Spring 2017 first timers post!

[rodewarrior]

I just feel like such a failure over this. We talked about building a coop to start with and scrapped the idea when we saw these. Now we're screwed because husband burned the box and we can't return it. He's made because we now also have to spend the money to build one on top of it.

Go find some pallets, they're working go for myself and others

 

[Henchanted]

This little chick sitting on my granddaughter's shoulder had to go to new home today
I was sad...but glad i found her a good home. She just would not quit pecking all the other 19 chicks. I isolated her in her own brooder for 48 hours hoping that would reset her pecking but she was even worse. So, i gave her to a friend who has chickens. He put her in with his little bit bigger chicks and ducklings and she did fine. Maybe a chick with an ego? I am just happy that she is in a good home. I hated having to isolate her or having all the other chicks pecked on so viciously non-stop. She really OCD'D on the pecking chicks. Everyone else gets along great thus far.

 

[Henchanted]

Here is a pic of the beginning stages of laying the foundation for placing our 10x6 metal shed on to convert into a coop. We are winging it but will do our best to give our chickens safety, security, cleanliness, and love!

 

[Wavechickens]

I just feel like such a failure over this. We talked about building a coop to start with and scrapped the idea when we saw these. Now we're screwed because husband burned the box and we can't return it. He's made because we now also have to spend the money to build one on top of it.

Sorry to hear, but it's not your fault, you bought it thinking they were giving accurate dimensions. Consider selling it on CL? We almost sold ours (before turning it into the food and water hut) and we had quite a few offers for it. But I didn't feel like dealing with the hauling it to someone or having them pick it up in the long run, but still if your growing to build and really don't want it I'd say give it a try.

 

[Wavechickens]

Well, I sold the prefab for $15 less than I paid for it, but I can't complain. Hubs is still upset, but I'm going to make this work.

Didn't catch you sold it already. I should be wearing my glasses while reading the threds (getting them now). Glad to hear you got most of your money back

 

[Wavechickens]

I learned this lesson today. Woke up and the chickens we're pecking at others to the point of bleeding. Although i didn't cut the beaks i had to find a solution. I separated them and gave them toys

How much space do they have? Our babies at about 3 weeks started to get peck happy with each other and I noticed that the brooder was getting to small. After we moved them to a brooder twice the size they all stopped. Chickens don't like to be cramped to much. Mine are staring to reach each other their places in the pecking order as well, so space becomes an issue. Silly birds.

 

[Wavechickens]

*teach*

 

[rainee63]

Gotta work on giving my chicklets more space today. They're getting a little rowdy in their stolen bunny cage! I candled my eggs in the incubator last night. 6 showed veins and that little black eye dot. One of the bantam eggs was clear. Does that mean it wasn't fertilized? I left it in there n thought I'd look again in a few days. Oh, and I also bought that little gray coop from tractor supply. I like it. But it's not gonna hold more than 5 chickens. And I'm gonna build it extra run space. But the actual coop part I think is kinda cool. But I'm new at this so... I may change my mind in the future.

 

[ADVaughn]

So, I'm trying to decide on a location for our coop. We live in town so we are somewhat limited and I don't want it just in the middle of the yard. In our enclosed backyard there are basically two spots. One is next to the garage. This is near a power source, the feed storage and is a flatter area for easier leveling. But, during the summer there is very little shade and it can get rather hot.

The other location is on the opposite end of the house and yard. The ground is somewhat sloped but not prohibitively so. It is under shade trees and it is somewhat close to one of the bedrooms from which power could be run if necessary. But it is more easily viewed from neighboring residences and is across the property from the feed and supply storage.

Having written this I feel as though if there's a reasonably simple solution to the heat issue my first option is best. Thoughts?

 

[bajabirdbrain]

I spent a day making a larger brooder for our chicks. It is still made out of cardboard boxes but check out how much fun they are having now. The first one was half this size and nine inches shorter. I made it so it has a door I can go in to change food and water. 19 little chicks

in my homemade brooder set up in our dining room. I am so thankful for cardboard boxes and duct tape! I started with one half this size but they were getting crowded and found one perched on top of the box. Took another trip to the store for more boxes and came up with this. It even has a door! They are being kept happy and busy while we build their new coop. We have finished the foundation today and I hope to post some pics tomorrow. I am delighted how this indoor brooder turned out since they are growing so fast and we will be working on the coop for another two weeks.

Love your brooder! We don't see a MHP so are you using a heat lamp? The 2 white pipes across the box, pvc?BB said these looked like wooden dowels) For roosting or ?

Today we finish the coop, yipee, pictures this afternoon, hopefully. Also today we plan on setting up our brooder. We have tested our MHP and we "think" it is good to go. Planning on using corrugated Kraft paper for the perimeter of the brooder. Will only be used for less than a week till we move the children to the coop BUT after seeing your box brooder we may reconsider.

Again, great job, neighbor! TBC, BB