The Old Folks Home

[hennible]

Sacked!
Good night all

 

[Alaskan]

Took a look. Cool! And even better that it was near FREE!

Nope, not near free, it WAS free! My duck coop that I built last year, that cost me 8 bucks. (or were you costing the electric I used for the power tools?

)

Yeppers Alaskan pretty cool

thanks!

Sacked!
Good night all

I LOVE that! (and miss that.....totally past that age)

 

[drumstick diva]

Well done Alaskan.

Left comment on your coop page - what I really feel about your accomplishment. PS Is it possible your spouse may stray with some guy who has no chickens. Must be plenty of those in Alaska.

Get a PI - sue her and let her pay you alimony AND chicken support!!

 

[perchie.girl]

So sorry to hear that, Alaskan. A bad marriage makes time drag and is not healthy for the psyche. I hope you find some resolution or, at least, peace of mind.

- - -
Change of subject:

Amazing what a little makeup can do! (2 coats of staining in cedar color + coat of paint).
BEFORE





AFTER






I did manage today to get the doors and hardware on (big black hinges and handles), the automatic chicken door installed and wired inside, and the nest box is halfway built, but ran out of daylight before I could snap any pictures. Hope to get the nest box done and painted and the roll-out poop tray and perches done tomorrow so that the girls can move in on Wednesday and out of their brooder box. They'll get a run later, but right now I want Pat & Co. to have some room to flap and roost.

BTW, what size are nest boxes anyway? I've got a 33" length to work with, but think that's kind of small for three and so will probably do two and make the third box (sealed) a storage cubby. Depth of box is 11", but how wide should the nests be?

I would do one single box the full width with a single access opening on the inside.... nothing to say each hen has to have their own spot.... sometimes hens will climb on top of each other and lay an egg there if someone is taking too long.... this way there is room incase two or three of them decide to lay at the same time... Tunnel nests are nice an dark too... INvites egg laying and because its dark discourages egg "sampling"

deb

 

[Cynthia12]

Those are small combs for broody birds. What breeds were they?

I carry my camera out with me often. It's amazing what you catch on film/card when you're prepared.

The black one is a Bantam Cochin, the buff..is a Buff O.

 

[Cynthia12]

Those are small combs for broody birds. What breeds were they?

I carry my camera out with me often. It's amazing what you catch on film/card when you're prepared.

I have a couple of great catches..took a few shots to get it all. Will post one here now, and one tomorrow. I've caught several hens laying. This is a great way to show that they really do need some head room to lay, they stand .. most of the time, to lay. These shots are of a little, and I mean little hen laying her second egg. Wish I had it on video, she made the cutest little squeaky sounds as she got close to dropping that egg!

Starts out pretty easy of course, her back is stretching down.

She is starting to push a bit more.

She stood up early, and pushed hard for a while, make those
squeaky noises, I felt bad for her..thought she was going to lay
it here....

Trying so hard

Squeaking louder

I've not seen a hen spread her wings like this, or make the
grunt sound she made at this point.

Finally..bless her heart!

I went around to get the egg..she wasn't moving..so, left her alone.

I wanted that vent to get back into place, let her take her time.

She finally started moving around, and hopped onto a roost, if
you look close, there is a hen waiting her turn now.

Not that big of an egg, but pretty nice sized for a second egg.

 

[drumstick diva]

Neat pictures. I always imagine laying an egg must be like being constipated. A lot of effort to produce a lot of relief.

 

[ozexpat]

I see a felony in the making - all to become a thousand-aire lol

I cant be involved. I have a reputation to consider

 

[vehve]

Oz, again a sign that you would make a good Finn. Finns are very law-abiding.

 

[bamadude]

Bama,

If the lights are low or dark does it matter?

lol depends on her mustache