The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks!!!! That's just what I wanted to see.

Thanks to BDM and you, I'm right now looking at an old horse trailer (probably get to see it tomorrow) AND an old travel trailer that has 2 exterior doors and is really long.

I never thought of the travel trailer but someone answered my craigs list ad with the trailer. Interesting thing about it is that it has the sink and stove that I COULD put a hose to and a propane tank if I ever needed to work on anything and wanted to do it out there.

But..I think a horse trailer would be much nicer for neighbors to have to look at as it's more expected in a "farm" setup. Sometimes old travel trailers can look kind-of nasty. The one we're looking at looks good on the exterior from what I can tell on the photos...wonder what a travel trailer would look like re-painted?

ok, LM, here's the interior pics you requested. The rest of y'all can relax, knowing I've scored the "messiest storage shed" award, not to mention the award for the most utilitarian coop - nothing cute about it

this is the roosts, window is facing south and there are two more at the end of the long roosts that face north.




you can see the same roosts to the left in this pic. old steel nestboxes on the right. doorway into storage portion of the trailer. yup, it is a mess.
see below


view from other side of the door. there is a significant amount of room out of sight to the left of the pic - and that is where I will build out a quarantine quarter and a brooder coop.



last night's snow coming off the roof




early morning pic of snow on top of feed bins - you can guess that the girls decided to stay inside today.

posting these was good practice for the necropsy pics coming tonight. wish me luck!

 

[Bulldogma]

ok, LM, here's the interior pics you requested. The rest of y'all can relax, knowing I've scored the "messiest storage shed" award, not to mention the award for the most utilitarian coop - nothing cute about it

this is the roosts, window is facing south and there are two more at the end of the long roosts that face north.
you can see the same roosts to the left in this pic. old steel nestboxes on the right. doorway into storage portion of the trailer. yup, it is a mess.
see below
view from other side of the door. there is a significant amount of room out of sight to the left of the pic - and that is where I will build out a quarantine quarter and a brooder coop.


last night's snow coming off the roof
early morning pic of snow on top of feed bins - you can guess that the girls decided to stay inside today.
posting these was good practice for the necropsy pics coming tonight. wish me luck!

Lala - great setup! What a nice amount of space for your flock. Mess? I don't see a mess... (I have completed my mess-desensitization therapy here at home - aka: kids.)

But... snow? Really? That's so last season! You might want to think about updating your exterior to something a little more "spring." I'd be happy to be a real snot and send you some nice flower pictures for some ideas and just to tease you...

LOL - but I won't. So sorry you still have such lousy weather up there! HUGS!

ETA: By the way - sorry about the loss of the hen. Best of luck with the necropsy!!

So... My new hen will NOT lay in the nextbox. Nestbox has two fake eggs in it, and is in a pretty quiet private spot, but she keeps making a nest in the corner. I keep kicking her nest around and putting stuff on top of it, and she just makes a new nest as close to the original location as possible.

I only have one nest box, but I thought that should be plenty for just two hens. should i prioritize adding more nestboxes?? I had thought about taking her OUT of her nest and putting her IN the nestbox if I see her, but don't want to unduly frighten her. She's pretty flighty as is....

Try making a make-shift nest box out of a cardboard box or a plastic storage container. Put some hay in it and put it in her favorite corner. If she starts laying in it, move it a few inches closer to the actual nest boxes each day...

 

[ramblinH]

Just my opinion...but I'd just give them some plain water with very little ACV.  Another idea - if you have a second waterer available you could keep your solution in one and plain in the other.

I always worry a little that when I put certain items in the water they may avoid it so, especially when they're really little I like to be sure they're drinking well before loading the water down with too many items.

Again..just my thoughts.

I had wondered about putting a second waterer in, will do

The solution I'm giving was one Harvey Ussery recommended for a chick's first drink & 24 hours after. Oh well, don't plan on brooding any again after this. Will hopefully be leaving that to my hens next spring

 

[Bulldogma]

Thanks!!!! That's just what I wanted to see.

Thanks to BDM and you, I'm right now looking at an old horse trailer (probably get to see it tomorrow) AND an old travel trailer that has 2 exterior doors and is really long.

I never thought of the travel trailer but someone answered my craigs list ad with the trailer. Interesting thing about it is that it has the sink and stove that I COULD put a hose to and a propane tank if I ever needed to work on anything and wanted to do it out there.

But..I think a horse trailer would be much nicer for neighbors to have to look at as it's more expected in a "farm" setup. Sometimes old travel trailers can look kind-of nasty. The one we're looking at looks good on the exterior from what I can tell on the photos...wonder what a travel trailer would look like re-painted?

Hmmm... depending what the travel trailer looks like and what kind of neighbors you have, you could probably do something creative with it and have it turn out really nice! I love the idea about running a hose out there and having running water in your coop!

 

[arkansaschicks]

This is a quandry. I normally never recommend drugs..specially ones like corid, however. I would still give it for at least 4 days. Your sick ones will need to be on it for longer. I am not positive but I think it is 7 days. Look into it to be sure. Do not give it longer than you should. It damages the kidneys and liver and causes polio.

Ok that sounds awful!! I went ahead and put it in everyone's water what you just said makes me want to dump the water out of the older ones showing no signs of being sick. I guess I will do theirs for 4 days only!

 

[brandislee]

no question is dumb. Cocci is every where. Mothers get her chicks out of the nest and on the ground at day three to help her chicks start immunities. As long as they are not confined the chances of getting over load of cocci is slim. Chicks and adult birds contract cocci when confined to areas that do not have a chance to air out or the sun to hit it to keep it down to lower levels..or..even the super clean get it because they are not given a chance to build immunities. Than when they are exposed to it ..wham. it hits like a ton of bricks.
It is never to late..dig out a small plug in the area you intend them to graze. It is never to late...

Thanks! I'll dig a plug out for them and for the turkeys today. Love this thread, I learn so much (and I'm not so new anymore and still learning!).

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hmmm... depending what the travel trailer looks like and what kind of neighbors you have, you could probably do something creative with it and have it turn out really nice! I love the idea about running a hose out there and having running water in your coop!

Okay...take a look at the photos of the travel trailer...I haven't seen it in person, only these photos. Give me some ideas on how to make it look good on the outside... And - it's very long-34'! May not be too easy to maneuver around!

I was thinking I could use one part of it for the meat goats or sheep...they'd only be around for 6-7 mos. and only need shelter from weather.





They guy was beginning to gut it as he was going to use it as a "toy hauler".

 

[brandislee]

So... My new hen will NOT lay in the nextbox. Nestbox has two fake eggs in it, and is in a pretty quiet private spot, but she keeps making a nest in the corner. I keep kicking her nest around and putting stuff on top of it, and she just makes a new nest as close to the original location as possible.

I only have one nest box, but I thought that should be plenty for just two hens. should i prioritize adding more nestboxes?? I had thought about taking her OUT of her nest and putting her IN the nestbox if I see her, but don't want to unduly frighten her. She's pretty flighty as is....

Why are you stressed about it? I have hens who always lay on the floor (two are bantams, so not much I can do about it anyway). At least she's laying in the coop!

 

[Bulldogma]

Okay...take a look at the photos of the travel trailer...I haven't seen it in person, only these photos. Give me some ideas on how to make it look good on the outside... And - it's very long-34'! May not be too easy to maneuver around!

I was thinking I could use one part of it for the meat goats or sheep...they'd only be around for 6-7 mos. and only need shelter from weather.


They guy was beginning to gut it as he was going to use it as a "toy hauler".

Good golly! That's ginormous! My whole family could live in there. LOL! That's a nice amount of square footage with so many possibilities! And it will already be wired for electricity and you can have running water. Not too shabby if you ask me!

 

[lalaland]

BD, I love the trailer. Paint it, add shutters (yeah, got to make it cute) and you are good to go. SOOOOO much room.

ok, I survived the necropsy and didn't figure a darned thing out, not surprising with my lack of experience. Will post photos tonight. That hen had more fat than I thought possible.