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Thread: Hawg Hens

  1. #1

    Hawg Hens

    Yep Ive got chickens....

    Here is the coop and kennel run.





    Inside view
    Notice the poop board that makes keeping my pine shavings cleaner. Pull the board out scrape into wheel barrel then to compost pile.
    This is the winter set up. Food inside coop and water fountain on a hot plate to keep from freezing.







    This coop originally had 6 nesting boxes. Removed 2 nesting boxes to make room for inside feeder.







    Had 6 hen's. Now Im down to 3 hens had to cull a couple birds for various reasons.








    This bird at the time of the pic was going into a molt Damn thing didn't give me any eggs for weeks and weeks. It was doing the drunk walk And losing feathers.







    As the amount of light shortened per day as winter was approaching the other 2 hens started to quit laying. So I added artificial light in the coop to keep these broads laying. Finally just today the molting hen started to carry her weight again. 3 hens 3 eggs today. Isa brown lay over 300 eggs a day.

    "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." W. C. Fields

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    Gambit (08-03-2016),Innkeeper (03-05-2015),MI.oldguy (03-04-2015),RWalls (08-13-2015),slewfoot (01-25-2016),Slippy (03-08-2015)

  3. #2
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    Nice set up, where did you find the nesting boxes

  4. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Jeep View Post
    Nice set up, where did you find the nesting boxes
    Thanks.
    I bought the coop used. They were in it. I have seen them at tractor supply they aren't cheap $19.00 a piece last time I looked at them.
    "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." W. C. Fields

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    Gambit (08-03-2016)

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    Still if its long term, thats not bad, most hobbies and stuff are front end heavy for cash

  7. #5
    Found my way back to the barn. Baglady's Avatar
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    I like the coop! It's always a challenge to find options to keep water from freezing, without electricity.
    That's one of my issues for the dogs. Temps here this week below freezing.
    Nice size eggs too.
    Being cremated...my last chance for a SMOKING HOT BODY!!

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    Gambit (08-03-2016)

  9. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Baglady View Post
    I like the coop! It's always a challenge to find options to keep water from freezing, without electricity.
    That's one of my issues for the dogs. Temps here this week below freezing.
    Nice size eggs too.
    The only improvement I could do to the coop is add a clean out door on the oppisite side of the nesting boxes. As it is now ive got to reach way in with a rake to clean out the chips and chicken poo. Ive kinda gone to the deep litter method for winter im just going to keep adding some fresh pine chips once in a while on top and let the poo brew for the winter it will give the hens some warmth as the poo brews.

    They have heated water dog dishes but if there is no juice available where you keep the water dish how are you dealing with the freezing issues?
    "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." W. C. Fields

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    Gambit (08-03-2016)

  11. #7
    Found my way back to the barn. Baglady's Avatar
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    We use 5 gallon buckets for water for the dogs. I use a hoe to bust the ice.
    I actually have a 5 gal. horse watering bucket that has a cord and heat element, but no electricity..

    I thought of one thing you could do to keep your shavings expense to $0. Rake up pine needles.
    Being cremated...my last chance for a SMOKING HOT BODY!!

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    Gambit (08-03-2016)

  13. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Baglady View Post
    We use 5 gallon buckets for water for the dogs. I use a hoe to bust the ice.
    I actually have a 5 gal. horse watering bucket that has a cord and heat element, but no electricity..

    I thought of one thing you could do to keep your shavings expense to $0. Rake up pine needles.
    My better half was just telling me the chickens supposedly like to eat white pine needles? She read it somewhere probably pinterest or that dreaded facebook thingy

    Good idea with the pine needles as bedding. Just so happens I have a white pine and a red pine and 2 blue spruce
    "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." W. C. Fields

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  15. #9
    Just this guy Inor's Avatar
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    Cool thread! Thanks Hawg. Mrs Inor wants to get into chicken and goat ranching once we get moved. I am little on the apprehensive side just due to the amount of work involved and my travel schedule.

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  17. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Inor View Post
    Cool thread! Thanks Hawg. Mrs Inor wants to get into chicken and goat ranching once we get moved. I am little on the apprehensive side just due to the amount of work involved and my travel schedule.
    Its honast work but its work especially in the winter
    "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." W. C. Fields

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