South Carolina

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:
ME: HONEYYYYYYYYYYYY.......Ever heard of The Hay Rack?

SICK DH: No
ME: I think I will see if I can find it. It is just over in Landrum.

DH: Why?
ME: *mumbles* chicks *mumble-mumble*

DH: NO!

ME: SLW!

DH: NO!!

Me: Isn't it time for your medicine?

Everyone in the family has the flu. But me. I have a cold. I think I need chick therapy.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
Sounds like the PVC might work. Good idea!

You talking about a pen kinda like this one....?

Or more like this one?

I am in the process of making one like this again. It will be battleship gray this time instead of blue. Each pen has a different color so I can tell DH which pen needs water. Makes it much easier than numbers.

I can put one of these together in a day if I don't have visitors but I just had Sandy and Mary visit me and though I was covered in paint, we had a good time together! I love to work but chatting with chicken buddies is way more fun!

Sandy brought me a beautiful SS hen and Mary was picking up some really cute Silkie chicks from her. They enjoyed seeing all my rotten babies in the broody room.

Okay, breaks over! Back to cutting and painting!

 

[Junkmanme]

Quote:
I don't believe that the 3/4 inch PVC is strong enough. You can use 1/2 inch rebar instead of the T-posts...just drive them into the ground with a 2 or 3 pound one-handed sledge-hammer. (Stand on a Step-Ladder to start your "pounding".) ALSO... I would make the pen at least 6 feet tall....I don't like bending over any more than absolutely necessary. I'm getting STIFF in my old-age. The X-tra materials and labor would be worth it to me to keep from "stooping".
You can use "baling wire" to attach fencing to the "re-bar posts". I've done that with both Chain-Link and chicken-wire.

just a few thoughts,
-Junkmanme-

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

Nadine,

It will be very similar to the second one only with plywood sides instead of paneling. Im not worried about ht because i will be able to move it around like a tractor...I'm a strong boy, lol.

amy, do you ave apic of the inside of it where it is closed in?? need a model for myself,

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Well, I am sure I have more than this but finding them is the hard part. This is the only one I have here on BYC but I only have the one roosting board across it. They never used the nesting box when it was in there and now I mostly use it to grow up chicks from 3- 6 months before they go into breeding.
I can snap a few more if you need them.

Both ends open up. I have found it to be a real pain to catch birds in this type of tractor. I try to use it only for Cochins since they come to me. I really should make them shorter (6') so I can use the net easier but sure hate to cut 2' off of a board and all I have right now is a stack of 8' boards. Figures.
I move these around very easy. Usually one end gets moved over every day so they always have fresh ground to scratch on.

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

That's the idea I'm going for except that since it will be 4 foot tall I may cut the 4' end in half horizontally and put a latch there and have it open that way for eggs/chickens/whatever.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I would love to make mine taller but then I can't move them. Any extra wood makes it heavy for me. Lower to the ground and the wind can't tip it over either.
I would love to use 2x2's but as many screws as I put in them I still wind up splitting the 2x4's sometimes. This old woman has a hard time getting 3" screws through the lumber. I predrill the holes out half way and put a bit of vaseline on them to get them in well but my hands really ache at the end of the day. Like now!

I am only making the gray one 2' tall for the bantam Cochins. It is easier for me to retrieve eggs using a kids butterfly net and not bend over much at all. They only cost a dollar and I will be stocking up on some this spring. They are great for catching errant chicks, too! I have been using the same one for 2 years now and it is getting a bit worn. Not to mention I have a heck of a time remembering where I lasted used it!

I think on this gray one I will make a place for the nest box on a corner and screw it on. My SLC use theirs very well. I plan on making 3 more after this but it is slow going. I piddled all afternoon on it trying to get it framed but had an eye on the driveway because some people swore they were coming. Guess what? After 3 phone calls and a week of wanting to come they were no shows. These are people that expect you to drop what you are doing and let them come right now.

 

[Joycats]

Awww....Kimberly, I hope you're all feeling better. Hopefully you will NOT get the flu also. My extended family has had it and we've been very lucky to stay healthy. Tonight I'm not feeling so well....tomorrow I am sure I wll be fine. Positive thinking takes me everywhere!

So, did you give your husband some Motrin and sneak out to Landrum? If I knew where it was, I'd be there tomorrow. LOL Is it on Hwy 101N? I do think I've driven past it before. Hmmmm......wheels are turning, turning, turning

Nadine, I know exactly how you feel about some customers. I've had lots of calls/emails this week people wanting chicks/birds/eggs but no follow thrus. Spent last weekend waiting on the phone to ring, still haven't heard from this one guy. Anyway, there's a lot to do on a farm and it's just not possible to "drop everything" at a moments notice. Good for you getting those pens built. I need about a dozen extra right now, but haven't been very productive this week. There is so much I need to do while the weather is nice, I can't seem to focus and get anything accomplished. My daffodils are blooming, hopefully spring is very close. I have bantam buff plymouth rocks hatching...so excited, this is a new color for me.

 

[theoldchick]

Joycats as soon as my Hen Ranch is completed, I'll be calling ya! The floor is complete and the sides are framed in and we are now waiting for the rest of materials to be delivered.

 

[Southern Bee Lady]

Today is going to be nice. I will be out in the beeyard today.

Amy, I enjoyed seeing all-l-l-l-l-l-l-l of the little ones. Thanks for your hospitality.
Sandy, the silkie babies are home and settled into the brooder. I just sat and watched them all evening.

My eggs in the incubator are finished, I think. I had 24 out of 28 hatch. A couple are a little weak but I think
they may make it. Getting ready to set another batch.

Enjoy your day
Mary