Accessories Needed for new flock owners

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DiggstownChicks

DiggstownChicks

Chirping
7 Years
Oct 8, 2012
81
0
79
North Carolina
This was originally posted in another thread, but I think for my next question, it's best placed here ...



DiggstownChicks said:
Wow Wow Wow!

I'm so glad we found this thread! We are in the transition stages of beginner coop very similar to this one with 3 chicks and one pullet.




To a revised playhouse coop (my daughter no longer utilizes)



We are thinking about adding a door to the back, screening in the porch (dutch door) and either making the run in the front of the back (undecided). We are adding (probably) staggered roosting bars and nesting boxes along the opposite side. A heating lamp and hopefully a nipple watering system (Thanks Bruce). It has two windows opposite of each other (screened).

Any other possibilities for this? Gutters --> rain storage/container is a great idea!
Click to expand...

So here is my next question:

We are set to move the playhouse from our rental property to our home and are getting excited!! We have all sorts of plans on how to remodel this into the perfect coop!

What kind of tools, kits, and/or accessories do you swear by?

Ideas are streaming through my head, but I'd like to get some feedback. The "indispensable features" thread was awesome ... Hopefully, I can gain (and newcomers too) information on tools/kits/accessories from here in the same fashion.

Cleaning
Toys
Preventatives
Gardens
etc ...

Thanks so much!
 
Last edited:
I use a dust bin and a large plastic paint scraper to clean my poo board and it works super well.

I would look into get DE if you do not already have that (food grade, not the pool kind). Apple cider vinegar is also a good preventative.

You can get treat toys like this:

ww.the7msnranch.com/2010/09/pampered-poultry.html

Or make your own by filling a head of lettuce with treats and letting them pull it apart. I always recommend farming mealworms - cheap, easy and sort of fun.
 
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We are new to this chicken thing too and would appreciate any and all tips and pointers:)
 
ChickensRDinos said:
www.the7msnranch.com/2010/09/pampered-poultry.html
Click to expand...

Is this your ranch?! The pictures are gorgeous (and funny!)

I'll have to look into raising mealworms .. my 7yo daughter would LOVE that!

The dust pan/paint scraper sounds like a great idea! I have a few extra I will dedicate to the coop! We have some DE already (I had to de-lice my newest addition - a mottled houdans 1st place pullet, that we bought from the NC State Fair) ... YUCK..

Thanks a bunch!!
 
We are moving the new chicken coop this week! I've been reading (literally tens and tens) of websites/blogs and have all sorts of ideas.

Coop design/function:
I'd love to have an automatic feeder and waterer .. and a gutter downspout diverter for rainwater.
Roosting rails: pine or tree limbs, size? I read that having larger boards can help with the flock resting on their feet - preventing frostbite/cold
cameras (with night vision), connect to cell phones for viewing at any time
thermometer (with reflective stripping for the camera)

Toys for the flock:
balls?
feeding/treat balls?

Decor':
I know this sounds pretentious .. but I love the look of a chandelier ... is it honestly too dusty for this?
Is it worth it to paint the inside?
 
One of the neatest treat toys I saw on this site was nothing more than an individual size gatorade (or other 'firm' ) plastic bottle with a couple of holes punched in it. Filled with scratch. The birds roll it around, dispensing scratch. Keeps them occupied.
 
gardendufus said:
One of the neatest treat toys I saw on this site was nothing more than an individual size gatorade (or other 'firm' ) plastic bottle with a couple of holes punched in it. Filled with scratch. The birds roll it around, dispensing scratch. Keeps them occupied.
Click to expand...

That's a great idea! Thanks! I wonder if they would enjoy a kiddie pool? Do they bathe in water like other birds?
 
Ours have never bathed in water, although when the weather gets blisteringly hot they sometimes will stand in shallow puddles. But what they do like to bathe in is fine dirt or sand. In the winter, it needs to be dry, but in the summer they really go for damp dirt/sand (never wet). In the winter lots of people's birds seem to do better with a designated dusting box, probably because the ground is too soggy and the dusting box offers a controlled environment filled with whatever the birds like best to dust in. I see a lot of BYC'ers adding a little ash to the dusting box, which I haven't tried yet but intend to as we do have some mite issues. I also plan to build a dusting box and put it under cover so that it stays dry year round and there's always plenty of good stuff to dust in.

Congrats on your birds and your plans for the new coop!
 
I have a 2x4(or maybe it's a 6? i keep meaning to measure as i have forgotten lol) for the roost in the coop, that way its wide enough to cuddle down on keep toes warm. I don't have cameras or anything fancy, it's just 4 birds the coop is padlocked so nice and secure ...

Mine are moved into the run daily but if it's down pouring rain, i'll toss some peas and boss onto the floor of the coop to entertain them...
 

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