Washingtonians

[itsren]

I started a new thread with a question about a coop idea. I'd love it if I could get some feedback from west-side Washingtonians who understand the rain we get. We only have 3 chickens. They are 3 weeks old today, so I know I need to get crackin' on that coop! Since the city limits me to a maximum of 6 chickens - chicken math should not be a problem for us. Honestly, on our little 1/4 acre, 3 chickens are probably more than enough. Would you mind taking a look at this post and letting me know if this little cedar playhouse would be OK for a city chicken coop?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/660362/converted-cedar-playhouse-to-coop

 

[itsren]

And another question... how old do they need to be before they can go outside in a coop in our rainy weather without a heat light? My husband is going to try to get power to the coop, but I'm not exactly sure how long that will take him. He will have to install an outdoor outlet and bury a pipe into the ground to protect the wiring. He may not want to do that until the weather is warmer.

Right now they are housed in the garage in a 4' x 2.5' wire dog kennel that has been wrapped with cardboard and plexiglass, so I'm guessing we have at least a few weeks before they would absolutely have to go outside.

 

[SweetSilver]

And another question... how old do they need to be before they can go outside in a coop in our rainy weather without a heat light? My husband is going to try to get power to the coop, but I'm not exactly sure how long that will take him. He will have to install an outdoor outlet and bury a pipe into the ground to protect the wiring. He may not want to do that until the weather is warmer.

Right now they are housed in the garage in a 4' x 2.5' wire dog kennel that has been wrapped with cardboard and plexiglass, so I'm guessing we have at least a few weeks before they would absolutely have to go outside.

Mine will be 7 weeks, and I will put them out this Sunday. It's been a bit of a stretch, this weather hasn't wanted to meet me halfway. One thing I've done is raise the lights, and let the temperature in the garage get cooler at night. They are pretty well feathered, but the night temperatures are very cold. I think the garage temp under the lights gets down to around 50-55, and a few still huddle under the warmest spot. At 7 weeks, I aim to keep the temp 60-65, except nights. But I've only been doing that this last week and a half, knowing that they should be ready for some lower temps, just not as low as we've been getting.

How far is it from the coop to the house? If your chicks are almost old enough, and the house close enough, could you run a cord through the window, if you don't have outdoor outlets (use outdoor extension cord), and run the wire *over* to the coop? It will just be a few days or a handful of weeks at the most, though electricity to the coop sounds very, very nice.

I am getting anxious, and I am laying a fresh layer of shavings twice a day (about half still insist on bedding on the floor instead of the perches), and I need to buy another bale AGAIN! Their box is way, way overcrowded and I never expected them to still be inside the first week of May!

 

[LovemyBabies]

sad day =( our Runt Baby "Woobie" passed.... was fine when I checked on them... went out check on other babies... came back in to her in the last few moments of death =( Went pretty quickly from the moment she was ok, to the Birdie Burial =( poor thing, was hoping she'd make it... but just wasnt her time...

 

[Greg Richardson]

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/zip/2994506352.html

Lots of Empty Egg Cartons (Snohomish)

Date: 2012-05-03, 1:57PM PDT
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]


I have probably 30 or 40 empty egg cartons if you have chickens. Would love to get a few fresh eggs but not a requirement for the free egg cartons. Email me if interested.

Thank You

 

[Eburger]

One way to elevate the feed and water when they are able to reach is to put the containiers on a brick or paving stone. The heat lamp will heat the brick and it helps make the brooder cozier. You can even put the brick in an old sock. I lived in a passive solar house and the sunroom attached to the livingroom was made of concrete and it absorbed the warmth of the sun all day. I sure do miss that house ......................

I bet you all know this already. It gets frustrating trying to keep their little pens clean at first. One year my call ducks hatched out 17 babies. Hoo Ha, that was a mess.

Kathy B.

 

[Eburger]

Good Lord, this weather is awful. I moved here from AZ and had a big covered outdoor chicken, duck, quail, pheasant, dove pen and a dedicated bunny barn. Now I have bunnies, chickens and quail on the enclosed back porch. Moved some bunnies outside (the ones with the longest hair) and every night I think about bringing them back in, which would mean moving things around again.

It has been in the low 40's here at night, in Ellensburg.

Anyone have button quail to sell or silkie hens or pullets?

Kathy B.

 

[itsren]

Mine will be 7 weeks, and I will put them out this Sunday. It's been a bit of a stretch, this weather hasn't wanted to meet me halfway. One thing I've done is raise the lights, and let the temperature in the garage get cooler at night. They are pretty well feathered, but the night temperatures are very cold. I think the garage temp under the lights gets down to around 50-55, and a few still huddle under the warmest spot. At 7 weeks, I aim to keep the temp 60-65, except nights. But I've only been doing that this last week and a half, knowing that they should be ready for some lower temps, just not as low as we've been getting.

How far is it from the coop to the house? If your chicks are almost old enough, and the house close enough, could you run a cord through the window, if you don't have outdoor outlets (use outdoor extension cord), and run the wire *over* to the coop? It will just be a few days or a handful of weeks at the most, though electricity to the coop sounds very, very nice.

I am getting anxious, and I am laying a fresh layer of shavings twice a day (about half still insist on bedding on the floor instead of the perches), and I need to buy another bale AGAIN! Their box is way, way overcrowded and I never expected them to still be inside the first week of May!

I agree. This weather has been crazy. Today, the rain seems to be more depressing than ever. I want to go outside to work in the yard so bad! I'm feeling the cabin fever.

If we had to, yes, we could run an extension cord out the garage window to the coop. It wouldn't be ideal, because even though the garage technically isn't heated, the heat still gets out there and it would raise our power bill having a window open. But, we would do it, if we had to.

So, if yours are 7 weeks, I could probably keep mine inside for at least another 4 weeks? That might not be too bad. They seem to get along fine in the kennel. Thankfully it is tall (3') so I don't think they'll hit the top if they get their flying skills down. I think our garage is much colder than the family room was. After booting them to the garage they started huddling together under the light again. They used to run and play all over the dog kennel when we had it in the family room.

 

[itsren]

sad day =( our Runt Baby "Woobie" passed.... was fine when I checked on them... went out check on other babies... came back in to her in the last few moments of death =( Went pretty quickly from the moment she was ok, to the Birdie Burial =( poor thing, was hoping she'd make it... but just wasnt her time...

I'm so sorry! How very sad.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote: At 8 weeks your babies should be fully feathered. I put mine outside at 9 weeks in the late fall and had a ceramic heat bulb in the coop for about another week, then they were fine all through the winter. They produce a lot of body heat when huddled together. But 8-9 weeks would be fine to put out in the coop with no heat as long as they are fully feathered.