Recent content by Melko

When I had them on sand, Every few weeks. Place would reek. On wood shavings/horse bedding? Never. It's just not needed.

True that, might have to add a plank across the top just to make sure that if they roost their poop doesn't fall into the cups

I kinda got tired of having to change the water in the chicken cook practically every other day, despite using one of those 5USG bucket waterers AND a 25L "flip" style waterer... There was also a hygiene issue with the bucket, the choocks would sit atop the bucket while sleeping, and that often...

Were you using a heating pad or lamp for that? I figured a heating pad might be the better option since even if it shuts off the pad itself would still be warm... Really, a PID controller is the best solution for this sort of automation. I'll have to look into it more if I decide to expand on this.

Well, since I'm hard headed and a storm broke all my heat lamps (Just blew through the place and smashed them, luckily no other damage) I decided to try a thermostat-controlled heating pad. Here's the setup: This is my "mama heating pad", made of a seedling mat I didn't need and scrap wood...

Been trying to hatch eggs for the past two months but haven't had much luck in doing so... All my eggs are Yolkers. No quitters, no development whatsoever. This is a screenshot from a video, but this is exactly what I'm seeing after 10 days in the Incubator. I figured it this might be an...

Eggs n' toast, scrambled, sunnyside, boiled, steamed, Shakshuka, cooked into pancakes, waffles, pastries, eggnog, pickled in a jar... We're a family of seven and we're getting more eggs than we can eat. It's reached a point where I'm the only one eating any. I love eggs, I can eat them for...

Well, the point of this is to make it more of a "set and forget" sort system. 1 less thing to worry about. I actually wanted to use a PID thermostat that varied the power it supplied to the bulb. i.e. the bulb would dim and brighten as needed in response to the thermistor... There's quite a few...

A silly, but maybe not silly question. I have one of those temperature-control thermostats. Essentially, it's a socket with temperature probe, you set the Turn On/Off Temps and it automatically switches the device on and off as needed. My idea is to set this inside the brooder, with a...

I've noticed a general lack of Vit B in most feeds sold here, already tried two brands with similar results. I used to have a lot of issues with chickens becoming lethargic or having progressively paralyzed legs/wings/necks. Ever since I started adding Vit B Complex to their water these issues...

They're mostly pets, but if they plan on dropping me a few eggs in the morning I'm not gonna argue. Not raising them for sale or meat production.

I'm planning on building a an expansion to my current 16'x8' run, a connection to a 40'x25' (1000sqft) space. HC all sides, netted on top. I'll post the plans soon, just to give a clearer idea of the run/aviary With that I'm planning on increasing the size of my flock with new breeds (Chicken...

I've had a pullet that hasn't been able to walk for the past week. I though this might've been a leg injury so I set her up in her own with some food and water. Today I found another pullet with the same symptoms. Laying to the side and unable to get up. I tried picking her up but she always...

Also worth noting: I had a fever and throat infection in the past two weeks. When I had it pretty bad I limited my interaction to cleaning the brooder and the feeder/wateres. Could I have infected them?

I've just had two deaths, one yesterday and one that's still breathing but doesn't look like he's gonna make it this morning. All of these chicks are Brahmas I've had for more than a month, all extremely healthy and active. They're being brooded on pine-shavings and sand underneath the coop...