Building Our New Coop

[Grandmas Coop]

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I got these to put in the new nesting boxes.
I didnt like the wood shavings all over so I tried them.
Day one, you know how hens like to scratch up the nest? Well these got pretty roughed up. We'll see how the week goes, but the verdict is still out.​

I just went out to open the coop windows and scoop poo. I had put 2 pads in each nesting box, so the boxes that didnt get used I took one pad out and added it to the ones that did. Later I'll go down and add to the ones I took from. AND refill the water, ?One of the chickens managed to knock the water pan off the water jug and all of the water drained out,

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Sometime today, I will get the coop dusted. With new chicks coming I want the dust to settle & the spiders to go away,

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[Grandmas Coop]

So, when building our coop we didnt know anything about brooders, So now that we do!
I think to all who are building a coop, if you can set a good space for brooding.
My space is limited, we built to be able to have 14 to 16 adult birds.
But when yo try and put a brooder in there it gets tight,
this is why I moved the nesting boxes, to make a more workable space. So here is what I got,
Yes, I did climb up on the roost and stood on it to get a pic, No, Grandma should not do these kind of things hahahaha

there really in not enough walk room for the adult chickens to get to the roost, up or down off of it,

I moved the water jug in front of the door for the night. During the day I put it in the run so the hens can get up and down in the nesting boxes.

I lowered on roost, put it on stumps, so the chicks can practice getting use to where it is & getting up & down on it.

I did end up just setting the feed container on the floor and moving the chain, I didnt want any of the birds to whack it trying to get off the roost.
When I am there to keep an eye on the chicks, I prop up the corner so they can run in & out of the brooder, they need to know they have a safe escape place to go to when the hens come in.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Its important chickens have good air, today while I am in the run with the chicks, I am going to knock down the dust webs. They build up so fast.
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[Grandmas Coop]

Keep the brush cut back, it gives cover to, to many things to hide in

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I decided to cut more brush

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I just had to blast out the door with dogs on alert- Bob the Rooster let out an ALEEEEEEEEEEERT! scream and SQUakkkkkkkkkkkkk -- all the chickes and hens were in the coop, Bob was hollering
A hawk landed on the run chicken wire- it looked like it was right in the middle, it cant get in unless it can squeezy through the holes in the wire its self, we have all of it tied together, no gaps,

 

[Grandmas Coop]

 

[Grandmas Coop]

Now, with a flock of 16, I have 2 feeders and one indoor water and one outdoor water

 

[Grandmas Coop]

My next project is for the run. We have a new wood chipper. I would like to put wood chips down in the run, leaving the hens favorite dust bath spot open/ uncovered.
I think it will make Winter & Spring more tolerable.

Something like this