Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[speckledhen]

Chickens handle cold so much better than heat.

 

[joletabey]

I am with Scott on this one- I can put on more clothes than I can take off, ya know?

I just got back in from painting the new Orp coop- still far from finished, but I can paint the walls, and Silk and Satin are sleeping in there - IF I lift them on the roost at night- and I am SOOOOOO hot!
The fans go back out for the birds and dogs in a few minutes!

The Del girls have been hopping mad about laying this morning- yack, yack, complain, complain. I think it's just too hot in that coop no matter what- the pop door and the human door are open all the time, and there is ceiling ventilation, but it needs something else......Cetawin had the idea of the century with getting a little air conditioner! Luke decided to get out of the girls way while they are snarling, so he laid in the shade, where he had a good view of me painting, and made some raptor like comments on what I was doing- either he does not like green, or he is grumbling in general.

 

[kmwright]

It's not too terribly hot here right now. Today is a nice day, about 85 degrees and not very humid. We really have perfect weather compared to other states. Not too hot, not too cold, not extremely humid. No snow, it's just beautiful. Jealous??

Anywhoo, I really thought you all were halfway crazy when you told me about Dellie mind control. Yeah, you're not. You're totally right.

I was standing in the garage waiting for my pants to finish in the dryer, and I look over to see my two BR's munching away at the feeder, and little Miss Diva Dellie is standing on top of the feeder, just staring at me. Staring. Then she got down, flapped around, chased the BR twins, causing them to then chase eachother, then she hops back on the feeder, stares me down again, while the BR twins continue to chase eachother. I had to laugh. She has quite the attitude.

Can you guys/gals give me some advice on my coop/run set up? I would post it on the coop section but I like you guys/gals too much and I know you're super helpful....

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
What kind of advice? The simple most important rule is ..... BIGGER is better!

 

[The Lisser]

I have been wanting to share a picture of my handsome Delaware, Mill (used to be Millie before the saddle feathers started to grow!). I know he may not be a good choice for breeding because of the crooked toe, but I think he is so good looking!

Melissa

 

[kmwright]

Quote:
What kind of advice? The simple most important rule is ..... BIGGER is better!

Well, I already have the run built and it was supposed to be for 4 chickens. But then I lost 3 and got 4 to replace them which equals 5 chickens. Two are in there right now and the babies are in the brooder so once they're ready, I'll put them out there and separate the big girls with chicken wire.

Here's my run. We are putting a metal slanted roof on it next month.

There is a shed on the other side of it, which is metal. We planned on converting that to the coop. But then I got the idea to get a dog house and use that as the coop. I found one that I really like on CL and it was $10.00. It's about 30x30x40 and I plan to elevate it with 2x4's.

Here's where my confusion sets in...considering that my run is a good size (keep in mind, this run is only for when we're away, when we're home they have that entire back area and the whole yard when they complain....which is every day

) and it has branches for roosting, should I just use the dog house for a nesting area? Because I don't think it's big/tall enough for 2...eventually 5 chickens to be housed in.

 

[joletabey]

Melissa,
Welcome to the Dellie thread! Mill is a very handsome boy- do you have more Dellies? Where did you get him? How old is he? We are always full of questions here! I have a few with a crooked toe, also. It's not the most important thing at the moment- I need to keep working on chunky bodies and a few other things.
BTW, where in the foothills are you? I am near Asheville.

 

[kmwright]

Quote:
Mill is quite the charmer! I wish I could have a rooster!!!!

 

[kmwright]

Artist and zookeeper. Wife to a smart, hard-working hubby. Mom to one beautiful daughter, 7 llamas, 3 goat wethers, a boxer, a husky mix, a keeshond mix, 5 pampered indoor cats, 2 robust barn cats, 4 guinea keets, and 9 chickens (2 pullets and 7 cockerels - I know, right!?!)
Hi, my name is Melissa, and I am a chicken addict.

I would say you're an animal addict! That's quite an impressive list!!​

 

[joletabey]

Kristen, if you can build something and attach the dog house, leaving that as your nesting area, you might could do it. The general rule is 4 s.f per bird in the coop and 10 sf per bird in the run. Granted, yours will free range while you are home, but what if you take a trip or are gone all day?
Does the dog house have a hinged roof for access? Or will you have to cut a back door or something to get the eggs?
I have one right now that is holding two birds while I finish another coop, and it will become my quarantine shack, but I would never put more than two or three birds in there- way too cramped for more than that.
Are you good at building? Do you have help? Do you have good tools? I am 0 for 3, and so I have to confess I have struggled mightily and shed many a tear trying to build a 4 x 8 tall enough for me to walk into for my Orps. Plus it has almost cost as much as the 6 x8 Kwik Shed from Lowe's and certainly has taken weeks and weeks of my time. I think I will be OK building small, grow out coops and shelters, but even with the Grip tool that thrilled us all a few posts back, I am not sure I would ever tackle something so big again.