Arizona Chickens

[SonoranChick]

@Michelle Guynn oh no I'm so sorry It's always hard to lose them so young. Thinking of you

@Geranium I hope your chicks like that seed mix as much as mine do! It's nice to find something that is suitable for younger birds that they really enjoy. This morning mine got pumpkin halves with the pumpkin guts, banana, yogurt and that mix all blended up...just an idea for when yours get a little bit older! They went crazy for it.

I finally decided to put the pine shavings down in half of the run. Then we had to put up a little board to keep them on one side only, because of course the chickens kick them up everywhere! They seem to like it, but their food and water is on the sand side, so they are on both sides depending on what they feel like doing. I think they will be on the pine shavings more once it gets colder out. It sure does hide the poop well, and I only have to do the poop boards and a quick poop scoop on the sand side once or twice a day now, so it's a lot easier. On another note, Biddy is molting the most and seems to have self-segregated, retreating to the coop. I put a bowl of food and water in there for her. She has always been a bit of a wallflower, even as a chick it was like she didn't want to fit in with the rest of the flock. Sometimes I think she might have some sensory issues. My little loner bird.

 

[Michelle Guynn]

Ok so I’m trying to design my coop. I’ve been looking at different set ups to get ideas. Question is why are so many coops set off the ground? I’m thinking of buying a barn or shed kit hubby and can put together. I want to do 3 color silkies and another breed then one area for my pets. For the floor inside the coop those horse stall pads and pine chips. Outside either half sod half sand or all sand.

I don’t know just brain storming.

 

[BlueBaby]

What in the world???? I just walked into the room to check on the chicks that I still have in the brooder, and I heard peep-peeps coming from the incubator. 3 of those chick's have hatched out and my hatch wasn't due until Friday! A few more eggs in there look like they are trying to hatch out, too! They are from my light tan NN eggs.

Edit: I think that one of those chicks that just hatched is going to be a blue color.

 

[BlueBaby]

Ok so I’m trying to design my coop. I’ve been looking at different set ups to get ideas. Question is why are so many coops set off the ground? I’m thinking of buying a barn or shed kit hubby and can put together. I want to do 3 color silkies and another breed then one area for my pets. For the floor inside the coop those horse stall pads and pine chips. Outside either half sod half sand or all sand.

I don’t know just brain storming.

Decisions, decision's! I think that the coops that are set off the ground have been done so with wet ground from rain in mind, to be able to let them get up off of that ground. A few people have converted shed's into coops, and have even converted old children's playhouses, too!

 

[cavemanrich]

If there is limited amount of space, then a raised coop inside a run gives chickens more space to scratch around . Provides shade and rain protection during day when chickens usually do not choose to go inside coop.
A walk-in coop is something, that once you have one, most peeps never choose any other way. Walk-in, does not mean it has to be large. The added height has many advantages as well.

Ok so I’m trying to design my coop. I’ve been looking at different set ups to get ideas. Question is why are so many coops set off the ground? I’m thinking of buying a barn or shed kit hubby and can put together. I want to do 3 color silkies and another breed then one area for my pets. For the floor inside the coop those horse stall pads and pine chips. Outside either half sod half sand or all sand.

I don’t know just brain storming.

 

[igorsMistress]

Ok so I’m trying to design my coop. I’ve been looking at different set ups to get ideas. Question is why are so many coops set off the ground? I’m thinking of buying a barn or shed kit hubby and can put together. I want to do 3 color silkies and another breed then one area for my pets. For the floor inside the coop those horse stall pads and pine chips. Outside either half sod half sand or all sand.

I don’t know just brain storming.

Mine is on the ground, well sort of. We put it on concrete blocks to keep the wood from rotting. It's a big walk in coop with a pop door and the girls run the whole yard. So, if you have enough room in your yard there's no reason it has to be raised. I like the shed idea!

 

[Geranium]

@Michelle Guynn the coop we are building is on the ground, with a block perimeter to keep the wood frame off the ground.

 

[Geranium]

Also, my coop is based on @igorsMistress 's coop! I think it's perfect for our weather.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Geranium I didn't know that, I'm glad you like your results!

 

[SonoranChick]

@igorsMistress Your new avatar pic... Ahhh I just love that Frankie dog. He's so photogenic!