The Middle Tennessee Thread

[HBuehler]

Thanks guys...the check is in the mail...not really

I do like my set up for sure.But,there are things that I would change a little if we did it again.
First there are 2 things obvious to all that have seen my little chicken shack.1 always build something high enough where short people don't take their heads off entering

second don't build it in the middle of a steep hill without water deferring help...But we take no claim to either of those blame it on a back woods farmer

Now,you have seen what we built

Our whole idea inside the chicken shack was to be able to care for all the coops without ever going outside so if the weather is bad you can still feed water clean and gather eggs and never go outside.Ideally I would like my free rangers to use a coop at night and not my central area so somethings could remain bird poo free but those ladies had other ideas.
With my set up the built in nest boxes turned out to be a very bad idea I don't recommend that if you want to copy some of our ideas.There are a few other things we would change and will change as needed mostly with the latches we used on the coops and the runs.

Now...for those who need a new coop the phone number is....

 

[DMRippy]

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What is wrong with the nest boxes???? I did get all those good ideas from you... except you can pull a vehicle in all the runs so anybody can walk I don't have a free ranger problem either.

 

[HBuehler]

The nest boxes make it very hard to clean the pen..you have to reach over them to clean it out...we are going to tear them out and the new one's will look just like that but removable.It will take more lumber but will make it a lot easier.
My Partridge Wyandotte rooster didn't make his way back into the coops tonight...oh how quickly a breeding plan changes.That plan will now be on indefinite hold until I hunt me down a new one and they are more rare than hens teeth.I already asked Jerry last week for a back up and he was all out

 

[DMRippy]

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The first coop we added the nest boxes to... never again!!! They poop in it it is hard to clean. The others have a coop and a separate nest box that is working great! The roos even like the nest boxes

 

[Countrypunk92]

Hey guys, sorry I havent been on much. been rough on the farm, lost 3 silkie hens... And my favorote cochin bantam hen. i suspect its the cold weather, but it hasnt been THAT cold... I am selling the Blsck Cochin Roo if anyone wants him. He is GORGOUS!

 

[KandiandJerry]

hate to hear that about your losses after all hate to say it but it is predator time

 

[DMRippy]

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Sorry!

I am like you though it has not been that cold?

 

[Countrypunk92]

Quote:
Nothing got them, just founr them dead. My hen was in the nest box.. and the silkies was laying in the middle of the coop

 

[dixieland]

I got lots of great ideas from Holly's set up....I love what I have here, but if I had all of the land Holly did, I would have acres of pretty feathered babies!!!
The best part of our first visit to Holly---She answered EVERY dumb question we had, and never rolled her eyes at us or got fed up with us.....If those of us who started with Holly can be half as helpful and great as she has been with us to the newcomers, Middle TN will be the envy of all chicken fanciers world wide

 

[CarolJ]

You're making me want to meet everyone in this group now! It would be nice to be able to talk chickens without people acting like I'm crazy. I've stopped talking about them so much to my friends and family because I get the impression they think I'm a little obsessed with them! My daughter gave me a t-shirt the other day with "Crazy Chicken Lady" on it.

We ordered a chicken house from a Mennonite family in Ethridge. I definitely don't have the ability to build what I want - and although my husband could build it, he doesn't have the time. So he wanted to drive to Ethridge several weeks ago to talk to this Mennonite guy that builds various types of out buildings. It was so interesting to see their farm - like stepping back in time with no modern machinery - and everyone in the family working on the farm. We also bought some great vegetables from them while we were there! I drew out the plans for the interior of the coop - with everything I could think of that I might need/want, and he's finishing out the interior according to the plans. We should get it in about two weeks. It's interesting communicating with them. No phone, no fax, no email. So snail mail is the only way to communicate - other than driving down there and talking to them in person. Once we get the new chicken house my three groups of chickens will be housed in the same building. Then I plan on using my two smaller coops for breeding or brooding or . . . I'm sure I'll fill them up quickly.