Best poulty habitat supplies according to redditors

While I was researching for my automatic blinds project I ran into this:

http://www.amzn.com/B007IZJWNQ

Which, aside from the webcam server would allow you to do what you're looking for without the raspi

I would HIGHLY recommend that you consider getting a Heat Plate Brooder. For example, this one.

The year I used Heat Bulbs like you are, I witnessed one explode into the brooder (sitting quietly on the couch when it happened), and I had another nearly start a fire despite being bolted into the frame I built.

When I upgraded to my Brinsea Heat Plate Brooder for my latest chick batch....I kicked myself in the ass because I did not buy it sooner!

Not only does it provide better warmth and overall coverage for a larger group of chicks....it is almost completely safe! The only thing you must watch out for is if they get unplugged accidentally....resulting in very cold chicks!

There are a few options on Amazon for cheaper or more expensive/larger ones. It may be an investment, but it is worth it! Especially due to the potential of fires happening while you are away!

Edit: Here is a cheaper option. You might find used ones on Ebay/Amazon, elsewhere!

http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Motor-D20-Chicken-Coop-Motor/dp/B007IZJWNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410702792&sr=8-1&keywords=automatic+coop+door

I use one and it works great, you do have to get a separate timer and build a sliding door with little to no friction but it’s cheaper than all the others I’ve see and we just had our second light snow today and it’s still going strong. Good luck!

https://www.amazon.com/Add-Motor-Automatic-Accessory-D20-120V/dp/B007IZJWNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?keywords=automatic+chicken+coop+door&qid=1573611131&sprefix=automatic+chi&sr=8-7

I got a little ahead of myself posting the video. I'm excited it works! I've still got some more to do, at which point I'll do a complete post about the process.

It's pretty easy though. Everything runs off an extension cord right now. The security camera is this:

http://www.amazon.com/Zmodo-ZM-SH75D001-WA-Camera-Two-way-Monitoring/dp/B00ZZ4HX1K

The coop motor is this:

http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Motor-Chicken-Automatic-Motor-D20/dp/B007IZJWNQ

and we turn it on and off using a WeMo Wifi plug:

http://www.amazon.com/WeMo-Enabled-Electronics-anywhere-Compatible/dp/B00BB2MMNE

you could get an automatic coop door:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TONTHRG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We have a coop run that is highly secured, and a main coop that is also secured. We close the coop run manually, and the main coop house closes automatically. All it took was closing the girls in the main coop run then letting themselves get locked out overnight a few times for them to learn to get in the house. Now we have gone down after dark more than once and all the girls are in the house and the door closed.

you would need to secure the main run area better to use our approach though. Our run is enclosed on all sides (including bottom) with 1/2" hardware cloth. Right next to the main house door (where the girls tend to sit if they get locked out) is #8 mesh. All mesh is secured between pieces of cedar framing with screws running through the cedar and the mesh.

We use the slide type doors which I feel are more secure than other options. one I made myself with diamond plate aluminum (if you can get flat aluminum I recommend it) that slides between rails of flat bar aluminum that have a gap created by washers. You can also buy a very similar design if you want to:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018KIVUC0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


The biggest thing you need to do to secure your coop/run area is enclose the entire thing in hardware cloth. It needs to be the small 1/2" hardware cloth like here: https://www.amazon.com/Hardware-Galvanized-Chicken-Supports-Poultry/dp/B015PD9F52/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1499439834&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=hardware+cloth&psc=1.

When I say enclose, I mean fully enclose on all sides including top and bottom. The cloth must be screwed/anchored in place (not just stapled). If you use larger cloth then animals such as racoons can reach through and grab the chickens. You should include the house in the enclosure. If you do not secure the bottom then they will just dig under and in.

I've had animals try and fail to get into my coop. I came out one day to find blood all over one side of the coop where an animal had tried to scratch its way in and lost claws. I also have come out to find that animals had tried to dig under the coop only to find hardware cloth there as well. you MAY be able to get away with just putting a hardware cloth skirt a few feet out from the coop but I prefer to just have the floor be hardware cloth.

Finally, all latches that allow us to get into the coop are safety latches since racoons can figure out normal latches. we mostly use hook and eyes like these (I use stainless though): https://www.amazon.com/Zinc-Plated-Wire-Safety-4-Pack/dp/B01LYNKFIL/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499440049&sr=1-1&keywords=hook+and+eye+safety+latch

Though our main coop door does have this sort of latch (which we intend to add a padlock to if there are signs of animals getting in through it): https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-National-Hardware-CD1271-Sliding/dp/B009YNW3QS/ref=sr_1_12?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499440093&sr=1-12&keywords=gate+latch+lock

I had a heating plate that was fine in the coop.

https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Incubators-Chick-Heating-Brooder/dp/B018KIPZTE/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=chick+heater&qid=1565146615&s=gateway&sr=8-4

I've used bulbs, this is a safer product. No risk of fire or overheating chicks.
https://www.amazon.com/Premier-Chick-Brooder-Heating-Plate/dp/B00W43PHTA

This is the one I just used. We had about 6 of 15 eggs hatch. But they were mail order eggs, so perhaps they just were not all fresh.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KDXW5Z1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JZ5VBW7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DWB3T79/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the one I settled on: Happy Henhouse Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Kit for Coops, Cages and Runs, Solar, Timer or Actuator, Poultry (Solar) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B3W9RDW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eehWDbNAGTPPT


I’m actually in central indiana, so pretty comparable. It’s not went through a winter yet, but I doubt it’ll have issues.

Kinda, that one would be great if you're doing 4 or 5 birds. I have a bit bigger one, that works really nice

https://www.amazon.com/Yardbird-21833-Chicken-Plucker/dp/B01BI5D0MK/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1526785603&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=chicken+plucker&psc=1

Well one option for 9-12 eggs is https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Digital-Incubator-Poultry-Chicken/dp/B01H1S1NZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488250669&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=incubator&psc=1

there is also this one that lets you do up to 48 you dont have to but its way less expensive. https://www.amazon.com/Best-Choice-Products-Incubator-Temperature/dp/B010OUJCGS/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1488250669&sr=8-10&keywords=incubator

Aside from that i got nothing else ^_^. I always think the brinsea are to pricey. I personally get by with a foam incubator, the magifly mini, and hopefully soon my 4 silkie hens.

This is pretty useful for the lazier folks.

Works great. Just add a zwave switch.

Aviary or bird netting over the area they 'free range'. The link below is for 100x50 but they come in all sizes. fence in the area and then cover the top with these. Put a few together and you can end up with a pretty large area for them to run in. If you use T-post for your fencing you can move it around once a year or so if you want too. My personal plan if for 200x100 area covered that I can just leave them in forever.

http://www.amazon.com/Anti-Bird-Netting-Aviary-Poultry/dp/B00CDL3LXC/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1409076747&sr=1-2&keywords=bird+netting

Think a lot about how you're going to clean out the coop in your design. Nice big doors with good access will make your life a lot easier. Also, keep in mind that chickens will attempt to roost literally anywhere they can manage to fly and perch to, and will manage to get poop into any of those spots, so make sure you design well for that eventuality especially where food and water are concerned. And don't underestimate predators. Be thorough with your security.

Edit: Also worth mentioning: I dropped $100 on an automatic door opener (this one), and it's seriously the best $100 I've ever spent. My ladies get to go out right at the crack of dawn every morning and I don't have to be home to shut them in in the evening. Of course, if you build a super secure run you might not have to worry about that in the first place, but still, chickens are generally safer in a coop at night no matter how secure you make the run.

Oops! you meant the hutch, not the lawn LOL. I got it here: Aivituvin Outdoor Rabbit House... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HSZY55N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/AdorStore-Automatic-Chicken-COMPLETE-BATTERY/dp/B079BBHDSQ/ref=sr_1_cc_7?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1535863834&sr=1-7-catcorr&keywords=automatic+chicken+door It wasn't 200 when i bought it so don't freak XD.

Cozy Products CL Safe Chicken Coop Heater 200 Watts Safer Than Brooder Lamps, One Size Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX9K1JI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oNiTCbQ2FATS4

Found it from this site, and we have 3 Ameraucanas. My plan was to keep straw on the ground in the run, and in the coop.

For when it gets very cold, we were going to have this heater in the coop, and also a heated water bowl.

Any other suggestions you all have would be greatly appreciated.

Precisely. Such kits typically include a 10x10" door and a small electronic component that turns a motor that rolls/pulls up a fishing string hooked up to the door. Automatic because it uses a photosensor to open at dawn and close at dusk to protect chickens from predators. Almost all backyard chicken owners have to lock up their chickens in a coop at night. It looks very simple but even the cheapest kits out there at at least $200

Source: Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener by Cheeper Keeper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J7DOXJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_TubizbHH0R8CR

My oven can't touch that temp either. I was thinking about using a egg incubator. It has a tray below I could fill with desiccant, and can reach those temps. Pretty easy to control the humidity in it, without water it will dry out what is in side.

https://www.amazon.com/GQF-1588-Genesis-Hova-Bator-Incubator/dp/B01GWF7HGG/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1539092910&sr=8-18&keywords=incubator

I actually picked it up off amazon. The base is Best Choice Products Outdoor... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DLE5HJU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And we added the extra run: Precision Extreme Hen House Expansion Pen https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B006F8DOQ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cDmGDbHA9CTFB

What is the build cost on this? With the cost of the motor, pulleys ($70 per video), fingers ($60 per video), wiring/electrical, and miscellaneous materials, you're probably approaching the price of [this](Yardbird Chicken Plucker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BI5D0MK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mePYzb3PHBBBY) which is listed for $425 on Amazon. And that thing is stainless steel (much easier to clean and sterilize, and we are talking about meat processing) and it's fully waterproofed (which is necessary, I know someone who got electrocuted using something like this that was not). It's a cool DIY and I give you props for that, but I'm wondering if it's actually cost effective in comparison.

how much money do you want to spend?

Amazon sells a 100 foot by 50 foot net. Unfortunately the gaps in the next are about 2 inches. If you fold the net twice i reckon it'll catch ping pong balls. and it will a more manageable 50x25 feet.

A net will be by far the best tool.

its 80 dollars though. https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Bird-Netting-Aviary-Poultry/dp/B00CDL3LXC/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=netting&qid=1555431651&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-9

this one has a half inch mesh. Might be better. https://www.amazon.com/BEST-BIRD-NETTING-Bird-Net/dp/B01GUJBF3U/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=bird+net+half+inch+mesh&qid=1555431919&s=pet-supplies&sr=8-1

With a large enough net, and enough friends you should be able to catch all the ping pong balls.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B018KIPZTE?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

I've really come to like spiral CFL bulbs (6500k color temp) in a reflector, pointed downward toward the substrate, as cheap and effective planted tank lighting. I've never run CO2, but I imagine a couple of 27 watt bulbs would do the job just fine.

But I've actually been considering a switch to LEDs for my 55g, the Finnex Ray2 or Planted+ in particular, since they seem to get a lot of love here and on plantedtank.net. So not to derail the thread, but I'm curious: Doxlee, may I ask what kinds of plants you have in your 55g, and whether you run CO2?

https://www.amazon.com/Pawhut-Outdoor-Raised-House-Chicken/dp/B00HZUU95Y/
I purchased this one.
Its great! Anything over 5 birds gets cramped.