Washingtonians

[RaZ]

Brrrrrr. I dread the 32 degree nights. I am impressed you went outdoors at night to check it out. You see I am too nervous to go out at night because we have a roving cougar. My neighbor called last night to let us know she heard it between our place and their place on our side. She was letting her dog out for the last call when it uncommonly ran back to her and wanted in. Then she heard the cougar and knew why. We go through this cougar business several times a year. It always comes on our property where the deer trail goes through looking for a score. Unfortunately for one neighbor it took one of their little dogs when they had them go out for last call. Anyway, I do not have the nerve to go outdoors at night now to take thermometer readings. LOL

I'm as brave as the next man, but I'll let you in on a little secret.
I have remote sensors out there in the cold.
I'm warm and cozy in the house, sitting close enough to the fire and enjoying an adult beverage. Never set foot outside.

I'm also in the suburbs and don't have to worry about cougars in the backyard. Also, the state DNR says that there are no cougars in Michigan.

 

[Hinotori]

Another thing I have which works well if you can't get electricity to your coop is gel-filled disks which I pop in the microwave. Pop them in their fuzzy covers and then cover with a bit of shavings and stick them in a nest box. They hold their heat for 8-10 hours. Usually the birds are on their roosts, but really cold nights they will snuggle up in the nest boxes.

Ooo. I didn't think about those. I have two good sized ones sitting behind me right now that I just pulled out of the shed the other day when I saw them. We've had them years and not used them.

 

[DeesHens]

Quote: I had not heard of weight activated heated pet beds with only 15W or so. Neat idea. I can relate to two dogs having completely opposite metabolisms. My Pom, Cricket, would love one of those heated beds too. She already likes to wear her t-shirt on these cool nights. Our other Pom, Ladybug, is the opposite. She finds the coolest places to lay as her system runs hot. Cricket has one of those gel filled disks you microwave. I never had thought of using one for Betsy as she does roost most of the time. I love the idea of putting one under the pine shavings in her nest box so she can go there if she does get chilled. Thank you so very much for the great ideas. ~Dee~

 

[JennS]

Tonight we got the roof up on the chicken pen. It was a bigger pain than I thought it'd be to put together. It's a 6X6 shed roof with corrugated plastic roofing, and hardware cloth stapled to the bottom so the pen will be a 6'X6'X6' cube of hardware cloth. The biggest pain was painting around all the rafters are perlins before putting the roofing sheets on. Anyway, it was finally put together, and the 3 of us lifted it easily onto the pen and put it in place. It barely fits under the deck's joists, but it's snug against the wall so we won't be having any water dripping behind the pen. Tomorrow we should be able to put the rest of the pen together, and I can paint the trim at my leisure. The rains are coming on Friday, so coop construction will be moved into the garage. We will build each wall and the roof separate, paint them, carry them around the house and bolt them together on the patio. I won't be cutting the pop hole entrance in the pen until the coop is done, so I should be able to let the oldest chicks out on warm days to play in a secure place.

So far the hatchery chicks are doing well. We lost one of the gold laced Wyandottes a few days ago, but the SLW and the new chicks are all fine. Unfortunately Gimp passed away this afternoon. We're really not surprised, but it was still sad. I buried her out back under a fuchsia. So we are now at 9 chicks, separated in 2 brooders since they are from 2 sources.

Jennifer

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Tonight we got the roof up on the chicken pen. It was a bigger pain than I thought it'd be to put together. It's a 6X6 shed roof with corrugated plastic roofing, and hardware cloth stapled to the bottom so the pen will be a 6'X6'X6' cube of hardware cloth. The biggest pain was painting around all the rafters are perlins before putting the roofing sheets on. Anyway, it was finally put together, and the 3 of us lifted it easily onto the pen and put it in place. It barely fits under the deck's joists, but it's snug against the wall so we won't be having any water dripping behind the pen. Tomorrow we should be able to put the rest of the pen together, and I can paint the trim at my leisure. The rains are coming on Friday, so coop construction will be moved into the garage. We will build each wall and the roof separate, paint them, carry them around the house and bolt them together on the patio. I won't be cutting the pop hole entrance in the pen until the coop is done, so I should be able to let the oldest chicks out on warm days to play in a secure place.

So far the hatchery chicks are doing well. We lost one of the gold laced Wyandottes a few days ago, but the SLW and the new chicks are all fine. Unfortunately Gimp passed away this afternoon. We're really not surprised, but it was still sad. I buried her out back under a fuchsia. So we are now at 9 chicks, separated in 2 brooders since they are from 2 sources.

Jennifer

Glad the coop's coming along. So sorry about little Gimp.

 

[DeesHens]

Quote: Oh my gosh, that is too funny! Completely different picture. Now I definitely want "remote sensors".

~Dee~

 

[DeesHens]

Tonight we got the roof up on the chicken pen. It was a bigger pain than I thought it'd be to put together. It's a 6X6 shed roof with corrugated plastic roofing, and hardware cloth stapled to the bottom so the pen will be a 6'X6'X6' cube of hardware cloth. The biggest pain was painting around all the rafters are perlins before putting the roofing sheets on. Anyway, it was finally put together, and the 3 of us lifted it easily onto the pen and put it in place. It barely fits under the deck's joists, but it's snug against the wall so we won't be having any water dripping behind the pen. Tomorrow we should be able to put the rest of the pen together, and I can paint the trim at my leisure. The rains are coming on Friday, so coop construction will be moved into the garage. We will build each wall and the roof separate, paint them, carry them around the house and bolt them together on the patio. I won't be cutting the pop hole entrance in the pen until the coop is done, so I should be able to let the oldest chicks out on warm days to play in a secure place.

So far the hatchery chicks are doing well. We lost one of the gold laced Wyandottes a few days ago, but the SLW and the new chicks are all fine. Unfortunately Gimp passed away this afternoon. We're really not surprised, but it was still sad. I buried her out back under a fuchsia. So we are now at 9 chicks, separated in 2 brooders since they are from 2 sources.

Jennifer

Sorry to hear about Gimp. I tend to root for the underdog and was hoping she would surpass expectations. Lovely burial ground. We laid Gemini to rest under a favorite bush also. Hope your project comes along nicely. ~Dee~

 

[mikeyb]

Quote: I have 7 RIR and 2 Eng Orpingtons

 

[mikeyb]

Quote: Awww, dang it. I was really rootin' for the little gal.

 

[mikeyb]

To Greg, Slinglings and StumpFarmer, thanks for the comeback and info, my mind rests easier. Doing this for the first time leaves holes in the knowledge and reading a book or article doesn't compare to being re-assured by those who have done it and are successful.

just a note. You all may have noticed I changed my avatar. That was due to a conversation I had with CR early today about showing support for cancer.
since the pic is of my coop in pink I thought it would do.