Too many brooder options

[nuthatched]

Here's my flock, 3 day olds in the brooder while a 5 week old and a 3 year old investigate. Don't worry.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

For your ventilation, you could take off top and cover with hardware cloth and do a wind block on one side of run. I've even seen some use filter material/batting overlay on vents to block wind but keep ventilation.

 

[WilderSkye]

Those chicks are sooo cute!

I so appreciate the input everyone kindly gave.

We have our tracking number now, they ship tomorrow. The email from Alchemist says they ship with a 96 hour heat pack and I think I had read on her site some sort of food. I don't think they should be in transit more than two days from northern Cali to eastern NM. I feel such and peace and confidence now. I had a moment of panic that we would someway end up killing them from not enough heat, too much heat, not enough room, too much room; totally overthinking it.

Also, and this is sort of funny, but waaay back when we got some chicks at the local feedstore, they always showed up on a certain day, and everyone was lined up to get their chicks as soon as they arrived, otherwise you didn't get chicks (we lived in a super remote area - 200 miles from 'real shopping' so chicks sold fast.). Really this is no different, they just won't have to wait at the feed store a few hours before being disturbed again.

One of the most exciting things is that I don't really have much of a good idea what the Alchemist Blues will look like other than the photo of the two hens and the chicks. Some of them may have a tuft and I am really hoping we get a tufted hen. They are a total box of chocolates. I really loved their description and know they are going to be fabulous little ladies.

Happy days!!!!

 

[WilderSkye]

For your ventilation, you could take off top and cover with hardware cloth and do a wind block on one side of run. I've even seen some use filter material/batting overlay on vents to block wind but keep ventilation.

Sorry, I missed seeing this post. I like that idea and we have kicked it around. This was actually one of the things I was hoping someone would give me input on. The walls of the run were put to block wind so the north side has two panels, south has one, and back is west. The roof is totally covered. It is 24" from top of henhouse without roof to the ceiling of the run. I have thought all along we should just run wire to the top. The solar vent fan is working like a charm. And yesterday it got to a sultry 90 deg here with no wind (not normal for us) and it was cool in the henhouse and run felt great with all the shade.

My question would be: in the winter should the roof be put back on henhouse?

 

[Ridgerunner]

My question would be: in the winter should the roof be put back on henhouse?

How cold does your winter get? I'm not asking for normal, what is the extreme that it could possibly get?

Your run is covered and wind is totally blocked on one side. Rain and snow might blow in from the sides through an open roof but probably not enough to cause harm. I don't know what kind of snows you get there.

The wind will be blocked on all sides by your henhouse, let alone the run walls. I'm only concerned about night because they can move during daylight to get out of a wind. If the only opening at night is an open roof then any breeze strong enough to ruffle their feathers will be well above their heads. That is not a problem. If you have openings at night lower down where you can get a breeze on the roosts I'd close that opening at night when it is going to be cold.

I've seen chickens sleep in trees when the overnight low was -10 Fahrenheit. The trees were in a sheltered area where wind was not an issue. If it gets much colder than that I might have concerns but the issue is much more with a breeze hitting them, not just cold.

You want good ventilation in winter. The danger is frostbite. If the air is humid then they can get frostbite even if it is just a little below freezing. That moisture can come from their breathing, their poop, any open water dishes, or just wet spots. You need good ventilation to get that moisture out. An open roof gives great ventilation.

 

[WilderSkye]

How cold does your winter get? I'm not asking for normal, what is the extreme that it could possibly get?

The lowest I have seen it here is -13. This winter we only got down to 0. Average at nights will be 20s (I grow our own food and medicine and have followed temps here religiously for 9 years)

We will keep the lower angle top on henhouse. Today he installed two window to henhouse. Positioned to open outside, and open top rather than open lower part. That will give light on west and east side. We have already discussed that in winter we will put a tarp or some sort shade cloth screening on north side.

Wind blocks and ventilation has been constant evolving task. We have spent hours out there seeing how high winds effect it and I am pleased to say that even when we had a few days with constant 35-45 mph winds and gusts over 60 that it comfortable in there. The 1/4" wire and side panels are working exactly like we planned.

 

[WilderSkye]

Loving the mis-tinted paint we got for a deal. Trim will be lavendar, also a mistint. The windows are perfect

 

[WilderSkye]

Final brooder plan. We will brood in the henhouse. We will section off a smaller area for first so many days it takes to get them acclimatized. There is 2x4 beam running through middle we can hang the heat lamp off of, I plan to use the heat plate, too, and ASAP d/c heat lamp. I have puppy pads and shredded white paper bedding. The linoleum on the floor has some grip and texture. I have wondered if first few days having a floor of 1/4" hardware cloth would keep them from slipping. We have a surplus left over. I had him craft a little gate that unlatches at top so I can lean in and take care of things. I know it is short but it temporary. Right across from the opening is our garden, they will be able to watch me in there all day long. It is so pretty that we lounge and eat out there too.

I just checked tracking and they arrived in Lubbock tx this morning at 7:40. They are a little over 100 miles away. Tracking yesterday said they would arrive Friday. We are ready to rock and roll!

Sorta regretting not painting the trim prior to putting it up. In my defense, I have been working non stop putting a garden in.

The roost bar on the floor is our homemade version of the Carolina roost bar with beveled edges. After he had it all sanded smooth he went back with a propane torch and blasted it to seal the resin. It keeps it more bug resistent and lasts longer. We have another one.

Everyone who has paid attention to this epistle I salute you! Truly, anyone who has the patience to work through the minutia of someone else's bumbling attempts to recreate the wheel, and kindly assist are earth angels! A little secret here: me and hubby built this on the fly. We had zero plans except an occasional napkin to clarify. I knew if I showed him the entire plan at once he would panic and we would have wasted $3K on the Omelet or even more on a Carolina. So far, we are close to $5k but that would include all power tools we needed, and chick supplies that consumables. We started with an old beat up greenhouse. I knew if we just started with it and made it up as we went along it would work out. I cannot tell y'all how many times I would say, this can't be that hard, it is just a box on legs. Our 41 year marriage has somehow survived, in spit of a few passionate debates over nest boxes and whether the henhouse goes inside or outside. He won both. Ya don't wanna tick off your builder that much. Lol

Juneau is our 8 year old super mutt. A dime a dozen in every feedlot and dairy around here, and is the sweetest nanny dog ever. She will be a good guardian. Not pictures is our little 10 year old chihuahua mix. She will be a pistol. The birds will be larger when they go out. They will whip Kitty's butt. Lol

 

[WilderSkye]

'..

 

[WilderSkye]

They arrived this morning. All healthy, eating and drinking. Plans changed for brooding locale next few days. We have significant risk for wind/tornadoes/hail today and next few. Typical high plains NM spring.

Easy peasy! All that angst is totally gone.