Texas

[ClovisMan]

Looking great my friend. Since the chicken not moving in yet, maybe some little infants can use your coop as their playgroung for a while

So when is the Open House party?

Thanks Hung. The kids have been using it as their play house while I am working on it. The chickens are going in this weekend and just in time. They will be 8 weeks old on Monday.

How's the little one doing? I bet its exciting being a new Dad. I remember those days well. Also, how is your incubation going? I think you said that you set eggs earlier this month?

 

[jajeanpierre]

Yes, this is not the roofing tar that gets sticky in the heat. It is a rubber based product that dries/hardens. I was able to walk on it within 2 hours of painting it on without it getting on my shoes or coming up. Someone else on BYC recommended it. He has had it on his floor for 4+ years and it still looks the same. BlackJack Rubbr-Coat #57 from Lowes.

Thanks. Latex based?

I'm building a new coop for them this summer and would really like something like that on the floor. The stuff my husband bought was just a disaster.

 

[lovingmyhens]

My car needs to have the solenoid control valve replaced.  I'm trying to get them to do it under warranty since my warranty just expired in December month-wise but I still have several thousand miles to go mile-wise.  

I'm waiting to hear back from them.

Even if they can get the cost down some I won't be getting chickens.  I'm in for over $200 right now with the part and the diagnostic run. I just can't make it work right now. 

Life always seems to come from behind and give us a big whack. Chickens will come. I am sorry about your car-
Keep planning!

 

[ClovisMan]

Yes, I believe it is Latex based because I cleaned my rollers and brushes with just plain old water. It dries real quick and the price was right. $44 bucks for a 4.75 gallon bucket. I just wish it came in a lighter color. I would say better than regular paint and garage floor paint, but not as durable as say the roll on truck bed coating I had considered first (would have been very expensive).

 

[SlipsWife]

I really like them. They are reasonable too. Going to see if my local TS has them. If not will get them on line. Think I will get two to start with and see what happens. I like the fact that others can't get on top. Also that they are wall mounted as the back side of our chicken house is actually the outer wall of our little barn they will work well. Thanks for the info. Magpie

I know someone who bought 2 of them for her 3 hens and they won't use them. They thought they would want them because of the dark/coziness but their hens lay in a window cutout that's part of their coop design. The back of the window only has hardware cloth, is open to pretty much anything and everything to see them laying but they don't care.

I'm sure most people that have them have chickens that actually use them, but I just wanted to give you a heads up.

I don't have any personal experience with the product.

Our hens lay behind their nesting boxes and all 8 wait to lay in the same place...We've thought about changing the lay out of the coop, its all still in the temporary set up but now we're afraid they'll get upset and start laying in other places.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Life always seems to come from behind and give us a big whack. Chickens will come. I am sorry about your car-
Keep planning!

Sometimes it seems life is stalking me to do just that!

I've been told I should write a book about my life with all that I have gone through. To me it is just life, but I guess to others it is inspiration.

I think I could make chicks work this fall, but I really don't want little girls going through the winter. Better to wait until spring.

How long does chick starter keep?

 

[Frances Salazar]

Keep an eye out on craigslist for your area. Find the free section, many times things are posted that you can use.

 

[hungnguyen]

@Clovis: One of my hens hatched a bunch yesterday. Another hen supposes to hatch some today. Then my incubator is planned for next Tues hatching. Another 2 hens should hatch next week sometimes. Hope I can combine all the chicks into one brooder soon.

@Clovis & ManyHens: Boy is doing great. Went home last Tues. All he does is sleep, wake up crying for feeding and ..poops. I wonder if he gains a pound yet as tomorrow will be a week old. Grandma took off 4 days to stay in hospital with them. Now grandpa is taking 2 wks off to help cooking, cleaning etc. Then yesterday an aunt coming from North VN to be a live-in nanny for the next 6-7 months. She is taking the boy to the roof for an hour sunbathing everyday now. I may have to build him a coop for playground like Clovis did.

@lovinghens: good luck with your "B-teams". Sic them!

 

[magpiesing]

Good day folks Well I am cautiously excited. Went to do a welfare check about 2:30am and just had to check those eggs. We have not one but TWO that look good. Good air chambers and in one we saw little feet! I know some of y'all are hatching eggs by the basket full, but I'm happy with two. Will have to get busy and build a brooder cage. So if all goes well and the good Lord says the same we will have a couple of peepers in a few days. Fingers and toes crossed!! Blessed day to all. Magpie

 

[jajeanpierre]

Sometimes it seems life is stalking me to do just that!

I've been told I should write a book about my life with all that I have gone through. To me it is just life, but I guess to others it is inspiration.

I think I could make chicks work this fall, but I really don't want little girls going through the winter. Better to wait until spring.

How long does chick starter keep?

Give it away. I wouldn't keep feed longer than a couple of months. It can go rancid.

Why exactly can't you have chickens?

Think about this--get yourself three little Silkies. Put together some sort of a safe coop that they can sleep in. My dog house for $140 from TSC would house three Silkies no problem. You can add a lot more ventilation and a little door for very little money--a couple of hinges, a latch, some good strong wire, and screws to screw the wire in (don't use staples--too weak with good wire).

If $140 is too much, and I can appreciate that sometimes it is, take some pallets apart and make a little predator-proof box somewhat like that little dog house. Use plastic fencing and push in stakes for a small run. You can cover it with plastic netting. You have a fenced yard, so you won't have dogs getting in and foxes and coyotes are not very common in the city. With any small chick, you have to be extra vigilant because so many things can and will take them, but once a Silkie is grown they are a lot safer.

Your Silkies will cost you about $4 each if you get pet quality. (I think my hopefully show quality Ameraucanas cost me about $8 each.) Get double the number you want because half will be cockerels.

You would have chickens that aren't very destructive to have around so you won't have to worry so much about their housing. You might even just allow them in your back yard since the only predators will be from the sky and there are a few things you can do to mitigate that.

Little Silkies are really docile and easy to keep. They will forage for a good deal of their food in your yard. They have feathered feet so they don't trash your property. Large fowl, especially those without feathered feet, dig big holes in the ground. Also, if and when you get other chickens, the Silkies will probably just take the chicks and be their mother so introducing new chickens into the flock is easy.

Think about it.