New To Back Yard Chickens

We're picking up our first two hens today, and have gotten much of our information from Backyardchickens.com. Thought you might like to see the coop & run we completed over the weekend, which was a modification of our garden shed. Should be getting the birds tonight.

Nope. No pictures. What do you plan to use for bedding? Go here to learn about the best bedding out there for chickens (especially since you're starting fresh!! Welcome to BYC, and congrats on your new babies. What breed are they?

You have to post so many times, I don't know HOW many, before you can post pictures.
Jack

I see the pictures now. That is very nice for your two hens! I have a question though. Do you have anything buried around the perimeter of the run so that predators can't dig underneath?

Kelly

nice coop! what kind of chickens are you getting?

Go here said:

to learn about the best bedding out there for chickens (especially since you're starting fresh!! Welcome to BYC, and congrats on your new babies. What breed are they?

I see the pictures now. That is very nice for your two hens! I have a question though. Do you have anything buried around the perimeter of the run so that predators can't dig underneath?

nice coop! what kind of chickens are you getting?

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After reading your link, we decided to go with sand, although we'd already purchased shavings...Going to pick some up this afternoon before picking up the birds. They're two barred rock hens from a local person. We'll post pics.

And no, I didn't dig anything down around the run -- yet. It's so root-intensive in that area that I had to chop big roots out just to level the run. Hoping that, and the proximity to the house, and our two big dogs, are enough of a deterrent to the predators.

Thanks for all the replies.

TwoSpringHens said:

After reading your link, we decided to go with sand, although we'd already purchased shavings...Going to pick some up this afternoon before picking up the birds. They're two barred rock hens from a local person. We'll post pics.

And no, I didn't dig anything down around the run -- yet. It's so root-intensive in that area that I had to chop big roots out just to level the run. Hoping that, and the proximity to the house, and our two big dogs, are enough of a deterrent to the predators.

Thanks for all the replies.

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You won't regret the sand. It's awesome. As far as your run security. There is another option. Place an apron of hardware cloth or chicken wire around the perimeter of the run. Like this:


This is obviously not my coop, but I wanted you to get the idea. Predators will go up the walls of the coop and begin to dig. They don't have the intelligence to back up and begin to dig where the apron ends. Grass will grow right up through it and you can mow right over it. It's really a simple solution. Proximity to your home will not deter a nocturnal predator. Oh! And about your shavings, put up an ad on Craiglist. You'll get a buyer. When you buy your sand, be sure to get construction grade or all purpose. This is what I use.

Kelly, before picking up the chickens we took your advice and got some hardware cloth and put it under the edges of the run. Thanks for the suggestion.

Here's a photo of our first ever chickens!!

TwoSpringHens said:

Kelly, before picking up the chickens we took your advice and got some hardware cloth and put it under the edges of the run. Thanks for the suggestion.

Here's a photo of our first ever chickens!!

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They are so pretty! And with the added security, you'll be more at peace. Make sure you secure that hardware cloth on so they don't pull it out. Enjoy your new beautiful ladies! What are their names??

Well....our first week has been successful. One egg on day one, two eggs on day two....I think the hens are happy.

Golden retriever (who is a pheasant hunter, and not to be blamed) and lab took a bit of adjusting before they'd stop rushing the fence and scaring the hens, but everyone is coexisting happily now.

It took a bit of maneuvering and adjusting to get the food and water where the sand, poop and nest box material didn't get in it, but we're getting there.....