird is Zorra, an almost 4 Y/O Black Australorp. She was sort of middling in the pecking order, she didn't mess with any of the other girls. The Ancona hens would sometimes mount her but not get far enough to pecking head feathers (they made a mess of one of my EEs). She went broody (not uncommon for her) last May and I got 7 chicks from Meyer the 2nd week of June for her to raise. She turned into the hen from h3ll as far as the other hens were concerned. Even the Anconas ran scared, they would wait until her back was turned so they could run past her from the back when in the run. And they ran FAST. After 2 months of raising babies she kicked them to the curb but the Anconas still don't mess with her 9 months later.

 

[gpeters3]

I only used the gold bantam once that way and she was pretty aggressive for a few months but after that she resumed her bottom of the order status. I had a run open to the coop at that time and she had to wait till the others were outside to jump down from her perch and eat or drink. Right now my Black Jersey Giant is on the bottom but she just gets a peck once in a while. I think the full comb Production Red is the boss right now. That's the one that tried to crow when I killed all the roosters. She only did it for a few days but she looks like a rooster except no spurs and she lays eggs She was the first to eat out of my hand and now 4 of them will with a little coaxing but the giant is too skittish.

 

[gpeters3]

I know this it s coop forum but does anyone know if Easter Eggers are a breed or just one of the colored egg breeds? I have 3 Araucanas that are supposed to lay colored eggs.

 

[perchie.girl]

I know this it s coop forum but does anyone know if Easter Eggers are a breed or just one of the colored egg breeds? I have 3 Araucanas that are supposed to lay colored eggs.

next weekend on sunday. the 27the.

Oh and for what its worth I googled it.... just typed

When is Easter

in the search bar.

Its amazing how quick you get a simple answer. Like last night I needed to know how long to cook corned beef in the crock pot.

How long do you cook corned beef in a crock pot

was all I entered

six and a half hours on high... eight and a half on low and some instructions on how much water to use. But it was all there in a box at the top of the page

deb

 

[ShrekDawg]

I know this it s coop forum but does anyone know if Easter Eggers are a breed or just one of the colored egg breeds? I have 3 Araucanas that are supposed to lay colored eggs.

Easter Eggers are mutts! But still beautiful imo, I have 2

The hatchery and feed store araucanas and amereucanas are Easter Eggers 99% of the time. They're rare and expensive so usually easter eggers unless you buy fr om a breeder