We clipped the flight feathers on our birds when they were young, that stopped a lot of the escaping their yard and subsequent roundup games (it is funny since they frequently run right back to the fence because some of their buddies are on the other side making noises). Now that they are coming up on their first birthday they really can't fly all that well.
We also compost our manure without most of it even leaving the coop.
Look up deep litter system, you basically compost it in place, you should not do this on a bare wood floor as it will rot the flooring in your coop. We picked up some cheap ceramic tile and tiled the floor and a foot up on the sides. The birds have been on the same litter since they went into the coop. In fact, their brooding litter went out to the coop with them. You just add more shavings to cover their messes. After a bit of time the floor level doesn't change much as things slowly compost. There is no odor if you remember to add new shavings in time. This also keeps possible fly issues out of the situation.
We also did an equivalent thing in their yard starting last fall using the leaves that are more than abundant here. That also provided a hiding place for bugs and the girls go bonkers scratching through the leaves for goodies.
About half of what is in the yard and the coop will be added to our compost bins and mixed with some topsoil then the bins get planted with squash.
Ridgerunner is correct to suggest getting more than two because things do sometimes go wrong and they are social birds and get depressed if they don't have a buddy.
Frequently most places require that you order at least 6. But there are some that will sell you a couple.
We also compost our manure without most of it even leaving the coop.
Look up deep litter system, you basically compost it in place, you should not do this on a bare wood floor as it will rot the flooring in your coop. We picked up some cheap ceramic tile and tiled the floor and a foot up on the sides. The birds have been on the same litter since they went into the coop. In fact, their brooding litter went out to the coop with them. You just add more shavings to cover their messes. After a bit of time the floor level doesn't change much as things slowly compost. There is no odor if you remember to add new shavings in time. This also keeps possible fly issues out of the situation.
We also did an equivalent thing in their yard starting last fall using the leaves that are more than abundant here. That also provided a hiding place for bugs and the girls go bonkers scratching through the leaves for goodies.
About half of what is in the yard and the coop will be added to our compost bins and mixed with some topsoil then the bins get planted with squash.
Ridgerunner is correct to suggest getting more than two because things do sometimes go wrong and they are social birds and get depressed if they don't have a buddy.
Frequently most places require that you order at least 6. But there are some that will sell you a couple.
