Texas

[jajeanpierre]

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!

Do you have a good general chicken-keeping book or two? Two really good ones are STOREY'S GUIDE TO RAISING CHICKENS by Gail Damerow and THE SMALL-SCALE POULTRY FLOCK by Harvey Ussery.

My first observation is that your coop doesn't have enough ventilation. Adult chickens don't need protection for the cold. They do just fine in cold as long as they are protected from the wind and are not wet.

You don't need to build much of a brooder unless you are raising a lot of chickens.

I found that no matter how much I read and researched, it was my doing it where I learned what worked and what didn't.

 

[jajeanpierre]

So glad your husband is ok

What kind of parrot is this? & how are your horses doing.......

It looks like a Rosy-faced Lovebird from Africa. I'll PM you about my horses.

 

[hungnguyen]

My thoughts are with you and your wife right now. Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda heading straight for Vietnam. Many believe Haiyan has turned into the most powerful storm in history and made landfall in the Philippines with sustained wind speeds of 195 mph.

Thanks Jean, I grew up in Saigon, South Vietnam and always heard of poor Central being hit with huricanes. I am not sure why people still stayed with their home town ... I never ask and never got any explanation. I guess once I choose to buy some property there, I will find my own answer.

My wife's home is very small... tiny. Since the dad couldn't go to work yesterday, he knocked down a wall in the living room to enlarge this room for the upcoming wedding. I guess I will have to help them with some cements to patch the holes on the roof.

Have a wonderful Fri ... everyone. Tomorrow, I will drive to Fort Smith AR, my annual trip to visit my friend's ranch. Just can't wait, it is not just a visit, it means friendhsip and it's an adventure... just driving overnight .. like the good ol' days when I am still young.

 

[hungnguyen]

Too cold .. and Lisa still snoring ... z..z..zzz

 

[TexasLisa]

Could use some help from the locals! Does anyone near San Antonio know where I might possibly get some wood pallets?

Check out Tractor Supply. They put their used pallets in the back for you to take.

Good Morning, it's Friday.... chilly.

Lisa, wake up, you're late.

I am up and have been since 5. My DH came home after being gone all week to a seminar. Nice to have him back!

I had a little bit of excitement yesterday. My 25 week old rooster, Angel Eyes, attacked me. I was headed out to the coop with my hands full when he got me. Thankfully he doesn't have spurs yet. I couldn't catch him so I chased him all over the yard and wouldn't let him near the girls. Last night he and I had a talk in the coop. I picked him up and held him for 20 minutes. I haven't been diligent on 'fluffing my wings' or out-crowing him. Aren't chickens great?!!!

Lisa

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Do you have a good general chicken-keeping book or two? Two really good ones are STOREY'S GUIDE TO RAISING CHICKENS by Gail Damerow and THE SMALL-SCALE POULTRY FLOCK by Harvey Ussery.

My first observation is that your coop doesn't have enough ventilation. Adult chickens don't need protection for the cold. They do just fine in cold as long as they are protected from the wind and are not wet.

You don't need to build much of a brooder unless you are raising a lot of chickens.

I found that no matter how much I read and researched, it was my doing it where I learned what worked and what didn't.

Not enough ventilation? It has three open sides, or are you talking the other end where the nesting boxes will be?

Ok, so if the one I chose is a bad idea I like this one too. Similar idea coop. I want a run area like this attached to my coop.

I will look into getting some books. Thanks for the recommendations. I was wondering if there was a "Chicken Keeping For Dummies" book out there. lol!
I learn best by example and trial and error. I hate reading instructions....


What do most people use for nesting material? I read straw doesn't compost well so I would like to stay away from that, unless that is what is best.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Thats a nice looking coop

sounds like your making the right plans-just remember no metal pans if your going to do the ff

& welcome to the Texas thread

Thank you.

Your avatar is one incredible looking horse! I love thoroughbreds, not such a big fan of racing, mostly due to the early age at which the horses are 'broken'. I've been to Valor Farm a few times - it isn't too far from me. I love that place! It's like heaven on earth for me. I need to go there again and get my 'fix' of horses again. I go in the spring when all the babies are still little. I've been told I have a good eye for horses, I picked the two best horses the farm had produced a few years ago. Red Coyote was my favorite. We had a special connection. I really wanted him. I hope to have a horse or two some day....

 

[Ms Jellybean]

I got paid today! Unfortunately, a portion of it is going to buy avian pox vaccine. I couldn't figure out what was going on with my little Cochin and my turkeys (I thought they were pecking each other or something), but now I know. I'm going to see if they sell it locally, but I will probably just order it online. What an expense. I really feel bad that I didn't notice this sooner. It probably would have been easier if I had noticed this sooner so they wouldn't be suffering through it.

I read an article (blog post) on pox the other day and it said there wasn't a medicine for it. Was the writer wrong? She did say to treat the sores with something....

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: I was just going to say the same....
things change and are different due to different environment's...and you can't have all that figured out until you and your flock begin to settle in...the most important thing to study is how to feed them to keep them the healthiest
chickens are messy...it takes a lot to keep them clean! I'm wondering if your expectations of sanitation are??? unrealistic...I clean 2 times a week inside and outside the coops...and when I do it's "TIME"

 

[hungnguyen]

Quote:
I raise the Orientals and mostly they're calm and can come to me when I spring my finger (not sure if this is the right term, or "flip the finger"). Once in a while there is a mean one. The mean behavior is caused mainly by 2 factors. First factor is Fear, when you first catch them, they scare and turn defensive. Second factor is Angry, this happens when you touch them during moulting or catching their Girls in front of them. There are several ways to deal with this. I worm them when their feathers heavily drop so I don't touch them for 2-3 months when their feathers grow. In a brood cage, I catch the rooster and put away prior to catching the hen. And for the wild bird, I catch them at night, bring them inside a lighted barn and rub their feather so they can feel warm in my hand; a few times doing this will calm them down and they feel secure in my hand. In addition, when feeding, throw the food away from you so they don't attack you to get the feed. Another factor causing manfight behaviour is "inbreeding" where same bloodlines are mated together ... just cross breed to avoid this. Look like Lisa Dear is heading toward a great weekend with DH ... feed him well but use the chicken eggs.. not the chicken.