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  1. ailurophile23

    watering systems and supplies

    Many farm stores carry these as do many of the on-line farm stores - I think I got mine from FarmTek but have since seen them at the local farm co-ops too.
  2. ailurophile23

    He didn't want chickens coop

    Looks terrific so far - looking like plenty of windows for ventilation and daylight. Can't wait to see more as you get it done. The chickens are beautiful too!
  3. ailurophile23

    Question???

    I found it much cheaper to build my own coop and the result is much sturdier and roomier than the kits I have seen. There are lots of good suggestions throughout this site on how to build a coop inexpensively - using pallets, shopping at places like Habitat Restore,......
  4. ailurophile23

    Doggie Door on Coop, is it possible?

    Interesting idea but I have no idea if they would or could use such a flap door. I have seen chickens go through more of a fabric curtain over the front of a nest box. Another option might be to just create a wind break in front of the door that still leaves plenty of room for the chickens to go...
  5. ailurophile23

    insulate?

    So ventilation is probably more of an issue than insulation especially if they are tight on space - all those bodies will generate heat together and also a lot of moisture. Since the coop is protected by the woods on one side and a pool on the other and you are adding a run to wrap around the...
  6. ailurophile23

    Our First Coop! Building the Coop In Progress, Part 1

    Wonderful start! Looks like you have been doing lots of research on coops. Keep those pics coming!
  7. ailurophile23

    coop plans?

    Welcome! I got most of my coop ideas from the Coops tab at the top of the page (brown tabs across the top next to the BYC logo). There are so many options and you just have to look and find a style that appeals to you. Sometimes, there are even threads on certain coop styles (like hoop...
  8. ailurophile23

    Shed to Coop - any suggestions?

    Love the coop! And I love the sand. I had a large coop built into a stall in a barn and used sand for the floor - it was so wonderful. For the shelves under the roost, I would go with sand or, even better, SweetPDZ - it is a sand-like drying agent used in horse stalls and it dries out the...
  9. ailurophile23

    ventilation

    The link SJSorensen gave is terrific! I have read and re-read it many times. If you are still uncertain about adding more ventillation, take a look at my current coop - https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/fates-crooked-chicken-shack. I live in the mountains of Virginia and it gets moderately...
  10. ailurophile23

    Roost problems - are my girls "stupid"???

    I would definitely think about their options for getting down as well. They need space to jump/fly down onto the floor of the coop or "steps" to hop down. One of my hens is currently starting to molt and so it is harder for her to get off the perch in the mornings since she cannot fly as well...
  11. ailurophile23

    chickens stepping on eggs

    I only have two nest boxes for 6 hens and they typically all use one box - or even the space next to the box. When I had broody hens recently, I would sometimes see up to three hens in one box at a time and I had very few cracked eggs. So more boxes may help but it may not. The roll-away boxes...
  12. ailurophile23

    Comment by 'ailurophile23' in article 'Fate's Crooked Chicken Shack'

    Thanks for all the positive comments chicken lovers! This coop is working wonderfully - plenty of ventilation for these hot, humid summer months and good, non-drafty ventilation for the winter - zero frostbite on combs last winter! And not incursions from predators!
  13. ailurophile23

    Where to get coop

    For your limited budget, I would check on Craigslist or frequent thrift stores and look for something you could renovate into a coop - like maybe a child's playhouse. Otherwise, you may find it best to try to build your own - there are many homemade coops in the coop section that have been done...
  14. ailurophile23

    Interior paint

    I like the bath panels idea too. I have used some marine-grade flooring type stuff (similar to bath panels I suspect) in the past as well - 4x8' sheets and easy to install and super easy to clean. As for the amount of cleaning, the great thing about chicken poop is that gravity tends to make it...
  15. ailurophile23

    Our First Coop Project

    The coop looks nice so far - and what a great re-use of the old coal bin. Definitely poke some more holes in the coop - ventilation is ever so important with chickens! Here is a great article on ventilation -...
  16. ailurophile23

    Interior paint

    I suppose it ultimately depends on how much you are into cleaning. The walls in my previous coops were painted or covered with hard washable materials, but I never washed them. My current coop has not been painted inside as past experience seems to say its not needed. But then I am not...
  17. ailurophile23

    composting straw bales in chicken yard

    Very interesting question. In general, chickens have fairly sensitive respiratory systems and I would hesitate to have them around mold. However, composting moldy straw bales could be very interesting and all my chickens have always loved digging through my compost piles, which of course have...
  18. ailurophile23

    Comment by 'ailurophile23' in article 'Fate's Crooked Chicken Shack'

    Thanks. I also found that our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore was a great source of cheap parts and pieces - 5 partial sheets of tin cost $20 and I have 2 left over. :)
  19. ailurophile23

    Roosters and Cats?

    They should work out some sort of truce - you stay in your area and I will stay in mine sort of thing. So far, my barn cats have watched the chickens from afar, avoided the chickens altogether, or in one case, actually slept with the chickens and hung out in the coop and run. But I usually have...
  20. ailurophile23

    Will I have to wait till spring for eggs?

    Definitely keep an eye out for eggs - even though the days are getting shorter, they are young so it should not stop them from laying this year.
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