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  1. Ted Brown

    Sand litter in cold winter climates?

    Drop boards are normally elevated off the floor so that they are some inches below the roost bars. Chickens prefer to roost at the highest level possible, youngsters sometimes need to be placed on the roosts for several evenings before they get it. More importantly, place the drop boards at a...
  2. Ted Brown

    They chew through hardware cloth?!?

    I have a layer of 1x2 and a layer of 1/2 x 1/2, hoping that will give me a few years. I am in the country, no rats as yet; coons, weasel, fox, etc. in abundance. @Folly's place further illustrates that critter protection requires maintenance. No solution will last forever.
  3. Ted Brown

    They chew through hardware cloth?!?

    As noted above my buried HC 1/2"x1/2" has deteriorated at the welds and determined critters (ground hogs after food in my case) have broken through. After "playing" at a fix I bought 1"x2" welded wire (both 14 & 15 gauge available). I cut a 36" roll in half, length ways and bent it at 90...
  4. Ted Brown

    Sand litter in cold winter climates?

    My climate is very similar to yours, perhaps colder. I use deep pine bedding in my coop, have only used sand with PDZ on the drop boards. That worked, I think because the PDZ does it's absorbing thing while the combo mostly prevents waste from freezing to the boards. I have read sand works...
  5. Ted Brown

    They chew through hardware cloth?!?

    1/4" x 1/4" is 23 gauge wire; 1/2" x 1/2" is 19 gauge. 23 gauge wire is .0226" thick, 19 gauge is .0359" a difference of more than half. I suggest that the choice of 1/4x1/4 is the source of failure in your situation. A number of folks above commented on the "straight line". Look closely, not...
  6. Ted Brown

    APOC 139 instead of Blackjack 57?

    There are situations when one does not plan to have direct water contact but it happens. Early in my chicken career I kept water inside the run; it inevitably spills, in winter frozen lumps results. I used BJ57 when I built my coop. Almost six years it is still intact and essentially...
  7. Ted Brown

    Need a new coop design…chicken math killed my prefab coop!!

    The link actually downloads a 120+ page document that you can save; print out Chapter III and he will have the details needed to construct. The coop can be scaled from a 6' x 10', to an 8' by 12' to a 10'x 16'. He can also reference my article and my build thread for more detail. Other build...
  8. Ted Brown

    Need a new coop design…chicken math killed my prefab coop!!

    I suggest a Woods style coop of 8' x 12', will accommodate up to 24 birds. It is a walk in style, easy to construct, "fresh air" (front is open year round). This provides details of the build for the "KD" coop plus tips and guidance for new chicken owners...
  9. Ted Brown

    Coop interior... to paint or not to paint?

    I used hydrated lime to make white wash and used it to paint the inside of my coop. Some scientific studies confirm that this deters some bugs due to it's caustic nature. The mixture is extremely easy to apply and renew as well as being very inexpensive.
  10. Ted Brown

    Wet concrete floor

    Wood and water do not mix, you will get years but not many. I have read of folks using stall mats plus organics on top. They are not cheap but are close to indestructible AND waterproof.
  11. Ted Brown

    Goodbye aart

    @Nifty-Chicken I suggest that March 20th (date of her last post) be somehow memorialized for her many contributions.
  12. Ted Brown

    1/2 x 1/2" Hardware Cloth joined with hog rings

    I carefully untie the wire used to bind & ship itself, have never run out so continue to use that for repairs. Climate matters in this context, as you noted. I am most disappointed in the hog rings; they separate too easily IMHO, seeking alternatives to wire weaving...
  13. Ted Brown

    1/2 x 1/2" Hardware Cloth joined with hog rings

    I built my run in 2020ish. I used 12-16" aprons all round joined to the HC wire walls only with hog rings; worked very well for 5 years. These joins are now failing. The rings themselves can detach from the HC and/or the welds on the HC are failing. Does not really matter. Just an alert to...
  14. Ted Brown

    Rollaway nest box in winter

    The temperatures inside the coop is much the same as outside unless one adds heat. I am in Canada I much prefer collecting eggs from inside the coop than outside.
  15. Ted Brown

    Roosting bar “tower”

    You should be providing 1' of roost space per bird. Hard to tell but I guess that the upper roost bar is ~36"? Not nearly enough for 7 birds.
  16. Ted Brown

    Roosting bar “tower”

    I have never seen vertical stacking of roosts. Roosts should all be at the same level (avoids fights over who gets the highest one) OR on a slope with multiple roosts separated by at least 12" horizontally. Either configuration should have the roost closest to the wall at least 12" away. 80%...
  17. Ted Brown

    New to backyard chickens! I need help!

    Not really an option when you look at the price and the shipping cost. Well over $100/bag.
  18. Ted Brown

    New to backyard chickens! I need help!

    I do see hens on the drop board pecking away, I assume that some PDZ makes it's way past their beaks. However, not frequent. Chickens are very good at taking care of themselves and will not eat anything that is not good for them,
  19. Ted Brown

    New to backyard chickens! I need help!

    With respect. Deep litter (ie. composting in place) is virtually impossible in a coop that has a floor; it can be made to work if the coop floor is dirt but still difficult. Moreover, any heat produced will be overcome by winter temperatures and the chickens are well equipped to deal with...
  20. Ted Brown

    Can I have your Rollaway Nesting Box Suggestions?

    Some of my hens started to eat eggs which led to a roll inside design (I have a large walk in coop and have to deal with winters). These are not complicated to build. I have a row of 7 underneath one of the drop boards so roof was in situ to start. I cut two sides 12" deep & 16" high, a 16"...
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