Recent content by henless

Thanks! It's small, 6x8, but I really like it. It took some getting used to since I went from 3 10x10 coops down to this one.

Adding more windows would help. Our shed came with no windows. I put 1 on each end (6' wide) and 2 on the North side (8' wide). The large door was on the South side. We came in about 10" and framed a screen door using hardware cloth. We added a little porch on the front, so I rarely shut the...

My current coop is a 6x8 storage shed with an 8x20 attached run. I cover the floor in shavings and have a poop board under the roost with sweet pdz. Occasionally there will be some poop on the floor, but not very often. When that happens, I'll just scoop it up and add to the poop bucket which...

Chickens make a lot of dust/dander. Unless you have a solid wall between the coop area and your well area, everything will be covered in the dust/dander. It ain't pretty.

I've used this feeder for 3 or 4 years now. Easy to use, easy to clean and holds 50 lbs of feed. The clear tote makes it easy to see the feed level. My waterer is a 5 gallon bucket with nipples. I have 10 chickens right now and the water lasts about a week before I have to refill it. Here it...

I use a cookie tin water heater for my 5 gallon nipple bucket. Works great for me, even during snowmageddon until the bulb went out. Depending on your area, you may need a higher wattage bulb. I plug it into my thermo cube plug and I'm set for winter.

I use screws & washers to attach my shower curtains to the run. I put the top of the shower curtain along the bottom of the run and put the screws in the grommets. I pull the curtain up tight as high as it will go and screw through the plastic. I find the washers give it enough support to keep...

Muscadine jelly was in the works today. Our muscadines are starting to ripen, so thought I'd better get my butt in gear and get last year's harvest put up. I have 26 half pints cooling on the counter. Yum!

I usually just lay mine out for a few days to bring it to room temperature, then place in smaller bag or jar.

I use large flake shavings in my coop. I like the smell and makes it easy to see anything on the floor. In the run, I use leaves, pine straw and coop shavings when I clean it out. The only time there is a smell is when someone lets out a fresh poop. I've never used sand, so have no idea how...

The coop I have now is smaller and has a floor. I use a poop board so the deep bedding stays cleaner. Before, when I had my 3 open air coops, they were all on a dirt floor. I did not use a poop board and never had to clean it unless I needed compost. It really depends on what kind of set up...

This year's chicks are 5 weeks old now. I've been giving them greens, since day 4 or 5. They love it when the greens still have dirt on the roots. They dig around and have a high 'ole time. It exposes them to the different stuff that is in my yard to help build up their immunity. Chickweed is...

I use a Premier heat plate or heating pad. I've used both down to 18* degrees outside with no problems. I've never used a heat lamp or brooded indoors.

I have three 55 gallon tumblers, home made. Mine never really smell, just when you first put the poop in. I add shredded leaves, kitchen scraps (that the chickens don't eat) and the poop off the poop board. I turn it every so often. I do get black soldier fly larva in mine, but only the one I'm...

If possible, buy a storage shed and make adjustments for a coop. Adding doors, windows, vents and such. They are usually much better built then the coops that are out there.