Texas

[TexasLisa]

Okay. Here is a little video I threw together today. Needs a little refining, but I will let you guys preview it. It is just for kicks. It just a video I made based on a modification I made to a piece of yard equipment to make it live of to the term, "Texas Tough".

Heheehee!! Loved it!

Hi! Just wanted to introduce myself! We're starting a small backyard flock (probably of EE's) in October. I'm in the DFW area.

My first big question is does anyone know of any place that sells good quality coop kits? The ones online seem kind of shabby. Or does anyone in my area build them to suit!? B/c I'm hiring!

and Welcome aboard!!

Lisa

 

[akelley]

Hi! Just wanted to introduce myself! We're starting a small backyard flock (probably of EE's) in October. I'm in the DFW area.

My first big question is does anyone know of any place that sells good quality coop kits? The ones online seem kind of shabby. Or does anyone in my area build them to suit!? B/c I'm hiring!

Howdy! I'm new too; my EEs and SLWs are shipping on October 2nd!

I second looking on craigslist; there always seem to be coops on there. We're converting an old shed that was on our property when we moved in; maybe a free craigslit shed would work for you? A lot of people just want their sheds gone and don't charge if you haul it away...

 

[galanie]

Okay. Here is a little video I threw together today. Needs a little refining, but I will let you guys preview it. It is just for kicks. It just a video I made based on a modification I made to a piece of yard equipment to make it live of to the term, "Texas Tough".

Thats a great idea! Even if you have a tractor like I do, I can think of things that would be great for. Tractors with shredders/brush hogs, etc. can't get everywhere you need to cut down brush and pesky stuff.

 

[Jungleexplorer]

I NEEEEEEEDDDDDD ONE OF THEM!!!!!!!

Do you mean you need a U.W.M.W.D? It is really complicated. NOT! All it is, is an old 10" Chop saw (or table saw) blade attached to a weed eater. The hard part is the nut to hold it on the with. You can take the nut out of the regular head that holds the nylon string. The hole on the blade is a little bigger then the shaft, so you have to be careful to get it centered before tightening. The best thing is that if you are using a carbide tooth blade, you don't have to worry about hitting the dirt and rocks, it will stay sharp for a really long time. In fact, an old dull blade is better then a new blade because a new blade will dig in too fast. The blade in the video was so dull that it would smoke when trying to cut a 2X4 on my chop saw. The blade is heavy and it does take it while to gain speed but it has a lot of inertia once it get going and will power through just about anything.

 

[mandaleigh1981]

Check Craigslist. There are some listed on there in different sizes and such. We built our own from plans we purchased for $20. We already had almost every tool necessary though. Every time I do a project I justify to myself the "savings" of doing it myself will cover the cost of whatever tool I want at the time. That's how we've ended up with all the saws, tools, etc.

We just got started this spring. In hindsight I kind of wish we'd have just bought one of the different used coops that pop up from time to time on CL. People on this forum talk about "chicken math" which is code for "chicken addiction". We thought we'd want to have 6-8 laying birds to provide eggs for our 4 person family. So that's the size coop we built. Now we've got 20, and will probably add more (broilers) from time to time to stock the freezer. If we'd gone with a used coop we could have learned, then built what we really need once we knew what we'd really want. If that makes sense.

No, my current coop isn't for sale. The in-laws have called dibs on it if we decide to go ahead and upgrade. ;-)

I recommend "The Small-Scale Poultry Flock" by Harvey Ussery. I've been reading it recently and it answers outstanding questions I'd had and has a ton of ideas I may try out in the future.

Good luck with your chicken adventure!

You sound like my husband!

He gets excited about doing a "project" because it may mean new tools.

 

[RachaelS]

Interesting, I may need to put some along my walls, they are starting to come in the house

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7828951_cinnamon-kill-fire-ants.html

 

[TexasLisa]

Interesting, I may need to put some along my walls, they are starting to come in the house

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7828951_cinnamon-kill-fire-ants.html

Thanks for the tip!

Lisa

 

[TammyTX]

I used cinnamon earlier this summer when the fireants started coming and it just made them move and come in a different way.

Fireants are from the devil!! A favorite phrase of mine while driving is, "Burn in the fireants of H3LL!" hahaha.

 

[galanie]

I used cinnamon earlier this summer when the fireants started coming and it just made them move and come in a different way.

Fireants are from the devil!!    A favorite phrase of mine while driving is, "Burn in the fireants of H3LL!"   hahaha.

Absolutely! Ants are the Devli at work. I've never been able to rid myself of the bastages no matter what. Grits? Cornmeal? Are you kidding? They laugh at nuclear explosions and just keep on coming on!

 

[beccaboo254]

Thanks to everyone for the ideas! I'll definitely check out that book and keep skimming Craigslist!!