Red JungleFowl ***Hatchlings***

[333_okh]

Hoop Coop

***Why won't Photobucket work here any longer?***

try this at the bottom:

http://groups.msn.com/RedJungleFowl/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=1459&LastModified=4675675056826841829

[CoopVilla]

Looks like your on your way to a nice set up...

[wildergamebirds]

So, how long until I can put them out in the outdoor Hoop Coop?

  Sorry, I sent an answer, but have been having computer blackouts (yes, the computer, not operator).

  Once you have the brooder temperature down to the lowest temperature expected at night.  You could put heat source in the coop, to hurry them along.  don't forget to be sure oil glands are working well, first.

[333_okh]

Oil glands? Please explain how this works into the equation?

[wildergamebirds]

  You want them to be as water resistant as possible.  Chicks can have problems if they get too cold, but cold and wet are usually disastrous.  Even being wet at temperatures they are used to can cause shivering and piling.  They can even get wet from water troughs, or nipples that are low enough to brush with their backs, and have trouble.

  This is general information about game birds, and may apply to varying degree to yours, or poultry.

[333_okh]

thankx

[333_okh]

[Reeves]

2" wire is too big. You are going to feed all the predators.

[333_okh]

There is only 2 inch wire on the top, the lower four feet is 1 inch.  This is actually more protective than the bantam coop in the same yard that has not lost a chicken yet, but what is going to get into the 2 inch wire? Most of the predators here are too big to climb up four feet and skinny through the 2 inch wire except maybe a skunk?

[tpcrjf]

You might not have predators now but once you have all those birds out there the predators will draw in from all around. I would worry mostly about raccoons but also Mustelids...the raccoons will rip through the wire and the weasels will go through. You might not have any problems but I would suggest covering the 2" with 1" wire to be safe.

[CharlieHorse]

That's a good idea "333".  Maybe you could repost these pics in the "Build it yourself" section?

I know nothing about any "Red Jungle" behavioral characteristics, but even with 1" wire, the coons would eat my quail right through that baby.  When I have to do mine over, it will be 1/2".  One would think that it was practically impossible for anything to reach through 1" wire in the top center of a 10' tall pen and actually catch and hold onto a bird and eat it through the pen and never damage the wire............it happens.......a bunch!

[333_okh]

Raccoons are around her eand they can be a problem.  On occassion we find the body parts of a coon after the dogs get it.  The farm is full fenced perimeter and the dogs keep nearly everything four legged away.  I went to the field today and found a possum shreaded.  Damned terriers.

[CoopVilla]

Some thoughts.. 

I would think some of those in the Mustelidae family would be on the list for species of special concern in California. I personally have seen (late at night) either a fisher cat or a marten. This was during the 1980's in Sonoma county, It was more than likely a pine marten but I can't be certain because I thought its fur was too dark for a marten.  I'd catch a glimpse in my head lights sometimes as I pulled in and then it was gone. It was never a major problem though it did leave evidence of its presence.

At the time, I had two dogs, a  pit bull and a healer cross but they never messed with it unless thats the reason why the pit bull was cut up on the face at times. Yeah, I wondered. I assumed it was responsible for some of the dead free range chickens. Apparently, seeing fisher cat or marten is rare in that area so I left it alone. http://home.mcn.net/~wtu/marten.html

Not to far from where I'm at now we have Badgers (which I think  is cool)
http://www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/gallery/badger.asp I'm not saying their near you or a problem,  just an addition to this post.

It was announced that a wolverine, a much fiercer, definitely less cuddly animal, a species last seen (dead) in the central Sierra 75 years ago, was photographed scrounging for chicken placed as a lure by a graduate student studying the almost equally elusive marten.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/03/wolverine_sprin.html

News Release
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news08/08022.html

Range map of the wolverine
http://sibr.com/mammals/M159.html

As mentioned, this is just some thoughts on some of what may or may not show up involved with raising birds, regardless of their rare appearances, which may be a pointless ramble.

[333_okh]

These conversations are fun for me.  I specialize as a wildlife biologist with nearly 20 years experience with the Pacific fisher, and all avian raptors in our area; from the little saw whet owl to the giant golden eagle.

The fisher dare not enter into the open fields of our area into the livestock and farm dogs.  Although tough, they are a natural food item of the bobcat, so not so tough.  Badgers, yeah we have then in the mountains, but not in the lowland farm fields.

I will let you all know how it goes.  I might even set some of the mist netting traps to catch anything that does approach or just the dual sensor camera systems.

[333_okh]

new photos of 29 of the little guys and gals.....