Texas

[janiedoe]

According to local forecast-we have 10 days chance of rain.
So.... I mowed Monday and Tuesday. Also burned brush Tuesday and yesterday. Let it rain .
I had a dead hen in a nest box yesterday. She was young, hatch last July. No injuries I could see, head tucked under body, legs behind her. My gut feeling is that something startled her and she flew into nest, hit back wall, and broke her neck. I partially cleaned nest boxes, couldn't do thoroughly because I didn't wanna leave burn pile unattended. Gonna try to clean today-watching weather.View attachment 3492350

I'm sorry about your hen. I lost one yesterday, too. But it wasn't unexpected. She was a 6yo hatchery hen and had been slowly going down hill for a while. I'll miss her in the flock, she was sweet and friendly.

 

[janiedoe]

The panhandle has officially reached "summer storm" season.
My ducks are supper happy it rains at night. My chickens are less happy because it also hails and it turns out a heavy metal drum solo on the roof is disturbing to small fowl...

I added a new 8x10 coop onto the run this past year. My chickens use it for a nesting room. I'm guessing it's the metal roof. They prefer the old 6 x8 coop with the Ondura roof that leaks, even though they are crowded.
I tried closing off the old coop for 4 months, but as soon as I opened the door, they started gravitating back into it. Now all 30ish of them are in there again.
Chickens

 

[Auntiejessi3]

According to local forecast-we have 10 days chance of rain.
So.... I mowed Monday and Tuesday. Also burned brush Tuesday and yesterday. Let it rain .
I had a dead hen in a nest box yesterday. She was young, hatch last July. No injuries I could see, head tucked under body, legs behind her. My gut feeling is that something startled her and she flew into nest, hit back wall, and broke her neck. I partially cleaned nest boxes, couldn't do thoroughly because I didn't wanna leave burn pile unattended. Gonna try to clean today-watching weather.View attachment 3492350

Ya I saw that this morning, going to mow the chicken yard after work, and get the chicks out to the coop brooder. Really not looking forward the a soggy week! Sorry about your hen

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I'm sorry about your hen. I lost one yesterday, too. But it wasn't unexpected. She was a 6yo hatchery hen and had been slowly going down hill for a while. I'll miss her in the flock, she was sweet and friendly.

I'm sorry about your hen! Hopefully she's in a better way now

 

[janiedoe]

I'm sorry about your hen! Hopefully she's in a better way now

Thank you. I have several that are over 5 years now. I expect it will be a hard summer for them.

 

[NagemTX]

Sorry for the loss.

Half way done with my outdoor brood box. Making it 8ft long By 2ft wide and I think 16 inches deep. Bottom on one side 1/4 hardware cloth and the other solid plywood. I'll get pictures this evening when home from work.

 

[janiedoe]

Sorry for the loss.

Half way done with my outdoor brood box. Making it 8ft long By 2ft wide and I think 16 inches deep. Bottom on one side 1/4 hardware cloth and the other solid plywood. I'll get pictures this evening when home from work.

I'd like to see it.
I need to build a new brooder. I had two large walkin brooders in the old run. They are now the bantam coop & run. I guess I could put one in the new hen house since no one sleeps in there anyway.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Sorry for the loss.

Half way done with my outdoor brood box. Making it 8ft long By 2ft wide and I think 16 inches deep. Bottom on one side 1/4 hardware cloth and the other solid plywood. I'll get pictures this evening when home from work.

That's basically how big mine is, 8x2 and about 36 inches tall, chicken wire with the bottom half 1/4 inch HWC, it's under my poop boards

 

[NagemTX]

That's basically how big mine is, 8x2 and about 36 inches tall, chicken wire with the bottom half 1/4 inch HWC, it's under my poop boards

We are building a roof for it. Will be in side my small yard so I can see it from my bedroom window.

 

[Matejka]

Ok, what exactly IS brooder box? I always put a dog crate on its side (bottom holes are bigger) and brood my babies in it. They can interact with biggies and run for safety to crate. Food and water in crate. So curious what a brooder box is.