I'm a total newbie to the forum and to chicken raising so bear with me! Haven't even gotten my new little peeps yet.
What I am wondering is how difficult is it to raise chickens in a damp climate?
Kodiak gets an average rainfall of 7-12 inches per month. I am planning to build a coop that is fully enclosed by wire with a metal roof and a closeable nesting/roof area. My chickens will be layers and I understand the need to keep the litter dry. We live next door to a sawmill so we have an unending source of spruce sawdust. With all this in mind, what are some of the problems I might run into? Should I plan on building a solid bottom to the coop instead of leaving it open, since the ground is often wet?
I am getting cold-hardy varieties, even though we rarely see thing single digits. I'm more concerned about the moisture. I keep bunnies outside all winter in a hutch and just keep plenty of straw in the hutch and cover the wire with plastic.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
What I am wondering is how difficult is it to raise chickens in a damp climate?
Kodiak gets an average rainfall of 7-12 inches per month. I am planning to build a coop that is fully enclosed by wire with a metal roof and a closeable nesting/roof area. My chickens will be layers and I understand the need to keep the litter dry. We live next door to a sawmill so we have an unending source of spruce sawdust. With all this in mind, what are some of the problems I might run into? Should I plan on building a solid bottom to the coop instead of leaving it open, since the ground is often wet?
I am getting cold-hardy varieties, even though we rarely see thing single digits. I'm more concerned about the moisture. I keep bunnies outside all winter in a hutch and just keep plenty of straw in the hutch and cover the wire with plastic.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated!