Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[mazojoe]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MLH- easier said than done, she could really care less about the chickens and any fowl for that matter. Although my one saving grace is she thought the incubator and hatching was really cool, so I now will try and work that angle! I keep thinking about quail and if they hatch like popcorn like everyone says I may be able to get her hooked![/FONT]

 

[babylady4]

We are hoping

the tooth behaves and does what it is told without having a search party invade her mouth... I had a mom who had the thought that dentists were just out to gouge you as much as possible... I agree to a point, but this stuff has to be done or they will pay for it later, and we really cannot wait when it comes to these impacted teeth. Guess I'll be stocking up on IB and Tylenol.

Off to the UW, I hope the SW tank is still in the condition I left it in!

My mom's b-day was yesterday, since she was busy we are celebrating tonight. Already made her Key Lime pie, now my sis and I have to figure out where we are taking her for dinner!

Everyone get out and enjoy the weather! I was privileged enough to be treated to 3 double rainbows yesterday!!!

 

[babylady4]

We need a better shorthand for BF4 and me..... too similar!

 

[kristip]

Ok lovely friends... need your thoughts. Right now we have a nice coop that DH built for me 2 years ago that is 8x4 raised off the ground. You can kinda see in this pic and I hope it is not too big. It has an attached 8x8 run that is getting expanded by another 8x8. here is my question... I have an opportunity at a great deal on a plastic shed that is 8x10 I beleive. I think it has a plastic floor and windows. It also has gutters and rain barrel attachments and a tiny side shed attached for food and supplies. I would leave the double doors on the inside of the run and open them up. The downfall is that we would probably have to build some nestboxes for off the ground(although my girls prefer the bottom ones to the top ones we have in our 4 nestbox set). New roosts to go up. Downfall is I would have to go through the door in the run to get the eggs inside shed. Upside is space. Do I stay with what I have or is a plastic shed adaptable enough?

 

[kristip]

I cant remember size if it is 8x6 or 8x 9 as there are 2 out there with this brand... but this is what it looks like and being last years model the price is slashed in half...
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod5780150

 

[Bigfamily4me]

We need a better shorthand for BF4 and me..... too similar!

I should be Bigfam... You can be BL4.... Whatcha think?

 

[jvls1942]

good morning all, so many comments, so short of a memory..

It amazes me when I read that your own dogs and cats go after your own chickens.. keeping them separated doesn't help.. you have to take the time to get them acquainted and teach them to leave them alone.. It will save a lot of stress in the future..

MJoe, quail are a good way to get to her.. they are so easily tamed and don't mind being picked up.. Just keep an eye on her and watch for a glimmer of interest,, then work on that ..

chicks can go into any outbuilding at any age.. as long as you provide the warmth and protection they need..

I once put 80 3-day old chicks under a brooder hood in an outside lean-to when it was minus 20F.
they all survived..

will somebody please define "draft" to me? chicks run around outside with hens in the wide open spaces where wind hits them from all angles. is draft different than that ?

I got 1 BR egg already this morning,, I put nest boxes into each of the breeding pens.. there is a Del in one , but the BR egg was not in their box..

first time layers don't always "get it" right away..

I have not seen a two minute drill from either breeding pen yet..
wouldn't that be a kick in the head if I have duds for roosters ? after waiting all winter ?? they both do crow, so I still have some hope for them..

......jiminwisc..........






.

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Jim, I like you! Sometimes I just need a kick in the butt. Since I am new to this, I STILL have my big chicks and littler chicks in the basement. I've been such a puss about kicking them outside! But the ones were hatched out mid jan and late jan respectively. I have a mini coop set up in the garage and want to move them out there, but would like to avoid the heat lamp. They are all feathered out. I just need to suck it up, and kick the kids out to the coop! I have been letting them out supervised in the backyard too. I just need a boot in the butt to get them out!

Next week I have the distinct possibility of my 21 eggs hatching, and getting 20 chicks from Bev Davis. Add to them the 5 three week old chicks already in here, I'm looking at 46 chicks in my basement?!

 

[jvls1942]

Kris ,, too much room?? never happens.. You could easily cut a pop door into that shed..

are you buying it new ? or buying a used one like it.. ?

for the $$$ cost $$$ of a new one, couldn't you build a nice wooden one ?

 

[kristip]

My husband feels the plastic would last longer than wood and be more durable. For the 8x9 shed ( I think that is the size) with window, gutters for rain barrel and side shed, it is just under $500. It is a tiny bit bigger than wanted for the space we have, but we like the looks with a side window and the windows in the door.

oh my I am having an internal debate. Do I want to spend that kind of money right now? No but when we saw this shed last summer we both went into a ... look what we could do with this as a coop flurry... and he doesnt even love the chickens like I do. Rain barrel attaches to gutters to water plants around there ( dont think it would be good for watering chickens)

Pluses: size, durability, could be sectioned off for broody or chicks.Would put silkie hutch inside out of elements, has ceiling vents in it for good air circulation, plus in warm weather the doors would be open. The side shed would be great for keeping their food and supplies.

Minuses: size, have to recreate things we already had like roosts and nest boxes, nest boxes are at my height so I dont have to bend down. (getting old!!), Would have to enter run to get to eggs.

Ya ever feel like the crazy lady???