When I first got my chicks, a record setting heat wave came with them....I came to BYC looking for advice. Everyone was feeding frozen watermelon, taking frozen water bottles to the coop, and so on. Then, I came across a post (can't remember who the poster was, but I'm sure it was one of the OTs) that said something like maybe we're babying our chickens too much, that they survived in the heat before we came along, and that plenty of shade and water should suffice. Now, I said to myself, "that's the most sensible thing I've heard yet". WELL that poster was really chastized (sp) with such posts like "Maybe you don't mind losing a bird to the heat, but I don't want to lose my baby" and so on. It upset ME.
might have been me. Or any number of people who post here. i have been called all kinds of crazy names and things because I'm sensible. I say things VERY similar to what you say was said all the time. Or I did. Now I post here and on the duck thread once in a while. That is it on BYC. Like the Metallica song I just heard on the way home "nothing else matters"
Ask and ye shall receive. Ain't much of a barn but.... I could tell you a story about arrogance and humility. At one time I was a millionaire. My arrogance took me down some very bad roads, and ultimately led me to where I am today, rebuilding. Today I am rich in family, rebuilding the moral fabric that I used to, and now again hold dear. It has nothing to do with chickens though, and yet, can be correlated.
The stalls run down the left side. The picture seen is the hog stall.
Those are the beagle kennels with room for a lean to if necessary over the embankment leading to the pond. I wouldn't be building any more space until you've worked on what you have to maximize efficiency and space. I'd downsize the flock to fit the space you currently possess and get that working like an Ingersoll watch before expanding the operation.
This is the main roost laying area. I could extend it about 10 feet to the doorway. Those doors cannot close currently. I'd frame up this doorway with wire and lumber and put in a screen/wired door...same with the other horse stall/coop. Then I'd make a connecting pop door/tunnel that can be closed, to run between these areas.
Feeding on a dirt and hay strewn floor. Stays dry. Note the pop door. I'd place/bend welded wire over these trough feeders..easy to do and will save you a bunch on feed loss from scratching and flicking. I'd also place feed cans right next to feeders and waterers close to the doors(if you don't already) but not in an obstructive way or in your direct line of walking to nest boxes, feeders, etc.
She has 2 peeps left.
The main laying boxes are to the back of the first stall. On the other side is the other stall. Yes they roost on the top of the layer boxes... maybe it IS dirty.... Yeah...I'd put a stop to that by slanting a piece of tin or a long board on the top of those to make a slick/slanted surface over those nest boxes.
2nd stall with roost. You'll cut any cleaning chores in half by placing all your roosting areas in one stall and feeding/nesting in the other. IME, free ranged chickens usually leave most of their feces under the roost area and the other areas get minimal deposits.
I'd make your roosting areas the closest to the outside access(1st stall) so the birds can get right down off the roost and go outside to free range without passing through the nesting/feeding area and any major cleaning of feces can be quickly accessed and removed by being closest to the outside door.
Then I'd feed in the evenings...make 'em work all day to find food and you won't find chickens lounging about in the coops all day, making more turds inside. With that many birds, I'd keep a waterer in both stalls.
Outside the stall is the isolation room and another set of laying boxes I had in another coop. Old coop now razed and on the burn pile.
Chickens and hogs in harmony. Been a very dry year.
Take it easy on me... no... I can take it. Tell me what you would do to make this a serviceable chickenry. I suppose I ought to avail myself of some of my Amish friends, but i don't have to travel to have you guys... and gals.
Side note: Even with all that space~ and taking into account it's molting time which allows for some feather loss~ I see quite a few raggedy feathered gals with bare backs...too many roos? If not, explored the cause?
