Texas

[MelTX]

You want to use DE in a coop with sand. You don't want to use it with deep litter. IMO Deep litter is much better all the way around.

My coop will be a mobile coop with a little tray under the roosts only. So I was planning on using a little DE in the sand that I can sift with litter scoop.

 

[Teri Metcalf]

I've been out of touch for awhile, but I'm back now. I was visiting kids and grandkids in Illinois over Halloween. Since I've been back I've been occupied in copy editing a couple of novels written by my stepson who plans to self-publish on Amazon. But now I'm done with that and will do a bit of catching up with backyard chickens. Fortunately my chickens have been very patient with me the last week or so.

 

[Teri Metcalf]

In case you live anywhere near Brazos County, we have a tour of backyard chicken coops coming up on Sunday, November 24 (1 to 5 p.m.). It's called Pulletpalooza. You can get updates from the Pulletpalooza website (bvpulletpalooza.blogspot.com), and I will also post updates here. This will be the 4th year. I participated last year as one of the ten coops on the tour and it was a lot of fun to meet other chicken families and those just interested in learning more.

 

[Teri Metcalf]

I love that movie!!

Vietnam is on my bucket list to visit.

 

[showbarnmom]

I think I need an incubator! *sigh*

 

[Teri Metcalf]

I greet morning in San Marcos, TX daily. Warmer than the last 2 days. I got a hard time falling in sleep when it's warm like this. It is very weird for human beings like us. At late evening, we cannot sleep, the pillow too high, the blanket too thick, too hot, the mattress too hard. Then when we wake up in the morning ... oooo.. ahhh, the pillow is so soft, the inside blanket so warmmmmm, the mattress is just fine... and we cannot get out of bed.

A hurricane is hitting NhaTrang, Vietnam where my new wife lives. She works at a shopping mall, and yesterday shift is 8am-8pm. She reported that the hurricane came at about 2-3pm, still lots of rain and strong wind right now. Not sure how she can drive her scooter to go home tonight. Will wait for her news in the next 1/2 hr.

I love to ride scooter so I did it in each of my trip. Still .. so hard to drive in the rain where water is all over my eyeglass, and all over my eyes. And the wind is cutting into your skin. However, I did ok so far since I know how to swim.

Wow! I hope she made it home safely. Will she be able to move here any time soon so that you can be together. Or do you plan to move to Vietnam?

 

[hungnguyen]

Hi Teri ... wcb,

We just about to complete all the required forms for visa petition. Once we submit, it will be 7 mos before they interview her. If everything goes right, she may be here late summer 2014, just in time to enjoy the orange leaves of autumn.

She made it home ok... kind of shaky drive in the wind. The power was out and the roof was leaking everywhere... even right at her bed. I guess she had to sleep in her swimsuit.

It gets hectic at work as we are heading to end of year. I will face several audits. Can't wait to x-mas to head home to see the bride and the guests.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

My plan (so far)...(subject to change).

After reading/looking at tons of info on raising chickens and coops on-line, I have come up with these ideas. Tell me if I am off base on anything....

I want this coop. There are a couple of others that I like, but I keep coming back to this one. I want to enclose it in a large run area. I'll post a photo of the place when my yard dries out more from all this rain we've had. I plan on using hardware cloth to keep out as much as I can. Not sure what I will put on the top, but I need something to keep the hawks/owls and squirrels out.

I have decided to use the DL method and FF along with sprouted feed. I will have a tub for dust baths.

Not sure how to do a compost area. Will have to read up on that.

I need to make a brooder. I like the one on here made from a cabinet.

I need to figure out feeding still, like what types of dishes are best, amounts, and feeding the babies. Heat for the winter... Nesting boxes.

I'm sure there is much more I need to figure out and learn, but right now my head is starting to spin from information overload today. Starting a 'notebook' for info on my computer.


Man! There is a lot to learn!

 

[Teri Metcalf]

My plan (so far)...(subject to change).

After reading/looking at tons of info on raising chickens and coops on-line, I have come up with these ideas. Tell me if I am off base on anything....

I want this coop. There are a couple of others that I like, but I keep coming back to this one. I want to enclose it in a large run area. I'll post a photo of the place when my yard dries out more from all this rain we've had. I plan on using hardware cloth to keep out as much as I can. Not sure what I will put on the top, but I need something to keep the hawks/owls and squirrels out.

I have decided to use the DL method and FF along with sprouted feed. I will have a tub for dust baths.

Not sure how to do a compost area. Will have to read up on that.

I need to make a brooder. I like the one on here made from a cabinet.

I need to figure out feeding still, like what types of dishes are best, amounts, and feeding the babies. Heat for the winter... Nesting boxes.

I'm sure there is much more I need to figure out and learn, but right now my head is starting to spin from information overload today. Starting a 'notebook' for info on my computer.


Man! There is a lot to learn!

Yes, there is a lot to learn, and it's good to be somewhat prepared. But to a large extent you can learn as you go. It's kind of like becoming a parent. In fact the chickens are likely to be more forgiving of your mistake than your kids.

 

[lovingmyhens]

I use just pine shavings. So the DE should not be used with the shavings? I too like things being clean. For some reason I just equate flies and uncleanliness although I know that's not true. I really really want two more chickens though!