Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

Well HEChicken there's a lot I would change about my brooder house. And I've made a lot of changes along the way. The first thing I would do is have a removable board that goes across the doorway to keep the litter from falling out and allowing me to raise the litter higher. Ideally this board would have a couple latches so I could remove it when necessary and easily put it back in place.

I have one of these on my coop! Is there any reason you can't add it "after market"? Since my coop is walk-in, I realized even before moving birds in, that the bedding would get scratched out and/or bump up so hard against the door it would impede its operation. I found an off-cut of OSB left over from building, attached a couple of latches to it, and installed it just inside the door. It is about 8" high so I have to step over it but it has worked absolutely marvelously at keeping bedding where I want it. Right now my DLM layer is about at the top of the board so stepping "over" it, is more like taking a step up and into the coop, but that's okay. When I need to clean the coop out, I simply unlatch it, and then I can wheel my lawn cart right into the doorway and start shoveling. With it out I can sweep out the last small particles after a clean, then replace it, haul in a new bale of straw and start all over. Let me know if you want me to take pictures so this makes more sense.

 

[Trish44]

I have one of these on my coop! Is there any reason you can't add it "after market"? Since my coop is walk-in, I realized even before moving birds in, that the bedding would get scratched out and/or bump up so hard against the door it would impede its operation. I found an off-cut of OSB left over from building, attached a couple of latches to it, and installed it just inside the door. It is about 8" high so I have to step over it but it has worked absolutely marvelously at keeping bedding where I want it. Right now my DLM layer is about at the top of the board so stepping "over" it, is more like taking a step up and into the coop, but that's okay. When I need to clean the coop out, I simply unlatch it, and then I can wheel my lawn cart right into the doorway and start shoveling. With it out I can sweep out the last small particles after a clean, then replace it, haul in a new bale of straw and start all over. Let me know if you want me to take pictures so this makes more sense.

I have 2x4s stacked by the door of all of my coops including the breeder coop to keep the shavings in. I haven't seen a need for them to be hooked down since after you put shavings there they hold them in place, especially as they build up. I have them just a bit wider than the people door opening & yes you do have to step up over them, but it sure keeps the shavings in better. Then when I get ready to clean out the coop every 6 months or so I just move the 2x4s & bring my wheelbarrow up to the door & shovel right into it just the same as you HEChicken, it works out great. The chickens do tend to dig around in the shavings & pile them up at the door but I just push them back in further when I turn the stuff over once in awhile. They don't get the shavings quite turned over well enough without a little help.

 

[CHIKENROOKIE]

Dang, its starting to snow here.

 

[Trish44]

Dang, its starting to snow here.

Keep it up there CHICKENROOKIE, we don't want it down here! It looks very nasty outside right now, just grey & windy. I'm normally not even up this time of day but I have to go have my MRI of my knee this morning.

 

[HEChicken]

They don't get the shavings quite turned over well enough without a little help.

Try sprinkling BOSS or some whole corn in there - they will turn it over thoroughly while searching for it. I've done that sporadically since I built my coop but sometime in December I started doing it every day. They were spending more time in there with the cold weather and I didn't want them getting bored so midway through the day every day, I take a cup of BOSS down and throw it in handfuls all over the coop. For the next few hours, they search diligently to make sure they didn't miss any and by the time I do the end of day lock down, the bedding is completely turned over. The DLM method is working better for me now than it every has. Although the layer is 8" or so deep throughout the coop, at times they scratch down quite low and I can see that at the bottom, it is now completely composted. Instead of straw and poop, it just looks like dirt. I am really excited to get this lot on my garden and tilled in - I think it will actually be compost this year instead of just a layer of mulch.

 

[tweetybaby2005]

I was hoping to have some more nice days so I can spend some time doing a thorough cleaning of my coop but alas, the cold blast is back. The wind has been howling for days now. Even though I like it cold but this winter seems to drag on forever. I'm so looking forward to spring. The forecast for the next several days do not look pleasant at all. Weatherman said there is another strong system coming through in the middle towards the end of next week. Oh joy...

It is Chinese New Year today and my staff gave me a gift. She knows I like chicken so I took a picture of the ceramic egg and a magnet to share with you guys/gals. The picture turned out to be a bit crooked and darker than I like but it's my phone camera so I can't complain much.



Keep warm everyone.

 

[chicken danz]

I have one of these on my coop! Is there any reason you can't add it "after market"? Since my coop is walk-in, I realized even before moving birds in, that the bedding would get scratched out and/or bump up so hard against the door it would impede its operation. I found an off-cut of OSB left over from building, attached a couple of latches to it, and installed it just inside the door. It is about 8" high so I have to step over it but it has worked absolutely marvelously at keeping bedding where I want it. Right now my DLM layer is about at the top of the board so stepping "over" it, is more like taking a step up and into the coop, but that's okay. When I need to clean the coop out, I simply unlatch it, and then I can wheel my lawn cart right into the doorway and start shoveling. With it out I can sweep out the last small particles after a clean, then replace it, haul in a new bale of straw and start all over. Let me know if you want me to take pictures so this makes more sense.

The problem is I have a "screen door" that opens toward the inside and meets up with the inside frame of the door. The framing around the outer door takes up the space in the door frame in between. I may be able to add some kind of frame and reposition the inside door so I can have a place to mount a board. I like the screen type door though because when it is really hot in summer it makes a huge difference in regulating the temperature in there. The birds really enjoy it as well. They like to sit in front of it and look out. The biggest problem is the roof tilt down from the door way so I can't raise the screen door up higher. I would have to rebuild it for that application. No big deal really cause I cobbled it up from scrap material one day.
My original brooder house became a chicken coop for large birds and it was actually a lot better set up for that. I had planned it out step by step for raising chicks. This one was a quick building my DH built and I wasn't consulted in how to construct it. But I can't complain. I don't know how I'd ever get by without it. I just make a change here and there as I can. The most recent thing I did to it was use metal flashing along the edges of the floor and then caulk over them to make sure rodents couldn't get in.
Trish mentioned raised brooders. I do like them. I have two I move in and out of the brooder house. I actually use them and the space below them. The chicks always knock 90% of their feed out of the hardware cloth bottom so the other chicks running below have found it's a great place to go dig for food.
We haven't gotten any snow. We are actually in this thin little band predicted to get freezing rain instead. I would much rather have the snow.
Happy Chinese New Year Tweety. Blessings!

 

[Btinkerbell01]

Does anyone know where I can Buy water nipples in Wichita or near. I know I can order from online but I would like to buy local. I looked at Track supply and Atwoods and nothing.

 

[Trish44]

I have not seen them in any stores locally.

 

[Trish44]

Well I got through the MRI, so I guess the Dr will have results on Monday. I'm hoping for no surgery on the knee.

It's been misting here all morning, but that's it so far. It did get considerably colder while we were in the store, we had to run by & pick up a few groceries after my MRI.

I have Black Copper Marans chicks hatching today. I also have Welsummer eggs in there but there is no activity on those yet.