I used corrugated plastic patio roof panels, cheapest ones were clear. I could install them myself. I held them in place with long strips of 1x2’s across near the top and bottom of the panels, screwed into the run frame. Blocked wind, rain, and snow , but let in the sunshine. The panels left...
I used sand in my run, and in winter I would put a flake of straw in. The chooks had a ball tearing it apart and spread it all over the sand, they didn’t have to. Walk on cold damp sand. It was easy to rake out in spring. I used chips in the coop, and stall sweet under the roosts. Easy to clean...
And hope the dog doesn’t lift his leg on the electrified part. Electricity travels through water! On second though hope he does pee on it as I don’t think he’ll go near it again 🤣.
I work at meijers and while it’s not the greatest pay, I like working there, plus they give a small employee discount, and promote within. The union does cost a bit, though.
We had a dog with same thing. We were terrified she would suffocate to death so when she had a really bad choking event, we took her for her ‘last ride’. So sad but the vet gave her oxygen then a tranquilizer so she could leave comfortably. She was also 13.
There is someone whose screen name is Nautica's Naughty Nestery on facebook. She posts on the Facebook group Toledo Area Backyard Chickens as well as having the Nestery page.
I use a wide leaf rake as a barrier between me and the evil roo. I’ve had some bad injuries from him when I forget to keep my eyes on him. Rushed, pecked, scratched, spurred, flogged, etc. a fiesty boy is nothing to fool around with, but he was a great protector, never lost a hen to the hawks...
You can also dose them with ivermectin to kill the mites from within. A vet can do it or perhaps a knowledgeable salesperson at a feed store like TSC would know the dose needed. I ordered a spray online, called Scaly Leg Remover by Nettex, that works and is easy to apply. Catching the bird is...
Been there done that, so I put an eye on the coop and a chain with hook on the door and we hook the open door to the coop wall so it can't blow shut. This seems to work better than just blocking the door from the wind.
Yay for the progress on the garage, Raz!
My coop is now partially winterized. I’ll wait until it’s really cold to finish putting up the rest of the panels and the heated waterer.