Washingtonians

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

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I am in so much trouble - ain't I? LOL. What are bantam bins?

Something like this:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/Equibling/COOP/insidefacingNEBantamPen-1.jpg

I need some new pictures, but here are mine under construction. They are up on top of the larger coops and "winter storage" for most of my bantam breeds (three of them)...my Houdan have a run now (year 'round) and soon my MFC will have one too. I'm still looking for someone to build me four bantam coops (maybe more)...but so far, I just keep getting a bunch of flakes.
A closer up picture....it's got chicken wire on the sides (the tops) and hardware cloth & wood framed door on the front. There is a roost in the back and a nest box in the corner.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/Equibling/COOP/BantamPen1.jpg

Interesting. Sorry, you are not finding anyone to actually help. I am running through my mind how to divide my coop in half. I will need to do some work on paper to get ideas. You put the bantams in the slots up on top?

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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I wish I lived closer, I would take one of those roos

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I was thinking about the tent idea too. kind of S T U PID that people can live in tents, under bridges, in cardboard huts etc but not a mini barn.

CL Don't ya know somebody close that needs a place to park thier RV? Wish I was closer I would bring our trailer up. But I hope you understand it is my back-up for things like last night.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Go to this link and scroll down for a side show of before and after arial photos of Japans disaster. So huge. It's hard to realize. Thinking rice prices are going to go up. Maybe should go get a 50# bag at Costco.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42066534?gt1=43001

 

[Illia]

So, no one got thunder last night/this morning? Man it was crazy last night. After a while though it was just immensely bright lights, no thunder.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

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Yes, like almost all foods offered in stores, honey in most cases is heated and processed to eliminate the gov't's paranoia over "our safety" from germs and whatnot. Raw honey is just simply raw honey.


Little suggestion on Araucanas, Ameraucanas, and whatnot - Let the boys have their area, girls have their area.

I lately found out that when people put their chickens in runs (for safety) then let them out to free range in limited parts of the day. . . . They do it just before sunset so the chickens go right back to bed when it gets dark. Dumbest idea ever, in my opinion.

If someone is going to say they don't want to free range their chickens because of predator issues, but they wouldn't mind a short moment now and then, but just at DUSK? Do people realize they're letting their chickens out to forage in the most dangerous time of day? . . . . There's no difference between that and completely letting them free range 24/7 except the only chance the hens get is during the most dangerous point of day.

Had to rant. I didn't know people did this until the one time I drove through Port Angeles at dusk, and for the first time ever, I saw chickens outside. And I thought, wow, really? This time? And only this time of day? Wow.



btw - We've got thunder tonight!! Anyone else getting thunder?

Unfortunately for us, everyone takes turns. The laying hens get out most frequently since there is no roo in there I have to worry about breeding another roos hens. I've tried putting roos together but there was major fighting and couldn't take the chance of losing anyone. Maybe the run was too small. I love the idea since the hens don't need to be with the roos 24/7 though does help with protection. When they do go out it's after most the eggs have been layed around noon if I'm home but sometime closer to 2 pm. If I let them out in the morning they are so happy to get their turn they lay right where they are foraging. Too much trouble to go back to the coop!

 

[Ogress]

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That's funny! One of my SLW has tried to make a nest in a pile of dry grass, but she did not lay an egg. They always head back to the coop to lay, unless I am just not finding them.

 

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

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Good ideas....I would stay quiet for awhile regarding the ducks & geese....keep him thinking that if you had a drainage system and a catch pond it would help to eliminate a lot of these problems. Divert the water to the catch pond....later, when he is not thinking about it...the ducks and geese kind of "accidentaly" show up in that area.

I spent the night (not being able to sleep) and running images through my mind of how I can get more runs off my one coop area, how to rearrange the coop to better utilize the space...where do I have room for another coop....etc, etc, etc. Good idea using the shower steam on the door.

 

[Illia]

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The fighting naturally happens if the males were not raised together when young. The key is to raise them together from the start, or as early as you can. If you have an adult male you need to introduce, having a bunch others in there already may help prevent fights. Your new male may either be bullied or start a few, but it will only be as bad as introducing a new hen to a flock of adult hens.

The only breed I've had issues with concerning males together are Araucanas, which I dobut you'll be raising anytime soon (you don't like rumpless birds, right?) - Araucanas often have a drive to be the top man. It helps to thin out the crowd and remove the most troubled males. Otherwise, all other breeds I've raised are pretty good in a bachelor situation.

 

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

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Hey, I just thought of something. I know of a lady who is looking for a nasty little dog just like these. Are you selling? She is definitely looking for a specific "type". She just had to put her older "nasty little dog" down due to health problems. She has a little "Sammie" at home who is 2 yo and needs a brother or sister. Let me know if you are selling and I will tell her. I know she was going to look at one this weekend...I will have to find out if she got one.