Questions about building our first coop in the NE

[xpchick]

I knew someone allergic to pine...wasn't funny at all.
I can see why you want sand then...or maybe go with deep litter.
I use dry pine shavings 4-6" deep and think they work great but if you're allergic, not the thing for you.

The thing I don't like about sand is that eventually it becomes saturated with pulverized poop particles, and when damp can stink pretty bad.
I use it mixed with PDZ on the roost boards and in the brooder, throwing it out to fill holes in the yard when it gets stinky after a couple batches of chicks.

I like the deep bedding method. I may get a bag of pine shavings and see how I am currently with it. Thanks for reposting the link to your bedding and poop board! Looks great! Poop board is definitely on my list to build in.

 

[aart]

Quote: It can be dusty and is very fragrant when first unbaled....what are you experiences with pine allergy?

 

[enola]

TSC carries aspen chips, they don't bother my sinuses like pine bedding does.

 

[xpchick]

Allergic reactions for me are usually watery eyes, stuffy or runny nose, and I can get itchy. It's been a long time since I've been around pine shavings though, so I'll give it a try. Good to know about Aspen!

So I took some pictures of the inside of the side barn. They are horribly embarrassing as we are trying to clean out the mess the old owner left behind. Let's just say 40 years worth of stuff was in/around the property that we've been cleaning up. This is one of the last main areas to be done.

The rest of that ceiling is already torn out and we hauled out the garbage from it. The front left of the photo is where we are thinking of putting the coop, on that concrete slab. Yes, that is a working toilet in there right next to the chicken area. lol The final photo was when I moved a piece of wood, it shows all of the lady bugs/beetles that were hiding there. We get TONS of them as the weather cools, they hide and then leave in the spring. Will these hurt the chickens? Will they eat them? They are annoying and they smell if you scare them. Ick!


So where the roof meets the side you can see the daylight coming up in. We'll be adding soffets on the outside to keep critters out, but still let air in. We were thinking of putting up walls on the 2 open sides (far end and right side) and putting windows in them both. Since they are just into the rest of the side barn they could be open as much as needed for ventilation. We are planning to run a hard wire cloth tunnel from the coop straight across and cutting them access to an outside pen. Thoughts? suggestions?



The nesting boxes will hang out into the main part of the barn for easy access.We'll put linoleum down on their floor and deep litter on it.




Any input is appreciate!

 

[aart]

Just cover those eaves with 1/2" hardware cloth on the outside...that's what I did, pics on my coop page.
You could just use 2x2 or 3 or 4 framing and HC for interior coop walls.
Beetles won't hurt chooks, don't think they'll eat them tho.

 

[xpchick]

Just cover those eaves with 1/2" hardware cloth on the outside...that's what I did, pics on my coop page.
You could just use 2x2 or 3 or 4 framing and HC for interior coop walls.
Beetles won't hurt chooks, don't think they'll eat them tho.

Thanks aart - just found that coop page link! Great pictures of your coop, very helpful.
Darn it, I really hoped the chickens would eat those beetles. At least they won't be hurt by them.

So I see you are in MI, I'm in NY so similar weather. You think just using HC as our other 2 walls is enough? I know ventilation is key, but it just feels so open.

 

[aart]

Quote: Open is good...it's worked great for me.

 

[LeannS]

Quote: We all seem to try every type of litter and eventually we will find what really works for us the best.
Then they come out with some thing new. Like( Pine chip Pellets ). I just got started with that for the ground litter.
It is in bags, it is cheaper, and it is neater. People that use them, love them,for every type of live stock.