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I did the same thing while building my run. The ground is sloped where I have it, and so I can walk just fine on the low side, I wasn't sure if I was going to survive the construction of it with how frequently I was smacking my head into 2x4s on the high side of the slope.

Have you tried earthworms? Depending on your food scrap situation they can be pretty easy, just mix with some dirt and leaves and cardboard in a bin and they'll multiply with a steady supply of food.

I feel like this is especially true with Buff Orpingtons. I have two who are only about 13 weeks old, but I'm glad I didn't get more. From day to day I'm not sure if I can tell them apart. When we first got them, it was a bit easier because one pretty much didn't have a comb, but now that they...

Um, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that's how we treat tap water. Chlorine or Chloramine. If you're on the same water as St. Louis, it looks like you're chloramine http://www.stlwater.com/ccr.pdf but if you're giving your chickens tap water, you're giving them bleach or something very...

Do you have a picture of the kennel?

With the picture you posted of the inside, I'd be worried some of that is dripping in through the cracks of the nesting box lid. If that's the case, you could either reconfigure it to open from the front instead of the top (the gaps in the front would be covered by the overhanging top and snow...

Buff Orpingtons and Easter Eggers

Well, it's harder to deal with the poop when it's in the back corner instead of the on the poop board, and part of my worries that if they aren't sleeping on the roosts when I stop blocking off the nesting boxes they might start sleeping in there.

Japanese Maple might be good. According to a quick internet search they start to struggle once you get down to zone 9b, but I live in zone 9b in California and they're all over the place.

I have 4 chickens between 12-15 weeks old who still don't roost at night. They go into their coop and huddle (more or less depending on the temperature that night) in the corner on the floor of the coop. They do that on their own around sundown, no coaxing or herding necessary. During the day...

I'm a bit confused by this part: "A good starting point is in the 30-40% range for most eggs. Choose a number on the lower side of the range for very humid locations, on the higher side of the range for drier locations." What does the RH outside the incubator matter? If I'm in the tropics or the...

I wouldn't worry about things holding the weight of the soil. I'm not an engineer, but I've built things and I've stood on some of them, and I haven't fallen through yet. Given the height of those lips and the number of supports I wouldn't worry about it. I have no math or science to back me up...

Yeah, out of curiosity I've looked at Craigslist a bit, but I'm a bit more leery of trusting people on Craigslist about the condition of their incubator. If I found something at the right price though, I'd certain go for it.

Whatever it is would have to be big enough for them not to scratch up unless you use a grazing frame, as aart mentioned. Perhaps something like a rose bush where they could eat the fallen petals? My run is somewhat similar to yours (I think mine is about 6 feet wide and maybe 30 feet long), and...

I was looking at Brisnea's webpage and noticed that they have a Scratch & Dents section where they sell items at a discount with this description: New but esthetically substandard product. This incubator is in perfect working condition and comes with a full 3-year manufacturer's warranty but has...

oops

Are you talking about weight added on to the door to make it heavy enough to pull back down? I just attached a 2x4 to the inside of the door and ran the cord down to that. The weight of the plywood door + 2x4 attached is heavy enough to pull it down. If you're talking about making it heavy...

The back corner of my yard is under a big tree and mostly unkempt. Full of leaves, weeds, and I'm sure bugs and other things my chickens would find wonderful. However, my dog frequently likes to poop there. I've blocked off his access, but there is no way I could find and pick up all his poop...

First off, welcome! Second, get building that coop yesterday if you already have chicks. Do not underestimate how long it can take (assuming this is all something you do in your spare time after work and chores and not someone who recently retired from being a professional chicken coop builder.)...

I've never done it before, but one thing you'll need to take into consideration (the reason I built my coop raised) is drainage and moisture. I'm not worried about drainage from the run, but no matter how sunny and airy your coop is, it's typically less sunny and airy than the run, and the fact...