Ali James' Garden Chickens

[Ali James]

Like so:

 

[Kris5902]

That should help with the cleaning! I think the issue with the metal rusting was probably due to the acidic qualities of the poops eating away at it, the vinyl should extend the poop tray lifespan. I would definitely not put a waterer in that small a coop, for similar reasons. It might be wanting for more ventilation, but otherwise looks pretty solid. Will you be closing them up and letting them out each day?

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC!

 

[Ali James]

That should help with the cleaning! I think the issue with the metal rusting was probably due to the acidic qualities of the poops eating away at it, the vinyl should extend the poop tray lifespan. I would definitely not put a waterer in that small a coop, for similar reasons. It might be wanting for more ventilation, but otherwise looks pretty solid. Will you be closing them up and letting them out each day?

I was actually thinking it might be a bit draughty ... it is not a tight fit around the front section that opens down fully and there is a small gap.

Our run is pretty secure and predator proof (hope I haven't jinxed myself now ) so I was wondering about leaving the pop door open in the milder weather.

 

[Ali James]

Hi! Welcome to BYC!

 

[Ribh]

please don’t take our suggestions as thinking we know better.. just giving tips on what we each find helpful to our situations

This! Because we hope you can learn from our mistakes...

My waterers also live in the run, I let the girls out every morning and they go straight to the food and water, but they don’t drink at night

I do have a water tub in my coop because my less dominant chickens can access it without being hassled during the day or first thing in the morning when the main waterer is in heavy use. Chickens don't drink or eat @ night so not needed in the coop.

Last night I was driving off to Bingo with a friend and spotted some large tree stumps by the side of the road. To my friends amazement, I slammed the breaks on, reversed back, jumped out of the drivers seat and promptly loaded up the wood pieces

Every time we get logs dropped of for the fire I grab the best ones for my girls! They love them!

Our run is pretty secure and predator proof (hope I haven't jinxed myself now ) so I was wondering about leaving the pop door open in the milder weather

As you've probably seen by now we have a completely open front on our coop specifically to deal with our summer heat & humidity. I did put a curtain up to stop winter drafts but it will come down in a few weeks. Chickens are pretty weather hardy so long as they're not in a draft & losing body heat in winter. Even when they were in the small coop I would leave the pop door open in really hot weather ~ so yes, so long as you're sure about your predator proofing, leaving the door open is fine.

 

[Kris5902]

If I had a secure run I would totally leave the pop door open! Sleeping in... I really miss it

 

[townchicks]

There are some great ideas there; I was wondering about raising the height up a bit, but then will have to work out an 'extension' for the ramp up to the door...

If you use cinderblock to raise it just put another cinder block under the end of the ramp. That keeps it at the same angle, and the chickens will be able to get up easily, unless they are really little babies, which I assume they aren't as they will go outside. That's what I did with my first little coop.I would say, 4 chickens are the max I'd consider in that coop. It seems similar in size to my first coop, and I started with two, when I added a third, one started sleeping in the nest box. Theoretically, there was room for all of them on the roost, but the chickens said nope, not working for us. I built a larger coop instead.They are not always logical. They need their space to feel like they can get away from the others, even when they all sleep in a pile. I have three 9 week olds in that coop now, and it seems roomy for them, and they all huddle together. But I know they are going to grow fast, and that can change. It looks like they will have a nice roomy run, that will be great.

 

[WhoDatChick]

Thanks Kris, that's really helpful.

This evening I have fitted self adhesive vinyl tiles to the floor of the poop tray and the nesting boxes, and sealed it all with a transparent waterproof silicone. It doesn't look all that pretty, but once the sand and the pine shavings are down, it won't look any different.

Last night I was driving off to Bingo with a friend and spotted some large tree stumps by the side of the road. To my friends amazement, I slammed the breaks on, reversed back, jumped out of the drivers seat and promptly loaded up the wood pieces. Its all rotting and falling apart and must be a little slice of chicken heaven! I know lots of folk on BYC do this sort of thing, and it made me smile and feel like one of you!!

Anyway ... as you were...

Haha! Yay! You are officially a crazy chicken lady!! Once you stop to pick up something from the side of the road for the gals... you’re done for!

 

[Ali James]

If you use cinderblock to raise it just put another cinder block under the end of the ramp. That keeps it at the same angle, and the chickens will be able to get up easily

Of course! Thats really obvious now you have pointed it out