Recent content by whitenack

  1. W

    Setting the roost height...a couple of feet or take advantage of more vertical space?

    Hi all, I have a walk in coop with 7' ceilings. Trying to decide what height to place the roosting bars. Will they enjoy being higher up in the air or does it matter? I don't want to put them all the way at the top because I have the rafters open to ventilation and it will be too drafty in...
  2. W

    Run construction - tips and advice?

    Thanks for the replies. What about things like distance between posts?
  3. W

    Run construction - tips and advice?

    Thanks for the replies. We have 6 currently, and I think that is where we will stay. We've had more than that in the past and it was too many. 6 is actually more than we need...we have too many eggs already.
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    Run construction - tips and advice?

    Hey everyone, built a new coop from scratch last year (which was really fun) and want to tackle a new run construction this year. Can you all give me all your "dos and don'ts" on run design? I'm asking specifically about the construction, like size, shape, materials, foundation (set posts in...
  5. W

    Do you break/bend any rules during the harsh winters?

    I keep my water and feed outside in the run. I do this for a number of reasons (keeping the coop clean, dry, pests, etc.). However, now that the temps are down in the single digits and will stay that way for a number of days, I'm wondering if I should bend/break my rule and bring their...
  6. W

    I assume if I use artificial light in the winter, I need to provide food/water during that extra time?

    During the shortest days of the year, to maintain 15 hours of light a day, I'd need to set a light to turn on at 3am. Our current routine is to let them out into their run around 7:30 each day. In other words, they would be going 4-1/2 hours without food/water. From that point on, they would...
  7. W

    I assume if I use artificial light in the winter, I need to provide food/water during that extra time?

    Hey all. I am thinking about adding a light inside the coop this winter to increase egg production. I assume the chickens will need access to food/water during this extra "awake" time? I have set up my coop/run in such a way that food and water are out in the run, but I do not plan to get up...
  8. W

    Food grade barrels for water storage...will they grow algae?

    Hey all, I am planning to collect rainwater into a food grade plastic barrel. Will sunlight penetrate the plastic and grow algae?
  9. W

    Are chickens smart enough to avoid drafts?

    I don't have the roosts built yet, so see the pic below.
  10. W

    Are chickens smart enough to avoid drafts?

    Hey guys, soo...can we get back on topic?
  11. W

    Are chickens smart enough to avoid drafts?

    Thanks for the reply. I could (move the bar), but I know that the more maintenance I have to remember to do, the less likely I am going to remember to do it. The more I can do to set up things that does not require additional work for me, the better.
  12. W

    Are chickens smart enough to avoid drafts?

    Thinking about having a window near the chicken roost area to help with summertime cooling and could also stay open year-round for winter ventilation. I have enough room to have another roost in another area that would not be drafty during the winter. Are chickens smart enough to use the...
  13. W

    Building coop with metal roof...use purlins or osb decking?

    Are you guys talking about the ridges of the sheet metal being big enough for a predator to crawl through?
  14. W

    Building coop with metal roof...use purlins or osb decking?

    Thanks!
  15. W

    Building coop with metal roof...use purlins or osb decking?

    Thanks all. I'm in Central KY, so I get a little bit of every kind of weather. Very humid here, so condensation is a bit of a concern. Maybe I should do a little insulation too.
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