Chickens by Easter .... Maybe

[mowin]

Your avitar image ... what is that on the pit?

A 80lb pig.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

A 80lb pig.

LOL ... that is a tad larger than a rabbit. But it does look a bit like a rabbit stretched out there.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Rainy again today but the place is starting to look a little like a hen house.

Two roost, one 5 foot and one 8 foot. ... aart's idea and design.

 

[aart]

aart's idea and design.

Almost, my roosts are supported at the ends, easier to clean that way.

What's the shelf above the shorter roost for?

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Almost, my roosts are supported at the ends, easier to clean that way.

I lined them up with the bottom supports, except for the middle one, so the screws wouldn't stick out the bottom. It's about an 82 mile round trip to get shorter screws .....

What's the shelf above the shorter roost for?

It was already there. I'm trying to decide whether to remove that shelf or close the front off so the birds can't get up there and use it to store junk I seldom use. I used the bottom shelf to make the roost on.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

My soil is sandy to sandy loam ... can I use that in the dropping pans along with some sweet PDZ or do I need something else. I plan on using a kitty litter scoop to sift the poop out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It was already there. I'm trying to decide whether to remove that shelf or close the front off so the birds can't get up there and use it to store junk I seldom use. I used the bottom shelf to make the roost on.

Storage is always nice so it'd be great if you could use it for that. If the birds try to roost on it I guess you could block it off somehow if needed (like a short sliding curtain might do), otherwise I'd keep it open and use it.

 

[aart]

My soil is sandy to sandy loam ... can I use that in the dropping pans along with some sweet PDZ or do I need something else. I plan on using a kitty litter scoop to sift the poop out.

Might work, give it a try.
I use straight PDZ less than 1/4" deep and an organizer basket for sifting out poops.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Two more boxes checked off as we move closer to having chickens. I went ahead and covered the coop floor with 1/2 inch plywood and will paint it with a good floor and porch paint. After considering all the ideas and suggestions from folks on this thread, and other places, I decided that it was the best way to go on this particular project.

Since I don’t do “EARLY" I decided to go with an automatic pop door. I’m sure the birds will appreciate that and the automatic feeder when they move in. I got the Ador because of the reviews and the fact that it was the only one that didn’t rely on an unprotected cord of some kind that was wound up like a wench. Those type may work but I could for see many potential problems with them. The Ador wasn’t that much more expensive than some of them even. Pricey, yes, but the Ador is practical and sturdy and should work trouble free in my opinion. It is installed and has been functioning as it should for the last couple of days. The siding where I cut through the wall looks messy but I’m not sure I will keep the siding up yet.

The image is a view of the soon to be “summer run” from the North-east corner. The run should measure approximately 20 x 25 feet for a total of 500 sqft of space for 10 to 12 birds. At lest 10 to 12 birds before the chicken math kicks in anyway.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Don't know if we are going to make the Easter deadline. This weather isn't cooperating with all the rain and cold through the end of next week. The weather freaks are calling for an inch of ice Sunday and 3 1/2 inches of snow Monday with a low of 11 degrees. I know it's nothing comparied to what some of you are used to but in this part of Texas, at this time of year it is usually tee shirt weather .... not ice, snow, cold, and rain. Maybe there is something more to "climate change" than just being a political slush fund after all.