Recent content by perkolator

  1. perkolator

    Summertime ventilation question

    On a coop like that, I might consider removing the blocking between the roof joists, in favor for just screened-over openings. The window would be simple to replace with HC and you could also add a cover to adjust airflow if needed. Is there a chicken door? That could also be a passive intake
  2. perkolator

    Rearranging Current Structure and Next Coop Build

    I just quickly drew up some ideas, but I don't know your dimensions or how that front wall is framed, etc. I'm leaning toward idea 1 and 3, as 2 has them jumping down the short direction into a wall. You can add anti-poop boards over the doorway/waterer, or add obstruction on top of the roost...
  3. perkolator

    Rearranging Current Structure and Next Coop Build

    Looks like a great project! I like that you're reusing Grandma's old nest boxes. The only suggestions I have currently might be to add a horizontal rail/bar in front of each nest box row, so the chickens can more easily get in/out of the boxes - I would just screw them into the wall 2x4s on...
  4. perkolator

    Keeping mice out of coop.

    Have you tried simply filling the holes? What about multiple traps? Those sound a lot easier than digging out all that soil, and moving it twice. I know because I've done it myself, before having chickens living in the setup, and it wasn't exactly fun
  5. perkolator

    How much to build this?

    I get a bigger total, because to me the dimensions look bigger at around 6ft W x 12ft L footprint, with 6ft run walls. Enclosed coop around 4Hx6Wx4L, all vertical supports look like 4x4 posts, unknown what's inside the coop such as nest boxes, wall framing, etc. I'd budget for around...
  6. perkolator

    Water in Run

    Wood chips and lots of mixed organics, enough to raise the terrain above the flood conditions, are your answer. It will be like the forest floor, which if I was a chicken I'd much prefer to forage through every day vs other bedding types.
  7. perkolator

    Food debris in run

    Personally I agree with not giving myself more tasks, so I'd just let it compost in place. If I didn't want to see it anymore, I'd consider hosing it down to get it all damp and help break up the hard-pan, then toss a bunch of scratch on top and let the chickens move it around
  8. perkolator

    Hardware Cloth - How Far Up Run and Run Floor?

    Sounds like you already have much of your fence security covered with chain link and added small mesh with anti-dig skirting. If you don't have predators that can make it past that, at this point I'd probably leave it as-is, and focus on knocking down the populations with rodent traps. I've...
  9. perkolator

    Show me your coop cleaning/maintenance supplies! Need a buy list!

    Let me clarify, I'm not trying to generate dust with the blower, I'm using it as an extraction fan to pull any generated dust away from where I'm working; also, I ALWAYS wet-down the bedding with a hose, before doing a cleanout, to help suppress dust. I'm also wearing an N95 respirator that...
  10. perkolator

    What to do about gaps in coop

    I recently encountered this exact problem, because I didn't think to enclose these gaps when building the coop, and only on one wall. My coop interior sits mostly unused, as the chickens always preferred to sleep inside their run where I added roost bars, and their nest box is accessible...
  11. perkolator

    Show me your coop cleaning/maintenance supplies! Need a buy list!

    Cordless leaf blower w/trigger lock. My Makita 18v blower has a speed trigger lock, so it can be set down while running - GREAT tool for evacuating the funky airborne particulates that get generated when maintaining chicken area. Get a cheap pressure sprayer for bleach solution, something like...
  12. perkolator

    New Run Chicken Model sunrise/sunset issues with app

    Can you not program it like the old one, by holding the phone screen against the light sensor? I'd message Run Chicken and see what they say, if it's a newer unit the drive motor/control box might be covered with warranty
  13. perkolator

    Aviary Netting vs Trees

    I don't have good pics to show, but I have overhead chicken wire on the run, and it goes around one big tree (3ft diameter) and six smaller trees/shrubs with multiple trunks; I'd imagine aviary netting would be a very similar install around your large trees. I used bamboo from my property as...
  14. perkolator

    run question

    Convenience for human access to perform maintenance, and good security for the animals against predators, are often the topmost basic priorities for good husbandry with keeping chickens. Sounds like your setup lacks both, which isn’t a great plan if you’re in the planning stages for this. I...
  15. perkolator

    How high can chickens jump?

    7-8ft vertical is what I've witnessed from my own chickens many times. It's usually the lighter breeds, such as a leghorn
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