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Thanks for the input!
I may have to hang onto the orpingtons until I know for sure what they are. I'd love to have hens, and they are beautiful birds, very calm. The lavender orps have much smaller combs, but it may just be because they are different birds. The Barnies are calm too, at least so far. They are supposed to be a mellow bird.
You should have seen my runs before we built the new coop! No matter how deep I'd bark them, the mud would come right through, even with the covered run. In a couple of days, the birds would be to their knees in mud! And I'd have to kneel in it to change out their food and water
The kids playground never got muddy, so we ripped out the swingset and had someone build these covered runs for us. I think the playground retaining wall keeps the water from flowing through and the ground cloth under the bark keeps the mud from seeping up. My dogs had their kennel on here for a while, and the dogs stayed clean, and bet of all, Shasta can't dig through the groundcloth! since it contained her, I knew it'd be good.
I agree with CL, you might want to wait on the English Orps. They are such big birds, and mature so slowly. I have the English Orps as well as the Lav Orps, and the Lav Orps are much different in type and size.
CL!!! Gorgeous food growing there!! I was just about to go gang busters on starting my veggie seeds when my mom fell in early March and I had to run back to the east coast for three weeks. I haven't gotten my mojo back yet even though DH has tilled the beds. At this point, I think I'll just be buying a few veggie starts and I'll need to wait for it to warm up first!!! It is going to warm up, right?!?
No. You gotta run with it or we will have such a short season that you may as well forget it.
We have a short season anyways.
That is what the hot frames are for, to start the seeds, then when big, set out in covered rows or in a greenhouse.
Hot frames:
Also have the heat tape wound throughout:
First find a dual pane window, then build the box to fit it, and line with the styrofoam insulation board.
Styrofoam piece:
Hot frames:
Thanks for the input!
I may have to hang onto the orpingtons until I know for sure what they are. I'd love to have hens, and they are beautiful birds, very calm. The lavender orps have much smaller combs, but it may just be because they are different birds. The Barnies are calm too, at least so far. They are supposed to be a mellow bird.
You should have seen my runs before we built the new coop! No matter how deep I'd bark them, the mud would come right through, even with the covered run. In a couple of days, the birds would be to their knees in mud! And I'd have to kneel in it to change out their food and water
I agree with CL, you might want to wait on the English Orps. They are such big birds, and mature so slowly. I have the English Orps as well as the Lav Orps, and the Lav Orps are much different in type and size.
CL!!! Gorgeous food growing there!! I was just about to go gang busters on starting my veggie seeds when my mom fell in early March and I had to run back to the east coast for three weeks. I haven't gotten my mojo back yet even though DH has tilled the beds. At this point, I think I'll just be buying a few veggie starts and I'll need to wait for it to warm up first!!! It is going to warm up, right?!?
No. You gotta run with it or we will have such a short season that you may as well forget it.
We have a short season anyways.
That is what the hot frames are for, to start the seeds, then when big, set out in covered rows or in a greenhouse.
Hot frames:
Also have the heat tape wound throughout:
First find a dual pane window, then build the box to fit it, and line with the styrofoam insulation board.
Styrofoam piece:
Hot frames:
