The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[Chookwagn]

View attachment 4202059

Brown Cockerel

 

[Chookwagn]

First pip of the season!

 

[The Moonshiner]

Started one of those projects that I really maybe shouldn't have. OK probably should have but it's gonna be time consuming that I could be doing something needed worse.
But anyways I got to say goodbye to an old friend. The first brooder I made here. 14 or 15 years ago at least. Drug it to the burn pile. It was a simple big plywood box with two hinged screen tops.
It got old and I began not liking the design. Maybe more so I got tired of the same ol same ol. At some point I took the tops off to use the hardware cloth and front piece of wood off to throw on top. Like an old broken console TV that has a newer smaller TV on top of it.. I eventually used it to stack two poly tub brooders on. I stored feeders, waterers, whatever in it. Many a muscovie hatched broods in it too.
Probably was there was gap between it and one wall and it and the wall behind it.
This is in my chick house where I get escapees during cleaning times. Not too many but they've always somehow found their way in those gaps and it's a b!tch to fish them out or harass them out with a broom stick.
I yanked the brooder tubs out and temporarily relocated them. Ya they're full of chicks atm. Cleaned it out and drug it out. Feeling pretty good about it but now I want to build something more like a table. Top and legs and minimal supports to steady it to hold the brooders. Idk may be quit a bit of time consumed just to be able to catch escaped chicks easier.
Least I stopped there. I was getting an idea that would get into a bunch of work but I'll save that until springish before I start hatching.

 

[KF0002]

View attachment 4202059

Is this a Dark Brown Leghorn? Looks like it has an eb base (or at least split eb base)? How cool!!

 

[KF0002]

First pip of the season! View attachment 4202091

Woohoo! Come on babies! Get to crackin!

 

[KF0002]

Started one of those projects that I really maybe shouldn't have. OK probably should have but it's gonna be time consuming that I could be doing something needed worse.
But anyways I got to say goodbye to an old friend. The first brooder I made here. 14 or 15 years ago at least. Drug it to the burn pile. It was a simple big plywood box with two hinged screen tops.
It got old and I began not liking the design. Maybe more so I got tired of the same ol same ol. At some point I took the tops off to use the hardware cloth and front piece of wood off to throw on top. Like an old broken console TV that has a newer smaller TV on top of it.. I eventually used it to stack two poly tub brooders on. I stored feeders, waterers, whatever in it. Many a muscovie hatched broods in it too.
Probably was there was gap between it and one wall and it and the wall behind it.
This is in my chick house where I get escapees during cleaning times. Not too many but they've always somehow found their way in those gaps and it's a b!tch to fish them out or harass them out with a broom stick.
I yanked the brooder tubs out and temporarily relocated them. Ya they're full of chicks atm. Cleaned it out and drug it out. Feeling pretty good about it but now I want to build something more like a table. Top and legs and minimal supports to steady it to hold the brooders. Idk may be quit a bit of time consumed just to be able to catch escaped chicks easier.
Least I stopped there. I was getting an idea that would get into a bunch of work but I'll save that until springish before I start hatching.

Sounds like you have been very busy! Projects that make chickening easier are always time well spent. I would like to add a few more wire bottomed brooders to the building, but I just started my last term of clinical and I will be pretty busy. Then I have two more courses next term and I graduate in December. That isn't the end of it, unfortunately as I will have to study for my boards but at least I will be done with clinical soon! I can't wait to have a life again!!

 

[The Moonshiner]

Is this a Dark Brown Leghorn? Looks like it has an eb base (or at least split eb base)? How cool!!

It is either eb or eb split.
I get a couple or a few every year and have threatened to isolated the eb and do something but I never do.
I tried to get dark browns in the beginning but could only pick up a few that were rose comb. I was silly enough to think about doing some RC versions of my projects but quickly came to my senses because that would double everything and I wasn't even a fan of RCs.
I got into Isabels very early. They really convinced me that hey with some different genes I could really make some new varieties. I split some with someone local that was also getting into them quick.
Immediately I wondered how the lavender would look on the dark browns.
Someone else liked the idea and another thought Isabel RCs would be a hit here because of our cold winters.
I got started but both lost interest and so did I but I'd already put eb in my line. I sorted it out for a while but then when I moved to other projects with browns it'd occasionally pop up.
I don't even know, 7 or 8 years ago and they still occasionally show up.

 

[The Moonshiner]

My easily entertained for the moment...
Got a new mineral tub for the cows at work couple weeks ago.

I want this tub for future chick pics. Cool blue and not to flimsy. Every morning I work I check the cow's water and check this tub. I need to catch it and snag it when it's empty but before they knock it around and damage it.
Oh, the simple things in life.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Sounds like you have been very busy! Projects that make chickening easier are always time well spent. I would like to add a few more wire bottomed brooders to the building, but I just started my last term of clinical and I will be pretty busy. Then I have two more courses next term and I graduate in December. That isn't the end of it, unfortunately as I will have to study for my boards but at least I will be done with clinical soon! I can't wait to have a life again!!

What wire do you use? 1/2 hardware cloth? What age can they or do they do well on wire?

 

[KF0002]

Yes

What wire do you use? 1/2 hardware cloth? What age can they or do they do well on wire?

Yes 1/2 inch. By 2 weeks of age their feet are sturdy enough to go on wire. By then, their wings are developed enough where they start flying out of the brooder tubs, so the wire bottomed brooders keep them better contained, and it cuts way down on the amount of pine shavings we go through.