- Jul 10, 2009
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Success! For over 15 years now, I have been using a Coop built on a brick foundation with the dirt floor below the outside ground level by 12 to 18 inches. I clean it out in the spring for the garden and spend all summer adding lawnmower clippings, wood chips, pine needles/cones, etc. basically anything organic I can rake up or mow up. Over the winter the chickens constantly turn it over and it composts down making heat and fertilizer for my garden. I planned and started my Coop in B.C. (before computers) and read everything I could, I didn't like the Agriculture Extensions recommendations of concrete floors and dropping boards----sounded like too much of a stinky mess and work. I was inspired by the writings of Rodale which based his conclusions on old-timer methods that were tried and true. Seems the old-timers knew what they were doing, they also planted mulberry trees for the chickens---I thought this was a great idea and one-upped them by planting the Illinois everbearing mulberry which drops mulberries for 10 to 12 weeks versus just the 2 weeks of the "wild" mulberries. I also planted apples and persimmons in the run (it's large) to extend the free food season. I also fenced off my garden which shares a fence with the run and in the fall when I'm done with the garden, I open the chicken access door to the garden and they clean, till, and fertilize it for me.
I hope my experiences will help the newcomers in their planning-----I see a lot of advise given in these forums that are based on what someone thinks should work rather then what is and has worked.
I hope my experiences will help the newcomers in their planning-----I see a lot of advise given in these forums that are based on what someone thinks should work rather then what is and has worked.
