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  1. Ted Brown

    Non free range/ non deep litter chicken keepers

    Six years in. I have 25 chickens in about 400 Sq ft of run that includes the space under my elevated coop. The run proper is covered by a pole shed. The bedding in the run is on ground that is 4-6" of soil over a sand/gravel mix. I started with mulch then added leaves & pine needles each fall...
  2. Ted Brown

    Wife and first favorite hen fluff and first coop.

    Chickens require a well sheltered area to roost. This area should be out of any drafts that cause feathers to be ruffled and of course dry! Beyond that ventilation is key to remove any buildup of humidity or ammonia from their waste. (I live in Canada, have average winter temps of 5F and periods...
  3. Ted Brown

    Winter prep on chicken run. Should I cover half of the west side yet but leave the top moon shape left open?

    "Best Practices in Iowa Many keepers use sand as the main substrate for drainage and cleaning, with straw added in the coop or run only in winter for insulation or when conditions are especially wet or cold. Some use a mix: sand as the base with straw, leaves, or grass clippings on top for...
  4. Ted Brown

    Winter prep on chicken run. Should I cover half of the west side yet but leave the top moon shape left open?

    Click on your name upper right, then click on "Account Details", scroll down until you see "Location", add "Iowa" in the empty space. You can be more detailed but not necessary.
  5. Ted Brown

    Winter prep on chicken run. Should I cover half of the west side yet but leave the top moon shape left open?

    You should update your profile to include your location. If the wind causes a chickens feathers to move it is too much. The reason to have good ventilation is to remove humidity from the coop area so that frost bite does not happen. The birds should have a roost area that is well sheltered from...
  6. Ted Brown

    Winter prep on chicken run. Should I cover half of the west side yet but leave the top moon shape left open?

    Your location is key to getting good answers to your question. Chickens need an area where they can be sheltered from wind. If your setup provides that and your birds are cold tolerant they will be fine down to-22F, perhaps more.
  7. Ted Brown

    Chicken Run. Stumped on what I should do.

    Guessing that is common. My coop is raised between 3 to 4 feet (ground contour differences) and sits on 4x4 posts in deck blocks. However, it is adjacent to a 36'x12' pole shed that has 8 hydro poles buried 4' and behind a 32'x32' garage. One has to assess local conditions and make choices.
  8. Ted Brown

    Chicken Run. Stumped on what I should do.

    Options are: put your posts into the ground, usually 4 feet deep to get below the frost line. There are metal “augers" that screw into the ground. They have a round hole on top that can be used to tie a structure to the ground. One should be able to work through the rocks & gravel with a bit of...
  9. Ted Brown

    Chicken Run. Stumped on what I should do.

    As best I am able to determine railway ties are still made using creosote and are considered toxic either through eating (guessing this does not happen often) or from leaching into the surrounding ground. "New railway ties, particularly wooden ones, are typically toxic to chickens due to the...
  10. Ted Brown

    Chicken Run. Stumped on what I should do.

    There are two kinds of treated wood: ground contact; non ground contact. If you choose to use it make sure you purchase ground contact specified boards only. Like @Ridgerunner I did not use wood around the bottom of my run. After 5 years of being covered with earth or ... the hardware cloth...
  11. Ted Brown

    Best methods for rain proofing?

    Easiest, quickest, cheapest is usually tarps. Tarps and sharp edges do not mix well. Get the handyman to eliminate as many sharp edges as he can. You should research to find best buy for tarps (AG stores a good start) and whatever hardware you need to hang it. If you time it right you will...
  12. Ted Brown

    anyone else have one of these really old giant coops

    I have a 10' x 16' Woods KD style coop. Woods' book states this is sufficient for 40 chickens. Attached is a ~15 x 28' covered run; pop door open 24/7. I have had as many as 35 birds, both roosters & hens; I felt 40 would have been pushing it. Now have 27 hens ONLY; atmosphere in the run is...
  13. Ted Brown

    Secure run and free ranging practices

    Care of chickens is complex enough without dealing with the predators that will appear if you free range. Build a generous coop & run securely.
  14. Ted Brown

    Shelving under roosting bars

    You could simply frame the underside of the shelf with two 2x4s that span end to end front and back. Will add weight; @Mother of Chaos' suggestion of trays would avoid having to move them.
  15. Ted Brown

    Do I Need a Ladder? (New to Raising Chickens)

    While I agree with the space consideration raised by @perkolator given current setup I would add at least one vertical step (log or cinder block or...). I have hens that fly up and those that prefer my log sections.
  16. Ted Brown

    Tell me what’s wrong with our nesting boxes

    Fourth iteration of nest boxes here, latest is roll forward inside the coop. Mine are 12 x 12 x 16H"; hens stand to lay an egg and 12" can be a constraint. I have a roost sized board attached about 6" in front of the nest; my hens like to inspect to find the "nest of the day" and sometimes...
  17. Ted Brown

    Do I Need a Ladder? (New to Raising Chickens)

    An alternative to buckets is sections of a tree trunk.
  18. Ted Brown

    Painting Coop

    "Whitewash made from lime is a traditional paint or coating created by mixing hydrated lime (builder’s or masonry lime) with water, and sometimes salt, to make a milky solution that turns bright white as it dries. This method has been used for centuries to coat barns, coops, and masonry...
  19. Ted Brown

    Digging out a run

    Do you use horizontal aprons outside the run edges?
  20. Ted Brown

    Walk me through deep litter in covered run

    Very few folks attempt "deep litter" in a coop, those who do typically have a dirt floor in their coop. Deep litter method (DLM) is most often used in runs. Deep bedding is meant to be used in coops; most use pine shavings as the bedding. The use of PDZ is most often used on drop boards...
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