Washingtonians

[chickens4gramma]

Quote:
Great pics! That was a pretty good sized coop tour - the one in Tacoma only featured 9 coops. Thank you for sharing the photos.

Wow the Seattle one had 47! Wish we could have gone to ALL of them! We only had time for 7! We did the southend ones. Here's the link:

http://photobucket.com/cooptour11 Hope that works!

We had a great time and a very nice man (Wayne Journee) gave us a basement window he had just replaced. We mentioned we were going to pick up a used one to put in our coop and he said he had one we could have! And I love it! Very old and funky looking with three panes. He had three great coops he designed himself, and an automatic chicken door he made out of an old drill motor--very clever! He was making a feeder that dispenses feed when the chicken steps on a lever, to save on feed and not attract rodents. He was a very smart guy!

We also really liked City Arts Farm. The chicken castle was great and loved the grape vines growing on the run!

We saw so many beautiful veggie gardens too. I can't wait til I have chicken poop for mine! My garden is pathetic this year....

 

[Amethyste]

Hey all

I know its only July...but I am panicking already over the rain/snow incoming this fall and winter. I am getting a strong feeling that we we are going to be wet wet wet and snowy this year. So I am making plans early.

The coop I am not worried about, its the run. We had ours (a 10x10 metal dog kennel covered in plastic deer netting) collapse in the BIG snowstorm a few years back . The bloody netting actually stretched from all the snow!!! All the way to the ground and there was <we kid you not>4 feet of snow built up. It actually bent the dog kennel frame at the top from the weight. We managed to get it unbent...and it only has a slight wave to it but it seems to be integrally still sound.

So, I am trying to think of a better way to keep our poor girls happy in the winter, especially if it rains/snows/etc like I have a feeling it very well might.

I am thinking atm of rain repellent painted plywood cut into 3 inch or so strips and attached to the frame with metal fasteners for security. Then for a roof cover, taking full sheets of same type of plywood and having it at an angle under the coop roof that is presently there to runoff the rain and snow...maybe add a simple/cheap gutter to dump it into a barrel. Over this, getting maybe 6mm vapor sheeting <the clearer stuff> and staple it into the wood supports on the run roof and the wood planks we fastened to the walls of the kennel run. We would leave the north side open (with the gate into the pen)...we don't usually get rain/snow etc from that direction so they would get plenty of fresh air.

Any thoughts?

We wanted to get this done early this year...I don't usually have feelings like this but when I do i tend to be right

And I want my girls to be able to actually go outside without being attacked by the evil snowflakes again. They hate them so

The poor Ladies got so much coop time last winter and the winter before cos it was just too cold for them...and the snow landing on them from the trees above about gave them all heart attacks.

Thanks!! I figure you all who live in the area might have some better ideas for us....

 

[hallerlake]

Quote:
I have a dog kennel, too. I'm thinking of a PVC hoop with tarp over the top.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=214469&p=4

Scroll down to # 35. I want mine with a higher arch to shed rain and snow faster. I think I'll need to think about anchors, so the roof doesn't catch the wind and take the kennel with it.

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

Its 101 with 118 heat index. I lost one cockerel due to heat. 2 more are in bad shape, and they are in the house laying on frozen peas. Is there anything else I can do to cool them down?

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:
Sure it's ok ya will just get ROOSTER EGGS

 

[Rainwolf]

here is my rooster post on Craigslist....
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/grd/2487135869.html

in some of the photos you can see the Ameraucana and Buckeyes.
The Buckeye's are for sale the AM's are mine

hatched from CL's eggs


edit the link does help...

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
Ice in water, frozen mellons, blocks of ice, lots of shade. Mist them down with water, mist the runs. Wait... You have high humidity dont you? Shoot. Mist may not work in high humidity. If you can give them some sort of small shelters with blocks of ice in them, it could possibly act like a cooler/AC. Have any empty insulated coolers with a split top lid? That would work, and keep the ice from melting so quikly.

 

[Rainwolf]

Photo of my special needs rooster....
Bantam mix of White Leghorn and Cochin
His name is Wobbley since he can't do anything with out wobbling and falling over. But he's so sweet and friendly and likes being held.

Group photo of my teens...
3 buckeyes
1 splash Olive egger from CL's eggs
1 black OE from CL's eggs
1 black and 2 blue AM's from CL's eggs (another blue is hiding)
1 Barred Rock EE mix Rooster... pretty big boy..

 

[cheryl98117]

Quote:
Your little bantam roo is very cute! Love his look! But I dont need another roo/cockeral, when I just got rid of 9 yesterday. lol

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
Your little bantam roo is very cute! Love his look! But I dont need another roo/cockeral, when I just got rid of 9 yesterday. lol

Yes he is a cutie I nicknamed him speedy lol cuz he can run when he wants too!