- Thread starter
- #11
MicheleCarelock
In the Brooder
- Jan 6, 2016
- 15
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- 22
You've got lots of reading to do between now and the arrival of your chicks! Check out: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors
Also, you might want to read about deep litter for use in both the coop and the run. Many chicken runs quickly become void of all vegetation, turning into dust bowls, or mud pits, leaving the chickens with little to do other than standing around in stinky dirt. You can give them a healthy environment in the run by adding lots of mulch materials to the run, after they remove the vegetation. Aim for a 6" layer in the run. It will keep the flock busy, and it will attract beneficial insects, bacteria, fungus, and worms. Birds who have access to a compost/mulch situation like this will spend a good part of their day searching out the nutrition available. Easier on the food bill, as well as giving them a healthier gut. Other topics to research: Fermented feed. Check out the many coop designs in the coop and run section. Be sure that your coop is predator proof, and has plenty of ventilation. This means that you'll need 1/2" hardware cloth over all openings, including windows and any vents. Chicken wire will keep your flock in, but will not keep them safe from predators. Henderson's chicken breeds chart. You might just find a breed that you absolutely must have. Finally, you might even want to check into the option of hatching your first flock. It's super easy to build your own incubator!!! You're gonna have lots of fun with this, and it's wonderful that your husband is on the same page with you!
I've been thinking a lot about the deep litter method since I read about it yesterday. We have a ton of pinestraw that falls in out back yard. My husband is scared that if he gets me an incubator we'll end up with 100 chickens. Lol.