Sdwd

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I use 2x6's cut to size and stack them up as the chicks grow so they don't have to step into the waters.

I too am coop planning and working on grow out areas.

Dragged cardboard to the back to make a path to the creek. Should've put it on a sled but was to lazy to drag the sled out. Trying to get everything I want cleared covered with card board before spring. I get boxes from the school. Lots and lots of boxes. Have done all the space between my new raised beds. I love to recycle.

Cyn have you checked CL? I'm sure you have. For windows that is. Home Depot here has a nice culled lumber set up and I buy throughout the year and save til I have enough for my projects. Which in my case are always on going. One gets done and on to another. I can buy crates here as big as some of the coops I've seen on here but it's just to darn cold. 'Course I may be able to modify the crates and will try for my bantam leghorns. Do bantams need heated coops?

Now for anyone who hasn't seen my posting about Green Fire what do you think of ordering from them? They won't guarantee fewer than 12 chicks. I can't afford 12 at $99 ea. I figured 4. They recommend a pair of juvies. I'd like a bigger gene pool than that! I know what happens when the gene pool is to shallow. Just look at my SIL. Lord have mercy!

Well take care

Rancher

oh almost forgot. Ran into a couple at Country Max. Gave them my card and told them about BYC. Hope they join. Their just getting started.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:

Keep spreading the word! Good luck with your new coop! I promised DH that he did not need to build a coop this year, just another run for the breeder/brooder pen.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:

Keep spreading the word! Good luck with your new coop! I promised DH that he did not need to build a coop this year, just another run for the breeder/brooder pen.

Well I certainly hope that breeder and brooder is only for Delawares.

If not,

Take care

Rancher

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:

Keep spreading the word! Good luck with your new coop! I promised DH that he did not need to build a coop this year, just another run for the breeder/brooder pen.

Well I certainly hope that breeder and brooder is only for Delawares.

If not,

Take care

Rancher

Funny you should say that... right now I have the welsummers in there but tonight I am going to switch them out and put the dels in there.

 

[speckledhen]

Tim, I can never find anything on CL around here. I do look. And we always shop Home Depot's cull lumber bin--that has saved us so much money over the last few build jobs. Been checking the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and they did have one wood window for $12 that had lost its seal, not bad, but I need one larger or two or three of the same type. We check there every time we go to town.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Trylin has a hoop coop that l like and she's used to keep chicks this winter. If I can I'll get a pic or two. Though if you have a lot of preds it might not be good for your area. She figures it cost just a little over $100 I think. She comes on here but rarely posts anything.

CL here has windows but they are usually too expensive for coop building unless you get different sizes.

 

[speckledhen]

We have tons of predators here so we need a strong building with coon-proof latches.


My sweet BR, Lexie, seems to be going the way of the others from internal laying. She already has arthritis in her feet, poor girl, and tonight, when the others in the old ladies' coop were on the roost, I found Lexie sitting on the cinder block that we have next to the waterer so my banty can reach it okay. She was breathing heavily. Her abdomen is too large and I know all too well what's going on in there--she hasn't laid an egg in about a year, I'd guess. She lost her sister, Ivy, at the end of last year and I had the feeling she'd go the same way. Lexie and Ivy are the reason I love Barred Rocks so much. Lexie is five years old.
Here's my Lex.

 

[PepsNick]

Cyn, I am so sorry about Lexie. That is horrible.

How is she now?

I will probably be putting up an auction for a large dog crate tonight or tomorrow morning. It has not been used, is in great condition and is perfect for quarantine, a brooder, showing birds etc.

 

[speckledhen]

That dog crate will come in handy, Nick. I have two of them, one above Zane's cage used as a hospital.


We put Lexie on the roost under the heat lamp I leave there for her because of her arthritis. Will check on her in the morning, but eventually, I guess we'll find her gone or we'll have to separate her if she goes downhill because, when they see a weakness in one, the other may attack. They know when another is critically ill and sometimes, will take that chance to push the sick one away. I've seen it several times now. I watch them and they tell me when time is near for one to pass on. So many folks who don't have a close daily relationship with their birds never see some of the things I've seen.

 

[PepsNick]

I hope she goes quickly and peacefully.

I would like to keep the dog crate, but DM (new abbreviation

) wants it out and I need the money. Since the tractor which was going to be a hospital is leaving the current coop will be the hospital.

I have something to quarantine in, luckily. It's another dog crate around the same size.

I think that I'll go visit a friend on Friday and see what he's got just for fun of it. He's a poultry breeder. Well not breeder, farmer I guess. He has hatchery quality and calls EE's Ameraucanas... Oh well, I love to visit his place.

I give up. How do I stop these chicks from eating the styrafoam under the shavings!?