Sdwd

[rancher hicks]

Awesome - that might be the answer to my breeding pens- Put that on my never ending project list- Thanks for the post . Great idea.

Edit to ask what size is the starting platform for the one panel in this post. ?

The base is 50" X 8'. You could do a 50" X 9' but that would mean buying a 10' , 2 x 4 and cutting off a foot. I didn't want to do that so I used 8' pressure treated and save a few pennies. You can modify to your desire.

 

[rancher hicks]

Does anyone know why my Del is laying a Chalkie white egg? The shell is coarse too. Don't know which girl it is though. I'm not sure if this started after I switched out the feed to grower, due to the chicks that are in the group.

 

[Alaskan]

No idea. Do they have oyster shell on the side?

 

[crazyhen]

Is there a chance she could have a resp infection going on? Sometimes that will upset the apple cart. Also some of the Dels will lay a light colored egg. Not exactly white but creamy colored, I have heard.

 

[finnfur]

Does anyone know why my Del is laying a Chalkie white egg? The shell is coarse too. Don't know which girl it is though. I'm not sure if this started after I switched out the feed to grower, due to the chicks that are in the group.

Just guessing but the grower may not contain the calcium needed that the layer feed does. However mine get layer and shells and I still get some with the sandy texture. mostly on one end. And some times more fragile on that end. i have one putting out all most white eggs too. They use to be tan . Don't have answers

But I have another hoop coop question ; is that wire panel small enough to keep the birds in it or does it need to be covered with wire or material. Seems like spacing is wide.

 

[rancher hicks]

They've got plenty of calcium and there is one feeder with layer. I'm wondering if she might be old. I haven't researched it.

The panel is covered with chicken wire and the then the lower two feet on the sides are covered with hardware cloth. The front and back are completely covered with hardware cloth. I've got two tarps over it. You can of course use wood on the front and back, but I use hardware cloth and then use cardboard on the lower half of the back and over that are feed bags stapled.

I have used fleece on the front over the hardware cloth too. They seemed fine for the winter.



You can see the feed bags in this pic.



You can see the fleece just short of the top and one area on the side. They were fine. Though this one is covered with clear plastic as I didn't have a tarp and the ones on there began to leak. They were cheap and the sun destroys them rather fast. The door is close for the pic, but open during the day. There are no pop holes.





You can see where the hardware cloth is over the chicken wire in this pic.



I used wood siding on the back of this one, but left the door with hardware cloth for ventilation. There is no way to get ventilation through the top with the tarps, that I can think of. At least not easily. Last year I covered the door with plastic but it was much to humid. This past winter I just used a new larger tarp and pulled it down over the door loosely. They were fine. Also this one is completely covered with hardware cloth which is expensive to do. My half coops are closer to the house and we are not as rural as some folks are. This one is nearer the woods.

 

[finnfur]

They've got plenty of calcium and there is one feeder with layer. I'm wondering if she might be old. I haven't researched i


******HELP Someone tell me how to split areas on replies - I see it done but haven't figured it out. Tom ***********

You can see where the hardware cloth is over the chicken wire in this pic.



I used wood siding on the back of this one, but left the door with hardware cloth for ventilation. There is no way to get ventilation through the top with the tarps, that I can think of. At least not easily.

On the eggs a vet told me if just one hen and not flock its usually internal reproductive issues. I get them like this "wrinkled" sometimes but it comes and goes.
Some time no harness to shell



I have found the silver tarps, which I see you are using ,last five times longer than the cheaper ones IMHO . In the long run probably cheaper to use.
On the venting problem could you extend the top cross frames so the protrude about 12" on both sides. Seems that
would allow ventilation on both sides at top and extra tarp can stick out to prevent rain snow from entering . Like a little awning over door .
Just a thought.

 

[rancher hicks]

On the eggs a vet told me if just one hen and not flock its usually internal reproductive issues. I get them like this "wrinkled" sometimes but it comes and goes.
Some time no harness to shell



I have found the silver tarps, which I see you are using ,last five times longer than the cheaper ones IMHO . In the long run probably cheaper to use.
On the venting problem could you extend the top cross frames so the protrude about 12" on both sides. Seems that
would allow ventilation on both sides at top and extra tarp can stick out to prevent rain snow from entering . Like a little awning over door .
Just a thought.

I get the wrinkled eggs too. I think it's more when they get too much bread and scratch.

As for the tarps I agree the silver ones from Harbor Freight do last longer, but they're a heavy duty type and a bit more expensive. The cheap light weight blue ones don't. They were meant to be temporary anyhow.

My large Camo tarp was ordered on line and cost $31. It's very big and I did extend the 1 X 3 's out over the front on the side coop for an hover hang.

The coops with no cover get hottest. The side coop is under some trees and stays cooler. I do need to modify the part over the door as I've gotten soaked more than once.

It's very shocking at 6 am when I'm in my bathrobe. You can find all kinds of modification on line for hoop coops and they can be used for other livestock too.

 

[Serrin]

Boys! Boys! Boys! You're going about the matter of the cost of the more expensive tarps versus the cheaper tarps all wrong!!!

Here's the situation as I see it:

I could spend $8-$12 each year for a "cheap" tarp, or I could spend $45+ for a tarp that will last 5 years [or more]. Do the math: $45 divided by five years comes out to $9 per year. Plus, I don't know about you, but my time is worth something too.

In that same five year time period, one could spend upwards of $60 plus your time for "cheap" tarps. Viewed in that light, doesn't it make more sense to purchase the longer lasting, more expensive tarp? In the long run, quality will always SAVE you money! Quality doesn't cost, it PAYS!

Especially when it's something you plan on keeping for more than a year.

 

[finnfur]

Boys! Boys! Boys! You're going about the matter of the cost of the more expensive tarps versus the cheaper tarps all wrong!!!

Here's the situation as I see it:

I could spend $8-$12 each year for a "cheap" tarp, or I could spend $45+ for a tarp that will last 5 years [or more]. Do the math: $45 divided by five years comes out to $9 per year. Plus, I don't know about you, but my time is worth something too.

In that same five year time period, one could spend upwards of $60 plus your time for "cheap" tarps. Viewed in that light, doesn't it make more sense to purchase the longer lasting, more expensive tarp? In the long run, quality will always SAVE you money! Quality doesn't cost, it PAYS!

Especially when it's something you plan on keeping for more than a year.

Rancher
I think we have been scolded by the teacher

But IMHO I think thats what we said - Just differently LOL