Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Celtic Chick]

Thank you for all the tips and suggestions. I guess I should have been more exact on what I planned. So this is the general design I am going to build it off of. Won't be exact and I will be making it bigger than said. Will be 4'X4' and 5' tall for sure. Will be adding windows, gable end vents, and one side or back of the coop I plan on having it hinged to fully open it so that it can easily be cleaned up when the time comes. Won't be making it moveable as it needs to fit in a spot in the backyard. I will try to document some of my adventures along the way. Looking for the chicks as for now and have a lead on a couple of different spots. Thanks to all for the feedback.

That time will come a lot.

If that is your plan, I would suggest having it hinged at the top to keep preds from trying to get it open. Or at least get a very secure fastener. You would not believe how good coons can be at opening some latches.

Someone that used to be on here could only have 6 hens so she bought a 4x6' shed and added a small dog kennel to one side of it. I believe it looked something like this?

 

[Celtic Chick]

Kristi, that is a really good idea for a brooder! I think those heated dog beds would work great in there, IMHO.

 

[jvls1942]

Kristi, that is a really good idea for a brooder! I think those heated dog beds would work great in there, IMHO.

heating pads might be OK underneath the droppings pans.

otherwise I think it would be a chore to keep the pads clean.

still raining here.

the dogs were in for their evening treats, and they are outside now, again..

I shut the chicken coop door. checked the level in the new 5 gal bulk feeder. it is down about 3 " already..
got 6 eggs today,, I really expect a big improvement within a week's time.

goats: I thought of a guy in Plainfield who might have some. I just have to see if I can find his email addy.

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

I found the addy that I have for the guy who might have goats.
I emailed him, now will wait until he answers me..

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

 

[Celtic Chick]

heating pads might be OK underneath the droppings pans.

otherwise I think it would be a chore to keep the pads clean.

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

Actually they work really well. I lay a small one in the bottom of one side of my brooder & wrap it with a layer of paper towels. Easy peasy to clean. You can use it underneath a thinner layer of woodchips also. I have found it to be much easier & faster to wean them off the heat too.

This is a link to one of the ones I use. I usually only brood small numbers of chicks so this size works well for me. If you scroll down, they have other sizes listed in a comparison grid. HTH

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000NVC7...TF8&colid=1VEAMVGS5EQB0&coliid=I39GBFENFE2S76

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
It sounded to me like she was going to have older chicks in there..
they can mess up a floor in a couple of hours.

 

[Celtic Chick]

It sounded to me like she was going to have older chicks in there..
they can mess up a floor in a couple of hours.

Very true.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote: Sweet dreams Jim.

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All

Night All

 

[kristip]

Jim...we bought the hutch off someone who had it for bunnies... It is really well made and solid but not crazy heavy that two people could not move it. It was exactly what I was asking my DH to make me... only thing I would have done different was making it a little higher in each section for big bird medical cages. Most would fit in there fine for a period of time. Might winter my bantams in there next year...we will see.

Like the heat pad idea... probably going to have the chicks in the house for first two weeks in a large rubbermade bin. I am hatching for some other people as well as myself so lots in the incubator, but most are darker colored eggs so I really cant tell if viable or not. Tossed a couple clears yesterday but otherwise a big question mark. Need to start my process of bleaching/cleaning out chick waterers and feeders that have not been used in a year. Get everything ready since we have 15 people coming for easter (please be good weather) and chicks are due to hatch that weekend. Hoping the people who wanted chicks will be able to pick up in a timely manner either Easter evening or Monday! Next up is building something to raise the roosters as meat birds.

Question...we have a decent sized coop and run for our birds with extra space. There will be a time, around when these guys are 11/12 weeks old that we will be out of town for 10 days or so. I think we have space, but if I throw the roosters in there with the pullets and big birds, will they go bonkers? It will be easier for my bird caretakers if they are all in one spot.