I need help ironing out the details of our new home built chicken house. - Page 2

Yes, true, wood in contact with the ground will rot pretty quick. Mine is on up on blocks, even though the supports and skids are pressure treated and i have a wood floor...this solves the predator issues for me. It's also on a slope, so the rain runs off and doesn't puddle where the coop is, or under it. I don't really compost in the coop, I do have a few inches of chips, and may occasionally rake out any piles of poo so it dries out. If you use a dirt floor you can do the composting and just keep adding a layer or periodically rake it...it shouldn't ever be wet though or it will give off ammonia - not good for birds, so lots of ventilation is needed with that sort of method.

Here is a link to one BYC'ers treadle feeder:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/treadle-feeder-project

I think if you type "treadle feeder" into YouTube you will probably find some videos too, of a treadle feeder in action.

 

And here is a thread with some information on the deep litter method:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/605260/chickens-for-10-20-years-or-more-pull-up-a-rockin-chair-and-lay-some-wisdom-on-us/3710#post_9199989

That thread has a lot of replies but the one in particular that provides the information is post #3716 by Ridgerunner.  I think that link will take you to the page it is on and then you'll need to scroll down to that post.

 

I did use DLM in my last coop (that had a dirt floor) and didn't have any issue with odor.  What I did there was to scrape the roosts off onto the floor, and then go in and add a layer of shredded leaves.  I kept repeating and by the time we moved, it had built up to about 12-14".

What sort of chickens do you have? I've found the rats probably weigh more than my Sebrights :-(

If your coop is predator proof you don't have to worry about rats, the chickens will kill the mice, just periodically check for chewed places and keep rat hiding places at a minimum. Keep the grass around the coop and run mowed short to eliminate comfort zone for slithering things and you'll be fine.if

I don't know where this piece of misinformation comes from.  I see it over and over again on here, and then you have confused new chicken owners wondering why their chickens aren't taking care of their mouse problem.

 

Not all chickens will kill mice.  I had one who did years ago and she did a great job of running them down, killing and eating them - if she had a chance before her prize was stolen from her.  But none of the rest of the flock picked up the habit even after watching her do it.  After she passed, I shared the chicken feed with an ever-increasing mouse population and on numerous occasions I watched the mice sitting in the feeder eating at the same time as the chickens, who didn't bat an eyelid in their direction.

 

Buckeyes are a breed that are said to be good mouse catchers and they are on my "wanted" list.  Next time I have a broody hen, I hope to be able to order Buckeye hatching eggs and add them to my flock that way.

Seriously, mice and small birds. most chickens will chase them down and eat them-it's not misinformation at all. Gamier birds will go aft larger prey, but not all...I think if you polled byc you'd find the majority eat mice.

What breeds do you have?  I have all LF except for a couple, and they are a mixed breed flock - some barnyard mixes, EE's, Marans, BO's, RIR's, BR and many others.  In all my years of chicken keeping I've had just the one Red Sexlink who caught mice.  The rest never even looked at them like food.  They will eat pinkies if I disturb a nest and offer them in my hand like a treat, but won't chase down and kill them.  Not small birds either.  For awhile I had a problem with grackles stealing their food and the chickens never tried to chase them off.  I can't do polls but I know I've read a lot of posts from confused newbies who were told their chickens would take care of the mice and wondering why they still had a mouse problem.  And, if you do a search, you will find multiple posts where people are asking how to take care of their mouse problem, so my guess is my flock is not unique (it is added to every year and natural subtractions occur so it is not that they are just a set-in-their-ways bunch).  If yours do keep mice under control, you might count yourself among the lucky ones.

I have game fowl, and plain old hatchery red hens. Maybe because I also free range, so they are accustomed to catching their own food and enjoy it I think, so when they see something move they chase it. For awhile I had a game feeder in the yard, and I've watched my chickens chase off wild turkeys..which I didn't want them to do. They seem to get really excited over flying grasshoppers too.

Well dang, that was the next thing I was going to ask.  I thought perhaps because I free-range and they have access to so much forage, mice don't interest them much, and chickens that are penned go after the mice out of boredom.  So now I dunno.  Like I said, I do want to get some Buckeyes for the mousing quality.  We just moved and the mice haven't found us yet but they will eventually and I'm hoping by the time they do I will have Buckeyes ready and waiting for them.