Least Favorite Part about Coop Management?

[ShotgunDog]

The worst part is when they die.
Second worst - when your favorite chick ends up being male and you have to get rid of it.

I haven't crossed either of these bridges yet, but for sure, dreading the end of any of my girls.

 

[McChooky]

Welcome to BYC!!

I honestly don't have a "worst part" as I like what we do here.

Horse pellet bedding in the coop means we don't clean the floor but once a year and the poop boards once a week with a trowel and giant dust pan. That takes 60 seconds.

The predators are kept away by our two dogs, two cats, and lots of solar motion lights. We don't have mice as we have cats.

We hatch and sell silkie chicks so that sort of offsets the feed.

I don't have an odor or moisture problem since switching to pellets.They're amazing!

 

[Debbie292d]

I don't have an odor or moisture problem since switching to pellets.They're amazing!

They are game-changers!! 7 years of them has been awesome! If only everyone knew what we did.

Last summer I started using them in the brooder. After 1 week of paper towels, in come the pellets lol. I have to stir theirs though.

 

[venovee]

hardest part is definitely losing them, be it to predators, illness, or something unpreventable.

i also voted for cost, but that’s really bc we also have other animals and i‘m still a student (currently unemployed). i’m very grateful my family is willing to let me keep them!

 

[The Welch Chickens]

It depends on what you dislike. Cleaning up messes doesn't bother me much, but it might bother someone else more.

I would agree with others that the hardest part is death. But you shouldn't be thinking about that. Just enjoy your flock without worrying.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

They are game-changers!! 7 years of them has been awesome! If only everyone knew what we did.

Last summer I started using them in the brooder. After 1 week of paper towels, in come the pellets lol. I have to stir theirs though. View attachment 3742576

Do the chicks eat the pellet dust/pellet breakdown to sawdust ??

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Worst part is when I get bored and convince myself to start yet another expansion..... In summary "worst part is Chicken Math."

 

[Debbie292d]

Do the chicks eat the pellet dust/pellet breakdown to sawdust ??

In the coop, no, or if they do they try it once and never again but scratch through it so thus, no maintenance.

In the brooder, of course they do, just like with pine chips. The pellets don't turn to sawdust there though as they don't poop enough and I use a nipple waterer and clean up any drips. I provide grit for the ones that just had to find a small piece and eat it though. It's so awesome no smell!