DeutschHühner
Chirping
I'm touching on several subjects here in one post. I hope that's okay. I'm kind of PANICKED!
My Sussex chicks are almost seven weeks old. We had to move them outside into the coop earlier than planned… (they outgrew the brooder I had made for them.) Our coop is a re-purposed, all wooden garden shed, approximately 6ft x 9 ft with a vaulted roof, a concrete floor, a rickety window on one side (well fortified from predators), the main doors (fairly tight) and then a door opposite the window we made for them to reach the run. Here in Germany, we’re having on again/off again freezing temps and snow from time to time. We ran electricity to the coop and put a heat lamp in.
1.) At what point should I remove the heat lamp and let them depend on their own body heat? Should I keep it in there all winter? If not, is there a temperature point where I should put it back in?
2.) We are trying the deep litter method. I have 25 kilos / 600 liters of pine shavings in there on top of a piece of linoleum on top of a concrete floor. The shavings are 4-6 inches deep. I’ve read accounts of folks only changing that stuff out once or twice a year. It’s only been two weeks and the poop to shavings ratio is starting to alarm me (we have nine chicks, again seven weeks old.) Also, last night I noticed a few of them had dried poop on their feet. I used a moist paper towel to gently clean it off but I’m concerned that I’m doing something wrong… or just not often enough. I dusted the shavings generously with DE and I turn the bedding once a day to try and get any new stuff underneath. I just don’t see how it can go months without changing.
2a.) Lots of people remarked at how the shavings and poop can go right into the composter. As with raising chickens, I’m also new to composting. Will months (or even weeks) worth of poop from a coop our size be too much for the composter? Our composter is only about 3x3x3 feet.
3.) I’ve already noticed condensation on the windows at night. Does this mean there is not enough ventilation? I thought since the window is just sort of loosely fitted, that air would be able to get in both through there and through the small gaps around the run door.
Otherwise, the birds seem fine. Growing and warm enough. Today I finally finish the run and I think they will enjoy being outside for the first time.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
My Sussex chicks are almost seven weeks old. We had to move them outside into the coop earlier than planned… (they outgrew the brooder I had made for them.) Our coop is a re-purposed, all wooden garden shed, approximately 6ft x 9 ft with a vaulted roof, a concrete floor, a rickety window on one side (well fortified from predators), the main doors (fairly tight) and then a door opposite the window we made for them to reach the run. Here in Germany, we’re having on again/off again freezing temps and snow from time to time. We ran electricity to the coop and put a heat lamp in.
1.) At what point should I remove the heat lamp and let them depend on their own body heat? Should I keep it in there all winter? If not, is there a temperature point where I should put it back in?
2.) We are trying the deep litter method. I have 25 kilos / 600 liters of pine shavings in there on top of a piece of linoleum on top of a concrete floor. The shavings are 4-6 inches deep. I’ve read accounts of folks only changing that stuff out once or twice a year. It’s only been two weeks and the poop to shavings ratio is starting to alarm me (we have nine chicks, again seven weeks old.) Also, last night I noticed a few of them had dried poop on their feet. I used a moist paper towel to gently clean it off but I’m concerned that I’m doing something wrong… or just not often enough. I dusted the shavings generously with DE and I turn the bedding once a day to try and get any new stuff underneath. I just don’t see how it can go months without changing.
2a.) Lots of people remarked at how the shavings and poop can go right into the composter. As with raising chickens, I’m also new to composting. Will months (or even weeks) worth of poop from a coop our size be too much for the composter? Our composter is only about 3x3x3 feet.
3.) I’ve already noticed condensation on the windows at night. Does this mean there is not enough ventilation? I thought since the window is just sort of loosely fitted, that air would be able to get in both through there and through the small gaps around the run door.
Otherwise, the birds seem fine. Growing and warm enough. Today I finally finish the run and I think they will enjoy being outside for the first time.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
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