Books and equipment suggestions

[Rhalar]

I am in the process of designing a coop and was wondering anyone has some suggestions on any book that are of interest concerning rookie chicken farmers or coop building.

Also I was looking for suggestions on any equipment that those of you who have walked this path before me wish they had know about or wished they had used when they started.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Check out the Woods designed poultry barn, the book is on line,..can't remember the site..sorry.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Check out the Woods designed poultry barn, the book is on line,..can't remember the site..sorry.
Fresh air poultry barn Norton press Also the pulletshut auto chicken door best thing ever

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Over the years, I have read extensively on poultry. There is a book that recently came onto the market that is simply amazing.



The Small-Scale Poultry Flock: An All-Natural Approach to Raising Chickens and Other Fowl for Home and Market Growers

This text covers in detail how to keep poultry healthy, happy and productive. This is the way poultry needs to be maintained. The depth of knowledge and presentation of material is above what I have read in other comparable publications. This book is geared towards the Small Farm Flock, but the content is easily applicable to the Backyard Flock.

I highly reccomend the book for your Poultry Library.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I would reccomend:

If you are going to start your flock with chicks; then you'll want to get a few of the quart bottle waterers & feeders for your chicks.



For a brooder I used a 40 gallon aquarium. It was great for raising small groups. About 6 - 10 chicks would fit in it for about 3 weeks, until they feather out and can go outside in the coop. You'll also need a heat lamp to keep the chicks warm. I attached a stick-on thermometer to measure temperature inside the brooder.



When they get bigger, you'll want to get a larger capacity Waterer and Feed Hopper. I have 6 pullets and 2 ducks, so my waterer has a 3 gallon capacity and the feed hopper is a 12 pound hopper. I also put my feeders and waterers on cement blocks. By raising them off the ground...approximately the height of the pullets back it will limit the amount of debris and contamination that gets kicked into the food and water.



I like to have food and water available for the pullets while they are in the coop, So I have a catch basin setup in the coop. Easy to make...The ducks are the main culprits, they play in the water and can flood the coop. It also keeps the waterer up off the floor of the coop, so shavings and fecal material don't contaminate the water. The feed hopper is set on a cement block in the back ground.



If I think of more items I'll post them.