I made a brooder house out of an old Chevrolet bus and it is now fully operational. I have 200 chicks in it right now that will stay there until they are about 4 weeks old. It seems to work well so far. It's easy to keep warm and I've got a fan on a thermostat where the driver's window was in case it gets too hot. Also, predators can't get in. Time will tell if it's a good idea or not, but so far all is well.

2/27/2008 9:27:10 PM

so its making some clucking sounds.

i would put thicker oil in there.

2/27/2008 9:28:01 PM

It's just a chirp at this point, but I'm afraid it will progress into a cluck over the next few weeks.

2/27/2008 9:33:21 PM

when summer gets here you'll need more than a fan in the driver's window

2/27/2008 9:34:29 PM

you forget that I can let the windows down. also, chicks like it in the 90's. when they get old enough to regulate their own body temp, I'll move them out. I've also painted the windows white to cut down on solar heating.

2/27/2008 9:38:53 PM

you are my supar duper redneck hero.

2/27/2008 9:40:08 PM

thank you. you should have heard my wife's reaction when she heard how close I wanted it to the house

2/27/2008 9:53:00 PM

Cool. i want me a damn chicken. just one. can a hen live all by herself as a yard pet without a rooster or other hens?

2/27/2008 9:54:05 PM

they can, but most people get a few. you don't have to have a rooster to get eggs. I sell a lot of pullets to people around Raleigh who want a few layers. you can even have hens in the city limits

2/27/2008 9:55:43 PM

i want a hen and name her henrietta.

2/27/2008 10:02:10 PM

them little yella ones taste funnny. all teh damn feathers and shit. i bit the hed off.

2/27/2008 10:02:14 PM

i wouldn't care either way if she laid eggs. i just think it would be fun to have a pet chicken.

2/27/2008 10:04:00 PM

i want a pet goat. one of the fainting ones. i'd never leave home, just scream at my goat all day.

2/27/2008 11:29:38 PM

out in wendell they were selling goats.

dont have a price or pics. but i def wanted to go check them out

[Edited on February 28, 2008 at 10:19 AM. Reason : ^haha, like the ones on dirty jobs. ]

2/28/2008 10:19:00 AM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=we9_CdNPuJg

HILARIOUS

2/28/2008 10:24:17 AM

you are going to keep chicks in there untill they are 4 weeks old

2/28/2008 1:25:31 PM

Quote :

"i want a pet goat. one of the fainting ones. i'd never leave home, just scream at my goat all day."

I WOULD like a coupla Boers. I don't have anywhere to keep them though.

2/28/2008 4:42:03 PM

used to have goats, they'd get up on my old willys wagons. I'll have to find that picture sometime. had chickens too. fox got em.

2/28/2008 8:57:18 PM

post pics

2/29/2008 2:09:45 PM

bcsawyer neglected to mention that the bus is smurf blue with white rims.

[Edited on February 29, 2008 at 11:07 PM. Reason : I think you can see it on google earth]

2/29/2008 11:06:58 PM

the windows are white now too.

3/1/2008 7:06:21 PM

Quote :

"had chickens too. fox got em."

damn i didn't even think about that. i have foxes and coyotes where i live now.

3/1/2008 7:23:10 PM

any coyote needs to be shot, they don't belong around here and are a nuisance. not that i'd have the heart to personally do it though...

they can be pretty big bastards also, 40-50lbs. much bigger than in their natural western states. iirc it's because of crossbreeding with wolves along their steady migration east.

3/2/2008 1:43:52 AM

coyotes are the reason why I put my mule in with my cows and sheep. he will mess up a canine that he doesn't know and he will herd the cows to a protected area if he senses danger.

3/2/2008 9:33:14 PM