The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[Leahs Mom]

Birds are finally getting outside for a dustbath this afternoon. Though it's been misting and sometimes raining, I poured some peat moss in the corner near their door. They literally spent about half an hour in there.

This was yesterday. About 1.5 days into the thaw.

 

[speckledhen]

Birds are finally getting outside for a dustbath this afternoon. Though it's been misting and sometimes raining, I poured some peat moss in the corner near their door. They literally spent about half an hour in there.


This was yesterday. About 1.5 days into the thaw.

Wow, Sue, super nice barn! I really wish mine was even larger sometimes, but it was hard enough getting just that much flat ground to put the 20x24 one on in the first place. We are talking about putting another steel building for just storage in the flattish area where the covered small bantam pen is now, but maybe on concrete. That little 4x8 coop is built on skids sitting on concrete blocks so it could conceivably be moved to another location if we had a forklift.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I started with the chickens in the "little house" which is also a shed. We actually put it down some metal pipes to roll it to a different location right on the ground. Had my husband and one other guy that were able to move it that way. We'd pull the pipes out as it moved and replace it at the front of the direction we were moving it.

If I remember correctly, my husband and his son just jacked it up - literally with car jacks on each corner - to be able to get the pipes under it.

Anyhow.... maybe you @speckledhen can get a helper or 2 and move it without a forklift!

OH!!! I just realized I have some photos of part of that process!

 

[Leahs Mom]

And we may have to move it again. My thoughts are to use it for meat birds, but it also makes a good place for extra cockerels when they are old enough to know they're boys It's also pretty much predator proof so I can leave the shed "people doors" open in the summer all night long for air flow.

My husband built some nice dividers inside it and it has pop doors on timers to open and shut. (I want those on the barn. Really miss those doors!!!)

 

[speckledhen]

@Leahs Mom , that is awesome! If we decide to put up a storage building, we'll have to think about where to move this, maybe inside the barn pen would be good, though we'd have to take down fencing to do it, I'm afraid. Will have to think on that a bit. Thanks for the photos! I'll show Tom. I'm taking him out to eat. He's been antsy and a little down lately so I think one of his favorite Philly Cheese Steaks will perk him right up.

 

[1muttsfan]

That is a great barn and shed. I don't suppose I could borrow your husband for about a week? My ironworker boyfriend is not much into building things unless there is fire involved!

The temperature is held steady around 41 degrees all day, started off gray and damp and switched to fog and rain. Pretty soon the wind shift line will pass through and we will get snow, then the 0 to 10 degree temps again for the next couple days. My driveway is going to be an ice skating rink.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Birds are finally getting outside for a dustbath this afternoon. Though it's been misting and sometimes raining, I poured some peat moss in the corner near their door. They literally spent about half an hour in there.

View attachment 1233142

This was yesterday. About 1.5 days into the thaw.
View attachment 1233143

We got up to 40 degrees last night, quite a bit of melting here too. Now it's cooling off, and will go to about 5 degrees overnight. Everything is glare ice outside right now. I got all my critters fed, so I will stay in until tomorrow. It should be fun going out. It's now snowing so I hope it forms a crust and not a skating rink.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Cold forecasted here for tomorrow too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

PS: We got the shed from Habitat for Humanity for $250. It was on a property they were tearing down for a new highway. We had to move it, though. Had a friend with a trailer that got it on for us and hauled it over.

 

[speckledhen]

It was very foggy when we came home. Of course, as we drive back, we go higher and higher and the cloud is sitting on us now. Dropping that 30* or so someone mentioned, suddenly.