Recent content by eikome

  1. eikome

    Re-designing roosts for older hens

    Yes I was thinking of adding a "bottom" underneath the ladder rungs to see if would help them see it as a ramp they can walk on. Of course they do have that ramp style with cleats outside in the run to help them get up to the chicken door and they ignore that too, lol. So who knows. Chickens be...
  2. eikome

    Re-designing roosts for older hens

    Here's a current photo of the roosts as is. It's hard to tell, but there's quite a bit more floor space under where the camera is that you can't see. And there's a window behind the camera too. Everything looks a little oddly stretched weird too thanks to the camera lens. I was thinking about...
  3. eikome

    Re-designing roosts for older hens

    I built a new coop this past fall/spring and I'm trying to fine-tune everything now based on how the chickens are actually using the space. I need to change up their roosts. I have 12 standard sized/heavy bodied chickens, and a 6ft x 6ft area for their roosts (the other half of the 12x6 coop...
  4. eikome

    Air Conditioned coop?

    A ridge vent may help. Hot air rises, even if you have open windows on the sides, there's no way for the hot air trapped up by the ceiling to get out. The gable-end vents don't look large enough for ample cross air flow at the roofline. If you can't put in a passive flow ridge vent, maybe a...
  5. eikome

    Sand Vs. what else for run?

    Hi, I live in upstate NY too. When I first started keeping chickens I used wood mulch in their covered run. Pros: The poops composted in the mulch quickly. Cons: It held moisture and froze solid in the winter and so was somewhat hazardous with sticks poking up all over. I had 2 hens get...
  6. eikome

    Introducing young pullets to older hens

    Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall reading somewhere that it's not recommended to mix medicated and unmedicated feed together. It's probably better to just use up the bag of medicated feed, then switch to unmedicated.
  7. eikome

    Anyone plant crops for chickens

    I don't plant things for them specifically, but I do pick them things from my garden. Kale, cabbage, lettuce, and chard leaves that have slug holes in them. "Weeds" like lambs quarters they absolutely love. Strawberries and raspberries that are bug damaged or squished. Cukes and zukes and summer...
  8. eikome

    Introducing young pullets to older hens

    I would take the babies off the medicated feed and feed everyone regular unmedicated grower feed until the young ones are beginning to lay. Be sure to provide free choice oyster shell/calcium for the older ladies to pick up as they need it. That's what's worked for me each time I've put new...
  9. eikome

    Shade cloth color

    Since I built a new coop and run last fall, I need a new shade cloth to fit the new run. Are there any downsides/benefits to using a silver shade cloth vs a black shade cloth? I used a black 60% shade cloth in the past over their old clear panel roof in the summer and it worked fine enough for...
  10. eikome

    Elderly hen

    I have a 7 year old Easter Egger hen who is not feeling well and I'm not sure what is wrong or if there's anything I can do for her. Earlier this spring I noticed she had slowed down, not keeping her tail up, fluffed up feathers, kind of raspy/heavy breathing with occasional sneezes, and watery...
  11. eikome

    New coop, roost design help

    I am 🙂. 12" overhangs with open soffits, a roof peak vent, and large gable end vents.
  12. eikome

    New coop, roost design help

    Thank you, this is very helpful to hear that the standard hens don't have trouble with your high roosts. Do you have steps or a ramp or anything they use to get up there? Or do they just fly right up?
  13. eikome

    New coop, roost design help

    Yes, the people door goes to the other half of the shed, which will mostly be used for chicken-stuff storage. I'd take pics, but I'm still building it, lol. Which is why everything is very flexible at the moment. So, that interior door can go anywhere on that wall. Everything can be moved...
  14. eikome

    New coop, roost design help

    The sun rises in the east 😄, so the side with the people door. The people door will have a window that lines up with a window on the people side, so there should be some light/brightness coming through.
  15. eikome

    New coop, roost design help

    Plymouth Rock, EE, Australorp, Wyandotte, and Sussex, currently. Maybe Buckeye, Swedish Flower, Leghorn, and others in the future. I generally like dual-purpose, heritage types that tend to be heavy-bodied, although the EEs and Leghorns are not. My current roosts are 2ft off the ground, and the...
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