Coop Care

[OsbornCrew]

Here is a picture of my girls coop.(We have five hens) During the time they were moved into here and while I was keeping them strictly inside the coop for a few days to make sure they knew that was their new home, it was raining alot! I know that chickens scratch, but I think that the rain really contributed to the mud and lack of grass inside the coop. Now that home is established I let them free range during the day and come and go as they please. My question is, will the grass grow back or should I be putting something on top of the mud like pine shavings? Since they are free Range for most of the day, I figured the grass would grow back since they have the rest of the yard to range around, but for the time they are inside the coop I would like it to be as nice as possible for them. I hope my question is understandable, TIA

 

[kardar2]

No nothing will grow there as long as chicken are there if your coop is movable that would help but you will have to keep moving it often though. If you put wheels you can roll it around. Since you will let them free range I would not worry about it. What about winter time? Will you let the free range? If you never plan on coping them in the run you could fill sand in there to keep the mud down. With sand you can,clean,it like a litter box to keep the smell down. I PERSONALLY would just,leave it the way you have it.

 

[OsbornCrew]

Thank you so much for your input. This is our first time having chickens and yes I planned on letting them free range as much as they wanted? Is there something I should know or be considering about free ranging in the winter? I think sand sounds like a great idea!

 

[kardar2]

No they will do good just remember you will not be able to have any flower beds unless you chicken proof any flower beds you don't want destroyed.

 

[kardar2]

Do you get snow or rain in the winter

 

[kardar2]

Corn raises body heat in the hens so if you live in cold climate you might give them corn in their feed. Make sure it is balanced feed. If you get snow. You can throw some scratch out in a cleaned area so they can scarce and peck at something.

 

[OsbornCrew]

Yes we live right outside Kansas City Missouri so we get both! If I do decide to use sand to help with smell and cleanliness, do you think that will be okay to throw scratch on?

 

[kardar2]

I any get rain in the winter. The girls take refuge on the front porch out of the rain. Yep they make a mess of it but we always go through the garage.

 

[kardar2]

You will probably lose a lot of feed maybe I an not sure how sand works with feed on it. Maybe they can find it.

 

[ryanhodapp]

Yes we live right outside Kansas City Missouri so we get both! If I do decide to use sand to help with smell and cleanliness, do you think that will be okay to throw scratch on?

I live in St louis. My girls won't go out in snow. So we throw scratch in their run if there is snow on the ground. I would upgrade your coop to have welded wire fencing. Raccoons and other predators can tear the chicken wire.
It looks like your coop is on runners, if so, move it as often as you can. Once a week or so.