The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

In your video you mentioned putting a roost in front of the nest boxes, if I heard you correctly. My husband did that to some of my nest boxes and I eventually cut them all off. The birds were getting in the habit of roosting on them and in the nest boxes getting them pretty poopy. Just my opinion. The birds will be able to get in them without a roost.

I have nests with and without perches. The ones without perches are at floor level. The other nests are elevated. My chickens don't roost in or on either of them. That doesn't mean the reds won't roost in them... there's always a possibility. I suppose I can try without the perch and see how it goes. I can always add them later if they start laying eggs on the floor, right?

That is fabulous.

I really need to do a fan like that. With that much effort in the coop, I can't wait to see your birds in a few years!

With the heat down here, and the location of the coop,the fan really isn't an option. My other coops are shaded all day long, so they're okay. The new one catches full sun during the hottest part of the day. The only other option was to make it wide open, which would present another problem when winter rolls around. There was a lot to consider in the development of this coop. My goal is to breed the finest birds possible, and I'm going to do everything I can to reach that goal.

 

[cmom]

Quote: Don't forget to put golf balls in the nest boxes.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Don't forget to put golf balls in the nest boxes.

Do I put down some green mats and install windmills and waterfalls, too? Where can I find putters for chickens... Rhode Island Red Clubs of America? I'm a member, so I should get a discount. How much do I charge for a round? I know these birds are very intelligent, but I had no idea they played golf!

Just kidding!!!

I'm still a long way from POL, but I'll be ready when the time comes. I have wooden eggs that I used in my other nesting boxes. They're very close to the size, color, and weight of RIR eggs, so they'll never know the difference...

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Nothing but the best...

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Nothing but the best...

I have to apologize. My wife said my last post sounded very sarcastic. I certainly didn't mean it that way. What sounds funny in my head sometimes isn't so funny to others. I'm a hard one to figure out... that's for sure. I certainly wasn't trying to be sarcastic, and I wasn't bragging about the wooden eggs. I bought 4 of them when I got my very first chickens... long before I'd even heard about golf balls being used. I guess I should have just said that instead of making a pitiful attempt at golf humor...

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I took it as good humor. I use golf balls because a friend of mine worked at a golf course and brought me a bucket full of golf balls. They were balls that players lost and he was a grounds keeper so he would find the golf balls. They work.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I took it as good humor. I use golf balls because a friend of mine worked at a golf course and brought me a bucket full of golf balls. They were balls that players lost and he was a grounds keeper so he would find the golf balls. They work.

I'm glad you got it! Whew...

Golf balls do work. Since joining this site, I've learned they're what most people use.

 

[waddles99]

I have always used these for my next boxes: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/happy-hen-treats-ceramic-eggs-white

 

[cmom]

I have always used these for my next boxes: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/happy-hen-treats-ceramic-eggs-white

I use the golf balls be cause they were given to me and they work.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I think most of my chicks are progressing at a decent rate, though I can't help but wonder if the two little ones will ever catch up. Not that it matters, since they're two of five cockerels. I have 3 pullets from each of the two families, so I should be able to come up with a minimum of a breeding pair (per family) in the spring. I'd love to get two sets of trios, or even quads for breeding, but only time will tell how many will be selected for breeding. I have a good bit of time to see how they turn out, and they'll only be 11 weeks old in 3 days, but I'm bored so I'm going to post pics anyway...











"Runt"...


Runt's cockerel cousins tower over him. It doesn't bother him, though. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in spunk. He'll take on both of them at once...
He's not likely to ever catch up, and I have someone asking for a "rooster" to throw in with their barnyard birds.


Of course, no photo session would ever be complete without C.J. (Champ, Jr.) taking a siesta on my knee...



Any and all comments are welcome. I know they're young, but feel free to critique my birds... just to make sure I'm not wearing blinders and missing something.