In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Homesteading Chicken Coop Build, Chickens, Pond, Garden & Projects

Discussion in 'Hobbies and Interests' started by Well Seasoned, Mar 25, 2018.

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  1. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    Add a little bacon grease to the wire to guarantee the sniff test zap. Their fur is so thick often times this is the only way
     
    Well Seasoned, Dec 24, 2021
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  2. Chvymn99

    Chvymn99 Moderator

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    Finally got two eggs yesterday…. Hopefully they’ll keep going. Kinda of early for the restart. But they were good this morning…
     
    Chvymn99, Dec 26, 2021
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  3. Dok440

    Dok440

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    I'm supposed to be getting wood in before things dry out here in Cali. Instead my wife and son decided we were going to get more chickens this year, so I needed to make a new nesting box. Here is what my son and I built over the weekend:
    20220123_233152290_iOS.jpg
     
    Dok440, Jan 24, 2022
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  4. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Nice nest box
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Jan 24, 2022
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  5. Dok440

    Dok440

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    So far the new birds and old birds are getting along. How long should I wait before removing the temp fencing between them? We're new to this, we inherited four old birds when we bought this place. We added two to replace two that died last spring. Now we have three more fully grown hens we are introducing. We've been told the chickens do better in a larger flock.
    Brad
     
    Dok440, Jan 24, 2022
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  6. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    A few days to a week works good here. Chickens are a little more edgy during the winter being "cooped" up.
     
    Well Seasoned, Jan 24, 2022
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  7. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    I built this somewhat insulated box in the fall to keep the water from freezing. It has a light bulb in it. Seems it seconds as a foot warmer along with toilette.

    20220124_102224.jpg
     
    Well Seasoned, Jan 24, 2022
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  8. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    When we had chickens, up to about 30 one time, when we moved different ages together, we would move them at night, seemed to work better...
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Jan 25, 2022
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  9. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    I still want chickens, just a couple for eggs. My hesitation is the "coop" here is not adequate (already has soot and charred wood in it, I assume from a fire from a heat lamp) and it's too far for me care for them in freezing temps. There is a pocket by the house I could enclose, use the laundry room window to water and feed, but WWW said they can get bugs or mites that can get in the house. And yes, the laundry room is not well built, rather, dilapidated. Also they would be coop bound chickens, too many stray cats and hawks here to let them loose. Could I get your thoughts on this?
     
    wildwest, May 18, 2022
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  10. SmokeyTheBear

    SmokeyTheBear

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    I had chickens for years, I worried about hawks,skunks,fox,martens,fishers(they ain't cats folks),red fox,grey fox,masked bandits,and few other things,first make certain they have sturdy and draft free shelter with liquid water and mold free feed. You need an enclosed run, Throw out any reservations about trap and shoot or trap and drown trap and release is out in most places. They are on nearly every meal time short list.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2022
    SmokeyTheBear, May 18, 2022
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  11. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    A good coop is important. Out of the weather, allow for airflow, 1/2x1/2 hardware cloth around any open areas, even buried into the ground to keep out digging predators. Good idea to get chickens. They are pretty self sustainable during spring summer and fall. There are breeds that can handle the cold morso than others. Yes, they can get mites, but an area of ash, dirt, and sand for them to "dust" themselves usually keeps all that in order. If ever a mite problem, get some organic diatramactious earth and sprinkle it around, even in their food is OK. Reach out with any questions- they are a sustainable food source, high in protein and it doesn't take much to care for them. Good prepps
     
    Well Seasoned, May 18, 2022
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  12. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

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    If you end up putting up a run attached to the coop, go with the 1/2 square hardware cloth and not the chicken wire with hexagonal holes. Rats can worm their way through the hexes and have a field day with your chicken feed/eggs.
     
    Eric Wanderweg, May 18, 2022
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  13. SmokeyTheBear

    SmokeyTheBear

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    Isn't that hexagonal holed stuff made so the masked bandits can pull chicken necks through it?
     
    SmokeyTheBear, May 18, 2022
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  14. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    It sure is. Weasels can easily squeeze through it. Raccoons are wicked smart and can easily manipulate latches door knows ect. I had 2 last night that triggered the camera.

    Hardware cloth.....



    20220518_180739.jpg
     
    Well Seasoned, May 18, 2022
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  15. Captain Kirk

    Captain Kirk

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    I have chickens here year round, they live in the same spot year round. In the winter I do bring out water every few days, but they eat the snow if they are dry, I don't heat the coop in the winter, I wrap it in plastic to stop the wind for them though. I feed them extra cracked corn in the winter to stay warm. I usually have about 10 turkey here in the summer, but they winter in my freezer.
     
    Captain Kirk, May 18, 2022
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  16. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    Thank you for all the information, I guess chicks are not for sale this year due to the bird flu. :confused:
     
    wildwest, May 19, 2022
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  17. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    You can get them from a lot of places online. I've had luck with myer hatchery tractor supply ect
     
    Well Seasoned, May 19, 2022
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  18. Captain Kirk

    Captain Kirk

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    Go to a guy who has chickens and a rooster, incubate the eggs, fun stuff for the kids.
     
    Captain Kirk, May 19, 2022
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  19. SmokeyTheBear

    SmokeyTheBear

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    I used the deep litter system and used to "dust" the new birds with it before placing them in the old birds coop at night next morning there was no squabbles.
     
    SmokeyTheBear, May 19, 2022
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  20. SmokeyTheBear

    SmokeyTheBear

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    Going over old posts on Backyard Chickens can provide all sorts of advice on raising chickens. Like all forums do a lot of reading first.
     
    SmokeyTheBear, May 19, 2022
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